LeapX: A new AI bootcamp helping Europe’s early-stage founders go from idea to customers in just five weeks (Sponsored)

Jan 9, 2026 - 16:00

As Europe’s startup ecosystem accelerates toward an AI-driven future, a new program is stepping in to empower first-time founders and bridge the gap between idea and paying customers.

LeapX, a market-driven accelerator founded by Leap2Peak (Estonia/Tallinn) and Entrepreneurs for Global Change (USA/New York), has officially opened applications for its inaugural cohort. This five-week hybrid bootcamp is designed to help early-stage founders turn concepts into investor-ready startups. The program is led by EU and U.S. based mentors with backgrounds coming from Google, Microsoft, LinkedIn, Morgan Stanley, and other leading tech and finance companies.

Marking a new approach to startup acceleration and market readiness,, LeapX compresses what typically takes six months into an intensive five-week journey, blending AI-powered tools, hands-on mentorship, and real market validation. The program concludes with a one-week immersive sprint in Spain/Canary Islands, where founders refine their products, pitch to investors, and connect with mentors from global tech companies.

Participation is limited to 30 founders per cohort to ensure a personalized, high-touch experience. From this group, 12 of the top founders will be invited to the in-person final week in the Canary Islands, where they will take part in live mentorship, peer feedback, and investor pitches.

Application deadline: January 20, 2026
Program start date: February 2, 2026
Apply here

For founders who want to learn more about the program and ask questions, LeapX will host an online info session on January 14 at 4:30 PM CET. Registration is available here.

An accelerator built for Europe’s AI generation

LeapX is designed as a founder-first bootcamp that prioritizes execution, accountability, and tangible outcomes through the use of AI-powered tools. Participants receive:

€5,000+ worth of AI tools and credits (GPT-5, Jasper, Lovable, Bolt, and more)
Access to private angel investor network (up to €20K)
Daily 1:1 mentorship from experts with backgrounds from Google, Microsoft, and Morgan Stanley
Investor-ready deliverables, including a fully-functional MVP and validated customer pipeline
An in-person founder sprint in the Canary Islands for selected teams

The program targets early-stage and idea-stage founders across Europe who are eager to move fast, test ideas, and gain real traction. The four-week online phase comes at a €1,000 fee, while the fifth week for those selected in the Canary Islands is an additional €300, covering lodging, workspace, and on-site mentorship.

From idea to investor-ready in one month

LeapX’s methodology is built on the belief that today’s founders can build faster and smarter with AI. Over four online weeks, participants go through AI-powered market validation, MVP development, and go-to-market strategy. By the end of the bootcamp, each founder is expected to walk away with a validated idea, a functional prototype, their first paying customer, and a pitch deck ready for investors.

The program gathers a transatlantic network of founders, engineers, and investors who’ve worked at the highest levels of tech and venture. The mentor lineup includes Stefan Karadzic (ex. Director, Solution Architecture at Microsoft Viva), Abdul Hamdan (Google), Aladdin Kashout (Morgan Stanley), Marko Gazivoda (senior consultant), Rahul Jaglan (Denpaflux), Marina Trajkovska (Odyseek), Filip Sasic (EGC), and Shadi Nemer (Leap2Peak, TDK, Greenda AI).

“AI has completely reshaped what’s possible for early-stage founders,” said Filip Sasic, CEO of Entrepreneurs for Global Change. He continued: “With the right guidance, a solo founder can now validate an idea, test demand, and build an MVP in weeks, not months. LeapX gives them a high-speed runway to make that leap.”

“This program is built to make AI a practical accelerator for entrepreneurs,” added Shadi Nemer, Founder of Leap2Peak. “LeapX integrates AI into every stage of company building, from validating a problem to launching an MVP, so founders walk away with traction, not theory.”

About the organizers

Entrepreneurs for Global Change (EGC), is a New York-based social impact organization supporting young founders worldwide while working with global tech companies, U.S. State Department, and leading New York based universities. Through its entrepreneurship fellowships, workshops, and university partnerships, EGC has become a bridge between the European startup ecosystem and U.S. mentors and investors.

Based in Tallinn, Leap2Peak is a non-profit association that empowers youth, social innovators, and mission-driven professionals to design impactful ICT projects. Its team has led numerous regional and international initiatives strengthening digital skills and innovation capacity across Europe.

Together, Leap2Peak and EGC are shaping a new generation of European founders who are bold, AI-literate, and globally ambitious.

Apply now at leapx.dev and turn your AI startup idea into a business with real traction.

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