The Academic Startup Competition is the place to be for Dutch Academic entrepreneurs to compete for a spot in the top 20 of the most promising upcoming science based start-ups in the Netherlands 23/24. By winning the competition you will be provided access to various peer-2-peer discussion groups with investors, experienced founders and experts. You will receive a national stage through media coverage and networking events. Lastly, you will receive the possibility to join us at global networking events such as Hello Tomorrow (Paris) and the USA.  

So are you an academic spin-off or do you have a strong partnership with any of the Dutch research institutes? Do you have at least two founders and raised initial funding? Do you have a strong technical foundation or are you a social based science disrupting outdated systemic processes?

Find out if  you are you of the Netherlands top 20 – most promising academic startups of 23/24. Sign up will open this September 29 on this website!

Eligibility Criteria

• You are a registered commercial or impact startup originated from scientific knowledge connected to Dutch Universities, University Medical Centers or Research Institutes
• Founders have not won the Academic Startup Competition Award in previous editions
• Your startup registration at the C.o.C. is between 0-3 years
• Based on a new technology, a scientific discovery, a complex engineering process or a new disruptive systemic process
• Addressing an industrial, societal or environmental unmet need or creating a new market within the 8 defined technology domains (see domain page)
• Composed of a team of at least 2 founders
• Not a subsidiary or spin-off of an existing company