Empowering Engineering Students to Build Tech-Driven Startups

📌 The Scenario

Recent studies show that in Latin America, about 40% of university students express entrepreneurial intention, yet far fewer actually translate that intent into real startup action. While the students had deep expertise in areas like robotics, energy, and AI, they lacked exposure to startup thinking, market validation, and business modeling. To address this, a top engineering university in the region partnered with Urone to help final-year students transform technical prototypes into real-world startup projects. The goal: help future engineers become tech entrepreneurs, not just solution builders.

🛠️ Problem Solved

We co-created a project-based program called “Engineering to Enterprise”, aimed at turning technical prototypes into viable startup projects. The program included:

• Ideation-to-validation pathway using modern entrepreneurial methods adapted for engineers.

• Cross-functional teaming with business students and mentors.

• Training on how to turn engineering projects into market-fit solutions.

• Introduction to Intellectual Property strategy, business modelling, and early-stage fundraising.

• Coaching on communicating complex tech through clear, compelling storytelling.

🌟The Result

• Increased collaboration between engineering and business departments.

• Students gained key insights on how to commercialize innovation.

• The school strengthened its image as a launchpad for technology-driven entrepreneurship.

• The program sparked multiple startup trajectories, with several student projects advancing beyond the academic setting into early-stage development and ecosystem engagement.

🤝Benefits of Working with Urone

Engineer-friendly startup pedagogy: Adapted frameworks for technical minds.

Cross-disciplinary teamwork: Collaboration beyond silos.

Go-to-market mindset: Tech students learn to think in terms of users and value.

Strategic clarity: From prototype to pitch, with a real-world lens.

🚫 Pitfalls We Helped Avoid

• Technical projects with no commercial direction or user relevance.

• Innovation stuck in labs with no path to real-world impact.

• Engineering students lacking storytelling or business communication skills.

• Final-year projects judged only on technical merit, not societal or market value.