ACHIEVE: Start-Up Founders Webinar Series

EA Editor October 22, 2026 ACHIEVE
ACHIEVE: Start-Up Founders Webinar Series
22 Oct 2026
ACHIEVE
October 22, 2026 EA Editor

From Cloud Infrastructure to Startup CTO: Launching the MSL Startup Founders Webinar Series

How do engineering graduates move beyond laboratory testbeds to build and manage large-scale computational infrastructure in commercial tech startups?

Across Europe, high-performance computing (HPC) and distributed cloud environments underpin modern technological sovereignty. Yet, moving from algorithm design to running production systems within an early-stage startup, managing high throughput, controlling cloud costs, and navigating strict compliance, involves practical hurdles that standard university lectures rarely address.

To give students a direct window into this world, consortium leader 28DIGITAL, in partnership with the EIT Digital Master School, is launching the MSL Startup Founders Webinar Series. This recurring initiative brings European Master School students into direct conversation with founders building at the cutting edge of deep tech.

Inaugural Session: Christophe Geudens, Co-Founder & CTO of Prismos

The series kicks off with Christophe Geudens, Co-founder and Chief Technology Officer of Prismos, a Belgian tech startup building AI-powered software platforms for regulatory risk and public policy intelligence.

Christophe holds a PhD in Knowledge Representation from KU Leuven (2020) and brings an extensive background in natural language processing (NLP) engineering. At Prismos, he leads the platform’s core data infrastructure and AI systems, sitting directly at the intersection of complex computer science and commercial product delivery.

During the webinar, Christophe will explore:

  • From Research to CTO: The decisions, mindset shifts, and practical trade-offs involved in moving from doctoral computer science research into startup leadership.
  • The Reality of AI Infrastructure: An unvarnished look at what enterprise AI platforms demand under the hood, from distributed data ingestion to real-time query performance.
  • System Design in Early-Stage Ventures: Lessons learned while designing data platforms from scratch, managing technical debt, and deploying reliable systems.
  • Live Student Q&A: An open forum where participants can ask direct questions about technical recruitment, startup realities, and career pathways.

The session will be opened and hosted by Vilma Djala (28DIGITAL).

Why This Matters for ACHIEVE Students

The ACHIEVE  project aims to strengthen higher education in cloud computing, networking infrastructure, and high-performance computing (HPC). Its double-degree Master’s programme combines advanced technical education with a minor in Innovation and Entrepreneurship, helping students connect their technical expertise with real-world applications and business development.

The MSL Startup Founders Webinar Series complements these educational objectives by offering students insights into how technical knowledge and entrepreneurial skills come together in technology startups.

For ACHIEVE students, the webinar provides opportunities to:

  • Connect Technical Knowledge with Practice: Explore how expertise in cloud infrastructure, distributed systems, and computing technologies relates to developing commercial software platforms.
  • Understand Innovation and Entrepreneurship: Hear firsthand how a technology founder approaches product development, technical decision-making, and startup leadership.
  • Explore Career Pathways: Discover how technical expertise can contribute to professional roles in technology companies, including engineering leadership and entrepreneurship.

Through direct exchange with an experienced startup CTO, students can gain a broader perspective on applying their technical and entrepreneurial knowledge beyond the university environment.

Event Details & Registration

ACHIEVE

Official Website of the EU-Co-funded project ACHIEVE: https://28digital.eu/eu-collaborations/achieve 

 

Consortium Partners:

  1. 28DIGITAL (28DGTL)
  2. 28DIGITAL Spain (28DGTL ES)
  3. University of Trento (UNITN)
  4. Middle East Technical University (METU) 
  5. University of Rennes (UR) 
  1. KTH Royal Institute of Technology (KTH)
  2. Babeș-Bolyai University (UBB)
  3. Aalto University (AALTO)
  4. Polytechnic University of Milan (POLIMI)
  5. University of Novi Sad (UNS FTN)
  6. Evolutionary Archetypes Consulting SL (EAC)
  7. Techvalley Management (TECHVALLEY)
  8. Infineon Technologies (INFINEON)
  9. ODTÜ Teknokent (OBTUTEK)
  10. Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK)

Associated Partners

  1. Research Institutes of Sweden (RISE) 
  2. Amazon Web Services (AWS) 

Funding Agency: European Health and Digital Executive Agency (HaDEA)

101190015 — ACHIEVE — DIGITAL-2023-SKILLS-05

 

Disclaimer: Co-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 HADEA. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.