Business Project as Thesis

Your first experience as an entrepreneur and project manager can be difficult, and the path to success is rough. But if you have a mentor and the necessary resources, it's much easier to take your first steps in the business world!

In 2019, ITMO University launched the program Business-Thesis: Technological Breakthrough and Global Technology Transfer, which offers all ITMO students the opportunity to develop their own innovative business projects and defend them as theses.

The program is implemented by the staff of the Faculty of Technological Management and Innovations (FTMI).

Over the five years of the program's existence, ITMO students have launched 252 startups, attracting a total of 232 million rubles in investments. Join them and become a part of the entrepreneurial community!

To defend your thesis as a business project, you will need to provide the following:

The text of your graduation thesis written in accordance with the requirements of your educational program and on the topic corresponding to your specialization at ITMO;
The presentation of your business project prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Business-Thesis program;
A business project verification document based on the feedback of mentors, which confirms the feasibility and relevance of your business project;
A review from an external specialist who is an expert in the relevant field (for Master’s students)

Contents of the Business Project as Thesis

A major part of your thesis has to correspond to the specifics of your educational program and the relevant specialization.

Even if you developed the project as part of a team, your thesis should reflect the specifics of your educational program.

The business project team may include:

students of ITMO University;
students of other educational institutions;
other competent participants, including employees of Russian and international private and public organizations.

*Only ITMO graduates of the current academic year who have registered for the program can take part in the defense.

There are additional opportunities for those students who choose to defend their theses as business projects:

putting your skills and competencies into practice;
consultations with leading experts in the field of technological entrepreneurship on the subject of your project;
networking and the possibility to defend your thesis in a team with students from different fields;
packaging the project to attract your first investments;
participation in Russian and international startup competitions and acceleration events with support from ITMO’s corporate partners;
participation in the intensive educational program for early-stage technology projects Advance Your Business Thesis;
launching your own startup.

Application deadline: November 15

Timeline for submitting your thesis as a business project:

You can learn more about the Business-Thesis program in the Regulations on the implementation and defense of business projects (business-theses) at ITMO University (linked below, in Russian), as well as in the following presentation:

How to defend your thesis as a business project and launch a startup?

If you have any questions about the Business Project as Thesis initiative, you can contact Daria Stazharova at business.thesis@itmo.ru

Useful links:

Regulations on the implementation and defense of business projects (business-theses) at ITMO University (in Russian)

Application form

FAQ about the program (in Russian)