Next Stage
Your venture taken to the next stage
Designed by founders, for founders
Next Stage was launched in 2021 by Ideas Forward, a technology venture studio based in Thessaloniki, as a startup acceleration platform introducing a new model of founder support to Greece.
Designed by founders, for founders, Next Stage programs equip early-stage startups with the mindset, skillset, and network essential for success.
Unlike other support programs available to early-stage entrepreneurs in Greece, Next Stage focuses on one thing: helping founders apply a rigorous, systematic, step-by-step methodology for business model discovery, which allows them to develop, test, and adapt their ideas into scalable ventures without wasting time and resources.
Proven track record
Next Stage programs combine hands-on coaching with training on business model discovery, drawing on proven concepts and methodology tools developed by industry pioneers like Steve Blank, Bill Aulet, and Clayton Christensen. Founders work intensively with dedicated coaches—experienced entrepreneurs themselves—who provide methodology guidance to ensure meaningful progress.
Our systematic approach to venture acceleration has been refined through many iterations. Since 2017, the team behind Next Stage has designed and implemented multiple accelerators and bootcamps in Greece and abroad, supporting over 200 early-stage startups.
Since its inception in 2021, Next Stage has supported over 40 teams through two types of programs: a 12-week accelerator (in 2021) and 2-week bootcamps (in 2022, 2023, and 2024).
Many of the ventures supported by Next Stage have launched products and gained market traction while others like Progressive Robotics, Athletopia, and AidPlex have attracted investment funding. Beyond funding milestones, many founders have gained critical insights into the viability of their ideas, often choosing to pivot or pursue new ventures based on these learnings—a valuable outcome that helps build resilience and adaptability.
The future
Our vision is now evolving: by transitioning Next Stage into an independent non-profit organization, we aim to partner with strategic allies and secure the resources needed to expand our support for founders. Starting in 2025, our goal is to offer two accelerator cohorts annually, providing consistent, high-quality guidance and resources for early-stage startups.
Through this evolution, we aspire to catalyze lasting, measurable impact on Greece’s tech ecosystem. Success will mean:
- a surge in innovative tech startups per capita
- an increase in founders successfully moving from concept to profitable businesses, and
- a larger share of startups achieving rapid growth.
By building a thriving ecosystem of scalable tech ventures, we envision Greece—and Northern Greece in particular—emerging as a center for innovation-driven entrepreneurship, where exceptional local talent and research excellence contribute to sustained economic growth and global competitiveness.