RRH – RAPID RUNWAY HACKATHON – Entrepreurship Upskill Event offered by the IEEE Switzerland Section – Enrollment & Framing Session

RRH Enrollment and Framing Session
Organiser: IEEE Switzerland Section
Format: Online framing plus in person hackathon
Enrollment window: March 6 to March 31, 2026
Hackathon Day: 20 April or 24 April 2026, Zurich area
Final date in KW 17 confirmed based on teams availability.
Participation: Maximum 4 teams of 2 to 3 students
Eligibility: ETH Zurich and EPFL students only
By enrolling, participants accept the confidentiality terms below.
For enquiries or to schedule the mandatory framing call:
dalessandro@ieee.org
ABOUT THIS INITIATIVE
RRH Rapid Runway Hackathon is a focused entrepreneurship initiative organised by the IEEE Switzerland Section.
It is designed for students who want to practise venture creation by turning a real opportunity into a structured, investor ready proposal.
This is not a generic ideation workshop.
Participants start from structured opportunities grounded in market demand and focus on value creation, positioning, and execution.
Teams may:
– work on a curated plot provided by the organisers
– bring their own idea with a minimum brief
– join an optional instructor co creation plot
The objective is a coherent opportunity analysis, structured business model, and credible pitch.
INPUTS PROVIDED
For curated plots, participants receive:
– market context and size estimates
– defined problem or innovation challenge
– value proposition framing
– venture and revenue model direction
– structured tools such as checklists, templates, and AI prompts
Teams use search and AI tools to validate assumptions and build a compact evidence base. Key claims must be supported by references or clearly marked as assumptions.
BRINGING YOUR OWN IDEA
Teams bringing their own idea must provide:
– problem definition
– proposed solution
– target customers
– at least three competitors
– market size indicators
– differentiation logic
– preliminary revenue model
– team credibility
– initial go to market approach
The goal is a clear narrative built on a defined problem, a credible solution, and a realistic execution path.
PROGRAM STRUCTURE
Step 1 Online Framing, March 6 to March 31
Mandatory alignment on plot, scope, and structure.
Step 2 Hackathon Day, 20 or 23 April 2026, Zurich area.
The day runs in 8 time boxed sprints covering 15 key venture concepts. Each sprint produces visible outputs.
Format includes:
– opportunity analysis
– sprint based venture structuring
– mentoring and consistency checks
– validation attempt such as outreach
– final pitch presentation
RULES
ETH Zurich or EPFL students only
Maximum 4 teams
Framing session required
Language English
Output venture proposal and pitch
Organiser provided plots and frameworks remain intellectual property of Dr Luca Dalessandro.
Team developed work remains property of the teams.
Places strictly limited to four teams
Co-sponsored by: Dr. Luca Dalessandro (ETIX Ventures)
Agenda:
Agenda and format for the Enrollment and Framing step
The RRH consists of two steps:
Step 1 — Enrollment and Framing (mandatory online briefing)
Step 2 — Hackathon Day (in-person venture sprint)
Step 1 is designed to be practical and focused. Its purpose is to align on scope, confirm plot selection, and prepare you to move efficiently during the hackathon.
Step 1 — Individual 30-minute briefing call (mandatory)
Each team must complete a 30-minute online call with the organiser before Hackathon Day.
To book your call, write to:
dalessandro@IEEE.org
Calls can be scheduled until the end of March.
If you would like to join the call with another team member, this is encouraged.
Completing this call counts as Step 1 and is required to access Step 2.
What we cover in Step 1
— clarification of purpose and expectations
— confirmation of participation path (curated plot, own idea, or instructor co-creation)
— overview of the 8-sprint structure and 15 key venture concepts
— explanation of deliverables and evaluation logic
— alignment on preparation before Hackathon Day
What you receive in Step 1
— selected plot materials (where applicable)
— working templates (venture brief, sprint structure, validation checklist)
— guidance on structured reasoning, validation, and use of AI tools
Step 2 — Hackathon Day
The hackathon runs in 8 time-boxed sprints covering 15 key venture concepts.
What you will produce
— a structured 1-page venture brief
— a pitch deck (7-slide recommended format)
— supporting tables (market sizing, competitors, pricing logic)
— one validation attempt (real outreach or equivalent)
— a short pitch script and Q&A preparation
Templates and structured guidance are provided.
Confidentiality and commitment
Participation in RRH implies a clear commitment.
The venture concepts developed during the initiative represent business opportunities and potential value creation. They are intended to be developed within the scope of the RRH and by the participating teams.
By participating, you agree that organiser-provided materials, structured plots, and methodological frameworks are used exclusively for the RRH process and for the continuation of your team’s work within this context.
Use of these materials for other external purposes, redistribution, or independent commercial exploitation outside the initiative is not permitted.
This policy exists to protect the integrity of the work, the value created during the hackathon, and the entrepreneurial opportunities generated within this framework.
RRH is built on trust, professional responsibility, and respect for the effort invested in creating these opportunities.
T.B.D. Technopark Zurich or ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland, Switzerland, 8005