Academic Startup Competition

#FlashbackFriday – 𝐑𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐀𝐒𝐂 𝐊𝐢𝐜𝐤-𝐎𝐟𝐟? 🚀 We’re halfway through the Academic Startup Competition so it’s time to look back at where it all started! The Kick-Off at Omnia Wageningen University & Research was a day full of insights, bold ideas, and powerful connections. From inspiring 𝘋𝘪𝘴𝘳𝘶𝘱𝘵𝘰𝘳 𝘋𝘪𝘢𝘭𝘰𝘨𝘶𝘦𝘴 with industry leaders to the first deep-dive into 𝘐𝘮𝘱𝘢𝘤𝘵 𝘗𝘰𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘢𝘭, startups explored just how big their innovations could be. Now, with Round 3 ahead, we’re excited to see them take their execution strategies to the next level! A huge thank you to everyone who made this journey possible and let’s keep building the future!💡🌱 📹 : Studio Bravoure #AcademicStartupCompetition #Innovation #Entrepreneurship #ScienceToStartup #ASC2025 #FlashbackFriday

🚀 𝐀𝐜𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐜 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐮𝐩 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 - 𝐏𝐢𝐭𝐜𝐡 𝐃𝐚𝐲 𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐭 𝐏𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐥 & 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐑𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝟮 - 𝐓𝐞𝐚𝐦 𝐏𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫!! 🚀 Such energy and inspiration! Yesterday, our most promising science-based startups came together for Pitch Day Impact Potential & a brand new content module: Team Power! A day full of insights, sharp pitches and valuable interactions. The day started with a warm welcome from Rebekah Bikker of BioPartner Leiden. We are grateful for their hospitality and thrilled to have them on board as a new partner. Immediately after, it was up to our teams to showcase how they’ve leveraged their Round 1  knowledge of purpose-led leadership, scientific novelty and IP strategy to elevate their pitch performance. 🔹 𝗙𝗼𝗰𝘂𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝗧𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗣𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿: 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗶𝘀𝗲, 𝗯𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗻𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 The afternoon began with inspiring keynotes, followed by breakout sessions where startups explored team dynamics, company culture, and the HR Roadmap. A heartfelt thank you to Ingrid Tappin 🏳️🌈 from Diverse Leaders in Tech and Martine Buis for guiding our startups in uncovering the essentials of a strong startup foundation! Special thanks also to another new partner, BrainCompass, a scientifically-based assessment that offers valuable insights into the talents, motivations, and areas for development of individuals.  🗓️ 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭'𝐬 𝐧𝐞𝐱𝐭? 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡 𝟲 - 𝐏𝐢𝐭𝐜𝐡 𝐃𝐚𝐲 𝐄𝐱𝐞𝐜𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐀𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 & 𝐋𝐚𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐡 𝐨𝐟 𝐑𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝟯! We will shift focus to: - Execution Ability – turning strategy into impact - Business & Market Access Strategy – the right steps for success - Pitching – refining and delivering a compelling story   We look forward to continuing this journey with our wonderful participants. On to the next round! 🔋   𝗠𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝗳𝗼:  👉 https://lnkd.in/dUaNtsC 📸: Jara van den Bosch #AcademicStartupCompetition #Innovation #Entrepreneurship #ScienceToStartup #ASC2025

