What is Make it Matter?

‍Make it Matter is ITU’s AI-powered, application-based startup program where students learn entrepreneurship by building, testing, and pitching evidence-based ventures in one semester.

‍

We are humans building products and services for humans. AI helps us learn faster and build better. The thinking, the conversations with real people, and the judgment calls are yours.

‍

From your very first workshop, you are out testing assumptions with real people. You are not learning frameworks to fill in later. You are building, testing, and updating your thinking every week - based on what you actually find.

‍

At the end, you do not present a polished deck. You present evidence to an audience of peers.

‍

6 workshops every Tuesday starting 15 September at 14:15 - 17:00 (except 13 October, due to autumn break).

‍

A different kind of startup program
‍

Most startup education teaches frameworks first and asks you to test later.
Make it Matter flips that.

‍

- Use framework → Build artefact → Test reality → Update story

- Sprint-based, validation central from week 1

- Application-only, three entry profiles

- AI-powered throughout every sprint

- Canvases as living decision tools

- Demo Day = evidence presentation

‍‍

AI-powered - not AI-replaced

We are humans building for humans. AI helps us learn faster and build better. In Make it Matter, AI is woven into every sprint - not bolted on at the end.

‍

AI synthesizes your sprint evidence — so you always know what you have learned and what is still unproven.

AI builds your pitch deck from your Evidence Board — so your story reflects your actual findings, not what you wish were true.

AI generates hard questions for your rehearsals — so you walk into Demo Day prepared for anything.

‍

You bring the curiosity, the conversations, and the judgment. AI accelerates the rest.

‍‍

What you’ll build

Over six workshops and a Demo Day, you’ll produce a set of living artifacts that grow with your evidence:

- A Living ICP (Ideal Customer Profile) - updated every sprint as you learn more about who has the problem

- A Lean Canvas - used as a thinking tool, not a finished output

- An Assumption Heatmap - tracking what you believe and how confident you are

- A Build Artifact - prototype, landing page, mockup, LOI, or playtest session

- An Evidence Board - the full record of what you tested, learned, and changed

- A Pitch Deck - AI-generated from your Evidence Board and refined with coaching

- A Founder Reflection - what you now believe, and why

Each builds on the last. By Demo Day, you have a complete evidence trail - not just slides.

‍‍

Program structure

6 workshops · 7 weeks · Demo Day

Workshops every Tuesday at 14:15 - 17:00 (except 13 October, due to autumn break), starting 15 September 2026.

‍

The program moves through three phases: Desirability (Weeks 1–3) · Feasibility (Weeks 4–5) · Viability (Week 6) · Demo Day

‍‍

Demo Day

Demo Day is not a pitch competition. It is an evidence presentation.

‍

Demo Day is a celebration of what you built, what you learned, and what you now believe. That’s what matters.

‍

‍Who can apply?

Make it Matter is application-only. We select based on commitment, problem orientation, and how you’d contribute to the cohort - not idea maturity.

We welcome applications from all ITU students.

‍‍

How to apply

Click ‘Register’ to submit your short application. We review on a rolling basis and close shortly before the program starts.

‍

Fall 2026 applications open before the summer break. Sign up to our newsletter to be notified when they open.

‍‍

Get Involved

Apply above, follow us on Instagram, or sign up to our newsletter. Questions? Reach us at we@itunextgen.dk.

‍

Make it Matter runs once a year, starting in the autumn semester. Fall 2026 applications open before summer.

‍

Ready to build something that matters?

Apply now.

‍