Entrepreneurship and the humanities: for some, it is still not an obvious combination. The Humanities Venture Lab at the University of Amsterdam demonstrates how valuable (and enjoyable) entrepreneurship can be for humanities scholars. It has now been included in the repository of best practices of the European Union’s Knowledge Valorisation Platform. This platform brings together European stakeholders committed to transforming research results into sustainable solutions with societal impact, in line with new EU policies on valorisation and social impact. 

The HVL programme
Entrepreneurship is still often associated with business, tech or medicine — rarely with disciplines like history, language, or cultural studies. The Humanities Venture Lab (HVL) is challenging that perception. ‘The idea that entrepreneurship is the same as starting a business is simply not true,’ says Klaas Hernandt, programme lead at HVL. ‘Entrepreneurship can also mean launching initiatives that create real societal impact.’  

Through its three-step programme — Explore, Create, Accelerate — HVL supports students, researchers, and alumni in shaping sustainable ventures rooted in the humanities. With coaching, workshops and a strong peer community, participants learn to think about financing, partnerships, and strategy — turning intrinsic motivation into structured, lasting impact.

A model for broader impact
Being recognised as a European best practice highlights the Humanities Venture Lab’s success in bridging the gap between academic knowledge and societal impact. It affirms the importance of creating space for entrepreneurial thinking in all disciplines — including those traditionally less associated with innovation. HVL’s approach offers a model for other universities across Europe that seek to unlock the potential of humanities scholars in contributing to a more inclusive, impactful, and knowledge-driven society.