🚀 Kick-Off ASC 2024/25: A Day of Insights, Strategy, and Collaboration Last Friday, we officially launched the Academic Startup Competition program at Omnia Wageningen University, bringing together our Top 40 science-based startups for an inspiring and action-packed day!  🏁The event began with opening remarks from Maxime Lübbers, Carolien Kroeze (Wageningen University & Research), and Margrethe Jonkman (Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam), setting the stage for impactful discussions. In the Disruptor Dialogues, thought leaders like Constantijn Van Oranje-Nassau, Luc Scheres (Surfix), and Birgit Dekkers (Rival Foods) shared their perspectives on turning scientific discoveries into groundbreaking ventures. Program Director Arjan Goudsblom outlined the competition timeline and introduced our amazing teams, captains, challengers, and partners. 💪🏻 🎤The afternoon featured Round 1: Impact Potential with the question: “How big can this be?” Keynotes from Jon Duschinsky, Nienke Dijkstra, Raynor van Eijck and Frodo Ferro provided valuable insights on leadership, unique technologies, and the importance of IP protection. Teams then rolled up their sleeves for breakout sessions, collaborating with captains, challengers, and experts to prepare for their February 10th presentations. 📈 🙌🏻We’re excited to see their output and learnings from this first Round. From there, the top 30 teams will move on to Round 2: ‘Who’s gonna do it?’, where team dynamics and support networks will take center stage. A big thank you 🙏🏻 to everyone who made this event such a success—stay tuned for more updates as the competition unfolds!

📣 We are beyond excited to introduce the 40 game-changing teams selected for the upcoming edition of Academic Startup Competition!🎉 These visionary companies are on a mission to shake things up across industries like: Biotech & Pharma, Digital Health & Medical Devices, Agriculture, Food & Water, Smart Cities & Industries and Energy Transition. We’re eager to embark on this journey with the talented participants who secured their place in the competition. Over the first half of 2025, they’ll compete and demonstrate their remarkable progress and growth! 🚀 👏 Join us in congratulating and welcoming these innovative companies: FoamPrint3D, IMChip, CIWI, Urban Strategy, Eco-bind, CarbonsAI, ATA Mute B.V., Powerchainger, Fused Button Battery, TeleFlux, GloWARM, Beyond Weather, StarWarden, MycoFarming®, Affinomer B.V., Plense Technologies, Carapace Biopolymers, Mizusense, Novya Biotech, MimeCure, AVIGI Therapeutics, StemX Bio, Bioprex Medical, Limosa Immunodiagnostic Solutions, Aurelius Therapeutics, GenLumina, Jama Therapeutics, VirXcel, SBMatrices, OASYS NOW, Rezolve Medical, Phos4nova B.V., FlowBeams, Touchwaves, TrianecT, Kingfisher Cardiology, QTsense, LEVEN VISION, AIKON Health, Deep Sleep Technologies Let's celebrate their dedication to driving positive change and shaping the future. 🥂

🌟 Celebrating the Impact of the Academic Startup Competition Programme! 🌟 We’re delighted to highlight the success stories of our remarkable participants in the Academic Startup Competition Programme. Transforming research into real-world impact is no small feat, and these inspiring founders have embraced the challenge wholeheartedly. Here’s a glimpse into their experiences and insights along the way: 🎢 “Taking part in ASC has guided our team out of the academic comfort zone into the exciting, sociable world of deep-tech startups, where research and innovation tackle the world’s challenges. ASC has connected us with other deeptech startups facing similar challenges, allowing us to learn from their experiences and navigate the practical steps necessary for success.” – Jasmin Fisher Balil, COO & Researcher at SolarFoil "The US trip as part of the academic startup competition program was incredibly enriching. I was exposed to the dynamic US business environment and the empowering "think big" mentality. This experience significantly enhanced my storytelling skills and pushed me out of my comfort zone.” – Stas Verichev, CEO at Vibrotwist B.V. "The ASC program gave us the opportunity to connect with other academic founders especially those who are also building hardware companies. The exchange has been invaluable. Deep-dives into business planning, recruitment together and pitching with experts in group and one-on-one sessions gave us clarity and much needed direction in this early stage of the company." – Alina Chanaewa, CEO & Co-founder at Eddytec The Academic Startup Competition isn’t just a program; it’s a launchpad for innovators to fast-track their growth. We’re excited to watch these startups create real impact across industries and beyond! 🚀 👏 Let’s cheer on our founders and look ahead to the next edition! Nominees can secure their spot until November 15th. For more details, visit https://lnkd.in/dUaNtsC for all the latest updates.

