Apply for the Venture Challenge Fall Edition! Deadline 30 May
Develop your business case guided by experienced entrepreneurs, industry expert and business coaches.
30 May - 2023
The Venture Challenge is a 10-week programme to develop an initial idea – a breakthrough research result – into a solid business case. Participate and learn to build a customer value proposition, identify key risks and assumptions, develop a validation and de-risking strategy, build and pitch a Venture Plan and get connected to Life Sciences experts, investors and seasoned entrepreneurs.
Since its start in 2008, the Venture Challenge has proven to be the most successful startup programme in life sciences therapeutics, diagnostics and medical devices. See who participated in the previous Venture Challenge editions and read about the success of 10 years Venture Challenge. The Venture Challenge is organised as a collaboration between NWO and Health~Holland. in 2022 the European Commission selected the Venture Challenge as winner of the prestigious European Enterprise Promotion Award for its impact on improving the business environment for startups in Life Sciences.
How it works?
The Venture Challenge consists of a series of bootcamps and coaching sessions; it takes around three months from start to finish. Guided by a dedicated team of experienced trainers and challenged by your peers and industry experts you will translate your invention into a viable business idea.
After the bootcamps and coaching sessions you will be introduced to representatives of all relevant early stage life Sciences investors and you pitch your venture to the Venture Challenge jury, consisting of seasoned entrepreneurs and investors, who will then decide who takes home the €25,000 prize money. The winner of the Venture Challenge will be publically announced at a large life sciences business conference offering great exposure.
For whom?
The Venture Challenge is designed for first time entrepreneurs within the life sciences. The program focusses on pharmaceutical products, medical devices, diagnostics and enabling technologies. Many participants have a university background. We also welcome participants who want to create a spinout from a (large) company. If you are not sure whether you fit the criteria, please contact us.
How to enter?
- Application for the Venture Challenge is done via the NWO website.
- After pre-screen candidates are invited for an intake interview; a maximum of 6 teams are selected to participate.
- To enter the Venture Challenge you need to have a team of at least 3 people, and participants are expected to attend both bootcamps (2 times 3 days incl. overnight stays), the final pitch event and winner announcement (this is done at a large lifesciences event).
- Participants pay a fee of €2000,- per team of 3.
- For more detailed information about the application procedure visit the NWO website.
Venture Challenge Spring 2023 timeline
More events
Workshop: Entrepreneurship in science
For researchers eager to explore entrepreneurship and want to know more about the facilities university offers Are you curious about what entrepreneurship in science exactly entails? Dreaming about your own company, what this can mean for your development and how the university facilitates entrepreneurship? What steps are involved and what should you take into account? […]
25 May '23 Event
Festive finale AmSIA 2023
On 21 November 2023 the festive finale of the Amsterdam Science & Innovation Award will take place. Nine finalists will pitch their innovations and compete for one of the three Innovation Awards. Thereafter, the jury grants three finalists the Innovation Award. Each winner in one of the categories Environment & Climate, Health, and Society will […]
21 Nov '23 Event