The Start-up Lab

Turn your ideas into real businesses!

Have you ever wondered what it takes to launch a successful startup? In The Startup Lab, students work together to transform creative ideas into real business concepts through fun challenges, hands on activities and team projects.

Inspired by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Disciplined Entrepreneurship framework, this twelve week programme introduces students to innovation, problem solving, design thinking, marketing and entrepreneurship in an engaging and practical way.

Throughout the term, students will:

• Develop creative thinking through games and innovation challenges

• Identify real world problems worth solving

• Learn how to understand customers and design products people actually need

• Build prototypes and explore business models

• Create marketing campaigns and social media strategies

• Pitch their startup idea in a fun "Shark Tank" style finale

No previous business experience is required. Just bring your curiosity, creativity and willingness to think differently.

Who: High School students
Duration: 12 week extracurricular programme
When: Thursdays, 15:30 to 17:00
Where: ISH City Campus
Facilitator: Ruxandra Trofin

Price: 1200 DKK per term  
How to enrol:Ruxandra: trofinruxandra@gmail.com 

Places are limited and allocated on a first come, first served basis.

Ruxandra Trofin, Facilitator and Programme Lead:  Her experience spans entrepreneurship, strategy, partnerships, digital transformation, operations and startup ecosystem development.

She has worked directly with founders and entrepreneurs at different stages of their journeys, supporting them across strategy, business development, partnerships, operating models, digital systems, growth and the translation of ideas into practical execution. As Partnerships and Investor Relations Manager at TechBBQ, she managed relationships across a network of more than 800 founders, investors, corporate partners and ecosystem stakeholders.

Alongside consulting founders and growing companies, Ruxandra is building her own brand and business, giving her first-hand experience of developing a concept, defining its positioning, understanding an audience and turning a vision into something tangible.

She holds an MSc in Business Administration and Digital Business from Copenhagen Business School. As a digital native with a strong understanding of emerging technologies, Ruxandra brings a technology-aware approach to entrepreneurship education. She introduces students to relevant digital tools and responsible uses of AI throughout the entrepreneurial process, helping them research, develop, test and communicate their ideas more efficiently while maintaining quality, critical thinking and human-centred decision-making.

Her facilitation combines entrepreneurship, systems thinking, digital literacy and practical experimentation. She helps students identify opportunities, understand real problems, use technology thoughtfully, test ideas, collaborate effectively and communicate their solutions with confidence.