The building blocks of InCube Challenge are OutCube and InCube. At the beginning there will be an online event (PrepCube) where participants will get all the information for the challenge.

Incube is a 5-day intensive design thinking challenge that takes place in a glass cube. Interdisciplinary teams of five solve a challenge on a real-world problem faced today, and the goal is to find an innovative solution. On the fifth day, the teams pitch their solution to a jury at the Launch event.

OutCube is a workshop for team-building, workshops and will provide you with the necessary tools for InCube, your future as an entrepreneur, and international networking. It takes place on the first week of October in a location in the Swiss Alps.

OutCube and InCube will happen in the first two weeks of October in Switzerland. The final event will take place in Zürich, Switzerland on Friday, 17.10.2025. PrepCube takes place online in September (exact date TBD). Further details will be shared with selected applicants.

InCube is open to all university students (Bachelor, Master, and PhDs) of all fields of study, recent graduates, or students that do a gap year during their studies. If you want to experience a new, crazy challenge and have an entrepreneurial and open-minded spirit, then InCube is for you!

No, the event is 100% free. Moreover, all expenses will be covered by us. This includes travel costs to Switzerland for international participants, travel costs within Switzerland, food and accommodation during OutCube & InCube.

The application form will be opened from Wednesday, 07.05.2025 00:00 (UTC) to Sunday, 01.06.2025 23:59 (UTC). We will select participants on a rolling basis.

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. Final decisions will be shared by late July, early August 2025

No. They are all part of the InCube Challenge. There is one single application and it is for the whole InCube Challenge. If you are selected you will participate in all three parts.

InCube is an exclusive and incredible experience. You will learn a lot in a short amount of time, meet new people, and have face-to-face discussions with senior management from industry partners. But most importantly, you will push the boundaries of your comfort zone. While you will get the chance to network with like-minded people, you will learn new skills and get the opportunity for project incubation and follow-up support. Maybe your idea will turn into start-up. And that startup will have the ideal starting conditions regarding expert support.

No, everybody with an entrepreneurial mindset and great motivation can apply!

- You train your entrepreneurial thinking and acting and prepare yourself theoretically as well as practically for the foundation and management of your own company - Gain knowledge about team performance and management - Design thinking, prototyping, lean canvas, testing - Market research - Pitching - Knowledge sharing with experienced startup coaches - Access to the Swiss startup ecosystem - Useful tools for a future entrepreneur - Many more

At InCube, there are multiple cubes, each of them is home for a team for 5 days. You are in one of those teams and work and sleep with 4 other people in a glass cube. You solve a challenge about a current real-world problem while going through the stages of the design thinking process (problem identification, ideation, prototyping, market analysis...). The goal is to find a possible solution to your challenge. On the fifth day, all teams present their solutions to a jury at the Launch event. You and your team will have the chance to win a prize and support for the startup you created in the cube. And of course, international fame.

The challenges will be revealed to the participants on the first day of the InCube challenge. Until then, they remain secrets. The challenge for each team will be unique and you will be required to come up with an innovative solution to a real-world problem proposed by our industry partners. That’s all we will tell you since we want to unlock your creative potential during the challenge.

No. As a participant, you may be placed with anyone and anywhere in the Swiss and International Cube locations. We will decide on your team and your cube. However, we have the information from your application and your interview in mind to find the best fit for you. What an amazing adventure!

Yes, and no. Facilities like showers, bathrooms and so on are not part of the cube. Do not worry, they are very close to your cube and accessible for 24 hours. Obviously, you will have to leave the cube. While you will spend most of the time with your team inside the cube, no one will force you to stay inside the cube. Additionally, we do want you to step out of the cube to interview and test your prototype with people that pass by. However, you will eat and sleep inside the cube. It will be your office and bedroom for 4 days.

5 people – all from different backgrounds. There will also be other people available to help you go through your journey as a Cubee. There will be a cube facilitator which tells you which part of the journey you should go through that day.

The cube is 5x5m big, 25m2.

Detailed packing lists will be shared with the selected participants closer to the event. A laptop or tablet (and its charger) is required. Please keep in mind that you will be sharing the space in the cube and that many things will be provided for you, so pack light to keep the cube tidy.

Yes, of course. Everyone is welcome to take a look at the cube from the outside. There you can see how the teams are working & progressing. You are also invited to the final event on Friday, 17.10.2025. The InCube Final Pitches is coupled with the ETH Launch event which will be in the evening. There will be interesting speakers, discussions, and different startup and company stands. We look forward to seeing you there!

During OutCube and InCube, the participants will be provided with all the required materials for their journey. At the end of InCube, the team with the best idea and pitch will win a grand prize which will build the foundation to continue the development of their own start-up after InCube. No other monetary compensation is provided to participants.

The prize for the winning team is 2500 CHF. Every team will receive quality coaching from industry experts and successful entrepreneurs. In addition, the winning team will receive help to continue and build their startup.

No, you can study anything.

You will go through the stages of the design thinking process with a facilitator that helps your team to decide what to do next. The four days in the cube are labor intensive and students usually work from 8:30 to 22:00 on the new innovative idea they come up with. During the day, top talent speakers and entrepreneurs will visit you in the cubes and will give you tips and inputs. You will have lunch and dinner breaks (each ca. 1 hour) and the meals will be provided for you.

If you want a refund of any kind, you have to send the reimbursement sheet until 10th of December, 2025. Further information will be provided to selected participants.

We do not provide any insurance.

You do not need any special skills. You should have an interest in entrepreneurship and a willingness to learn.

You can pursue the idea you have worked on in the cube further. However, there is no commitment to do that. Companies or entrepreneurs see InCube as a good recruitment tool and you can surely profit from the network you have built during OutCube, InCube and Launch.

Yes.