How do sustainable ideas become real-world solutions?
From Idea to MVP: Building Sustainable Built-Environment Startups is a new open-access course by SocialTech Lab, now available on the NEBA Academy platform, designed to help aspiring entrepreneurs transform sustainability-driven ideas into actionable Minimum Viable Products (MVPs).
The course introduces participants to the fundamentals of MVP development within the built environment sector, combining practical entrepreneurial tools with real-world startup insights and New European Bauhaus (NEB) values.
Through expert-led lectures, downloadable resources, and case study examples, learners explore how to validate ideas, prototype solutions, and develop ventures that combine sustainability, innovation, and social impact.
What the Course Covers
Participants will learn:
- The process and importance of MVP development for sustainable startups
- Practical steps to move from idea to prototype using a structured MVP checklist
- How to validate concepts and test solutions with stakeholders
- Key entrepreneurial lessons around team-building, growth, and market readiness
- How to integrate New European Bauhaus values into startup development
The course also includes a downloadable MVP Checklist to support participants in transforming their ideas into viable, testable prototypes.
Real-World Startup Case Studies
The programme features real startup journeys through dedicated case studies and interviews, offering practical insight into the challenges and opportunities involved in building sustainable ventures.
Featured examples include:
- Pit-To-Table — a startup transforming olive industry byproducts and agricultural waste into bio-based construction materials, demonstrating how circular economy principles can create sustainable alternatives for the built environment
- Dergon — an innovative startup exploring sustainable construction through 3D-printed structures made from locally sourced plastic waste, rethinking how recycled materials can shape future building practices
The case studies provide learners with honest reflections on entrepreneurship, resource management, prototyping, collaboration, and scaling sustainable ideas.
Flexible Online Learning
The course is fully online and self-paced, combining:
- Pre-recorded video lectures
- Startup interviews and case studies
- Downloadable learning materials
- A final debrief connecting entrepreneurship to NEB values
Participants who complete the coursework may also have the opportunity to book a personalized 30-minute mentorship session with the SocialTech Lab team for tailored startup guidance and feedback.
Who Is It For?
The course is designed for:
- Graduate students
- Early-stage entrepreneurs
- Young professionals
- Sustainability and innovation enthusiasts
- Individuals interested in architecture, construction, circular economy, and social entrepreneurship
Course Details
Format: Online, self-paced
Duration: 2–3 hours per week over 4 weeks
Provider: SocialTech Lab
Hub: South
Topics: Bio-based innovation, circular economy, entrepreneurship, MVP development, prototyping, digital skills, sustainability, and social impact
Explore the Course
The course is now live on the NEBA Academy platform.
Explore the course here:
https://neb.academy/courses/from-idea-to-mvp
The project is supported by the Circular Bio-based Europe Joint Undertaking and its members. Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or CBE JU. Neither the European Union nor the CBE JU can be held responsible for them.
