Venture Challenge Fall 2025 now open – with two editions: Life Sciences & Health and MedTech!
The Venture Challenge Fall 2025 is officially open for applications — and this year, the Fall program features two separate editions. Applicants will participate in one edition only, based on the focus of their innovation:
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Edition I is for Life Sciences & Health startups
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Edition II is for MedTech startups
Thanks to additional funding from the Ministry of Economic Affairs, 12 teams in total will be selected — 6 for each edition. Selected teams will follow a high-impact, 8–10 week programme to turn their research into a solid business case with guidance from experienced coaches and sector experts.
Who can apply?
Teams of 3 to 4 people who:
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Have founded, or plan to found, a startup in either Life Sciences & Health (Edition I) or MedTech (Edition II)
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Are developing an innovative product, process, or service within these domains
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Are based in the Netherlands and ready to build a business case with professional support
Which edition is right for you?
Edition I – Life Sciences & Health
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Bootcamp 1: 1–3 October 2025
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Bootcamp 2: 5–7 November 2025
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Jury pitches: 19 November 2025
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(Award ceremony will take place on the Dutch Life Siences Conferences)
Edition II – MedTech
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Bootcamp 1: 26–28 November 2025
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Bootcamp 2: 21–23 January 2026
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Jury pitches: 11 February 2026
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(Award ceremony will take place on the Innovation4Health conference)
Note: you will only attend the programme dates that match your assigned edition. Teams are selected for one edition based on their innovation focus.
Program details
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12 total teams (6 per edition)
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Programme duration: 8–10 weeks including two bootcamps and a final pitch
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Grant ceiling: €200,000
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Own contribution:
€2,000 (3 team members)
€2,500 (4 team members) -
Deadline to apply: 1 July 2025, 14:00 CET
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Organised by: NWO in collaboration with Health~Holland and Holland High Tech
Ready to take the leap from research to real-world impact?
