Objective
To support Bentley student founders by providing access to high-quality technical and product expertise that accelerates venture development. Through the Toptal partnership, selected E-Hub Incubator teams will be able to strengthen their products, test assumptions, and move more confidently from idea to execution and build scalable, market-ready solutions.
Purpose
The purpose of the Toptal × E-Hub partnership is to complement the entrepreneurial learning experience with real-world execution support. Many student ventures reach a stage where technical capacity, product design, or development speed becomes a constraint. This initiative is designed to reduce those barriers by offering structured access to experienced professionals who can support product development, technical validation, and strategic decision-making.
By integrating this support into the Incubator, the program ensures that teams receive targeted, high-impact assistance at the right moment in their venture journey, while preserving student ownership, leadership, and learning outcomes.
Alumni Lead
About Toptal
Toptal is an exclusive network of the top software developers, designers, marketing experts, management consultants, product managers, and project managers in the world. Top companies hire Toptal talent for their most important projects. Through this partnership, Bentley student founders gain access to experienced professionals who can help accelerate product development, validate technical decisions, and strengthen execution at critical stages of venture growth.
Toptal will provide up to 60 hours of expert support during the 2026 academic year. These hours may be allocated in one of two ways:
- One Incubator team receives the full allocation, or
- Up to two teams, with hours distributed between them depending on venture needs and readiness.
Support is delivered directly to student teams selected and may include collaboration with:
- Software developers
- Product managers
- UX/UI designers
- Data and analytics specialists
The structure allows teams to receive targeted, hands-on support aligned with their most pressing needs.
This opportunity is best suited for ventures that:
- Are building or refining a technology-enabled product
- Need help moving from concept to prototype or MVP
- Require expert input on technical architecture, product design, or scalability
- Are preparing for pilots, demos, or investor conversations
Support will be awarded through the E-Hub Incubator selection process, typically aligned with Final Round outcomes, with flexibility to ensure the support is matched to the teams that will benefit most.
Toptal support will be awarded through the E-Hub Incubator phases. Potential selection considerations include:
- Venture readiness and impact
- Alignment with Incubator goals
- Recommendations from Incubator judges
- Input from E-Hub leadership and Toptal representatives
Final selection criteria will be communicated clearly to teams.
Learn more
Team Preparation
- To maximize the value of Toptal support, selected teams should be prepared to:
- Clearly articulate their problem, target customer, and proposed solution
- Identify specific technical, product, or design challenges they want to address
- Prepare relevant materials such as wireframes, specifications, workflows, or product roadmaps
- Actively collaborate with Toptal experts and incorporate feedback throughout the engagement
Expected Outcomes
- Depending on team needs, outcomes may include:
- A functional prototype or MVP
- Improved product usability or performance
- A clearer technical roadmap
- Validation of feasibility and scalability
- Stronger positioning for fundraising, competitions, pilots, or customer conversations
Outcomes are illustrative only and not guaranteed, and will vary based on team readiness and scope.
2026 TopTal Expert Support Recipients
The following teams were selected to receive expert support through our TopTal partnership:
- Student Spots – 40 hours
- Jobly – 20 hours
Last edited: Feb 9, 2026