Fall edition Venture Challenge now open for applications

As of this week, enterprising researchers can submit their candidacy for the Fall edition of the Venture Challenge, which NWO organises on behalf of the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate. The deadline for applications is 14 July 2020.

The Venture Challenge was set up eleven years ago by Health~Holland and is since this year organised by NWO Domain Applied and Engineering Sciences. The aim is to professionally support starting entrepreneurs in life sciences in the development of a thorough business case. This helps in applying for funding and ultimately in bringing the invention to the market.

Bootcamps and coaching sessions

The Venture Challenge is aimed at teams of three to five people who already have (or are about to) established a new start-up in the field of life sciences & health. Their product or service is based on a new technological discovery or a new application of existing technology, arising from scientific research. The programme, which is open for applications twice a year, consists of two three-day bootcamps and regular coaching sessions. Participants work under the supervision of experienced coaches from GameChanger Challenge, to set up or improve their business case. The supervision can possibly be expanded with experts and entrepreneurs with a background in life sciences & health. The entire process takes ten to twelve weeks. At the end, the participants pitch their plans in front of a jury, including experienced entrepreneurs and investors.

Fall edition application deadline: 14 July 2020

Candidates can compete for one of the (maximum 6) available places by submitting the application form. Deadline for application is 14 July, after which the board of NWO Domain Applied and Engineering Sciences will determine which participants will be admitted on the basis of the remuneration advice of an advisory committee (please see the brochure (in Dutch) for the exact procedure). In August, NWO will announce the selected start-ups for this edition, which starts in September. More information about the Venture Challenge can be found on the programme page on our website.

Spring edition start in July

While the application procedure for the Fall edition is running, in July the Spring edition of the Venture Challenge will start with the first boot camp. Due to the corona measures, this round, which was initially scheduled to start in April, has been postponed for a few months. The selection committee has selected six teams: Pacing Cure, MedicalVR, GUTS to the market, Ventilation Perfusion Protector, Scope Biosciences and ShanX Medtech.

Source: NWO