📣 We're excited to announce that we received nearly 80 nominations from universities, incubators, research centers, and applied science institutes across the Netherlands. 📣 ⏰ There's still time to submit nominations! ⏰ We want to give as many impactful startups as possible the opportunity to participate. Partner institutions can still nominate their top 5 startups until October 31st. So, what's next? 🤷 Over the coming weeks, we'll be reaching out to the nominees to gauge their interest in joining the program. The application process is simple and straightforward, making it easy to secure their spot in the upcoming edition. Get in the Top 40 A selection committee will choose the top eight startups in each of these key impact areas from all applications: 🩺 Transition in Healthcare & Wellbeing 🌱 Transition in Agriculture, Food, and Water ♻️ Building New, Clean & Sustainable Industries ⚡️ Energy Transition 🤝 Towards an Equal, Diverse, Inclusive & Secure Society This will result in 40 teams advancing to the competition, with the final list announced on December 10th. ➡️ Want to stay in the loop? Head over to https://lnkd.in/dUaNtsC for all the latest updates. 🎥 Don’t miss the video below, where Aisling Foley, CEO of ExCulture and one of last year’s standout winners, shares her inspiring experience from the previous competition 👇

🚀 Academic Startup Competition: Nominate 5-star Academic Founders! At ASC, we push academic founders out of their comfort zones, exposing them to critical topics and challenges with the help of experts and experienced science-based founders who’ve been down the entrepreneurial path before. Our guiding principle? Tough love—honest feedback to facilitate ambitious growth plans. ASC fosters a relentless drive for excellence, pushing founders to compete with the world’s best. This fast-track program brings focus and unlocks new opportunities, inviting 40 top teams nominated by Dutch universities to take on the challenge. 🌟 Your Journey to Innovation: Compete, Collaborate, Conquer! 🔹 Start with 40 Teams: Compete through three elimination rounds 🏁 🔹 Collaborate and Grow: Address pain points with world-class support 📈 🔹 Learn and Interact: Dynamic development throughout the journey 📚 🔹Reach the Final 10: Winners travel to the USA for a discovery trip with ScaleNL, connecting with Silicon Valley’s best 🥇 💡 How Can You Help? We’re seeking nominations of the top 5 academic startups from your institute mentioned in the comments below. These should be startups ready to innovate and make an impact! 📅 Nomination Deadline: October 4, 2024 More info: 👉 https://lnkd.in/dUaNtsC

🚀 Exciting News: Applications for the 5th Edition of the Academic Startup Competition Are Now Open! 🚀 We are thrilled to announce that the Academic Startup Competition is back! ASC is a collaborative initiative by Techleap, Universiteiten van Nederland, NFU - Nederlandse Federatie van Universitair Medische Centra , Netherlands Academy of Engineering, Ministerie van Economische Zaken,  EWUU alliance (TU/e, WUR, UU, UMC Utrecht), ScaleNL  and Preneurz.Amsterdam, designed to accelerate the most promising academic ventures emerging from Dutch universities, research institutes, and applied science institutions. This program is dedicated to fast-tracking the growth of ambitious founders by refining their focus and unlocking new opportunities. ASC invites 40 top teams across various scientific fields, nominated by Dutch universities and affiliated programs. 🔍 Who Should Apply? ASC focuses on startups addressing solutions in these key impact areas: 🩺 Transition in Healthcare & Wellbeing 🌱 Transition in Agriculture, Food, and Water ♻️ Building New, Clean & Sustainable Industries ⚡️ Energy Transition 🫶 Towards an Equal, Diverse, Inclusive & Secure Society 💡 How Can You Help? This year, startups can only participate if nominated by one of our partner institutes tagged in the comments. We’re seeking your assistance in identifying the top 5 most impactful academic startups from your institute that would benefit from ASC. 🗓 Nomination Deadline: 4 October, 2024  For more details, visit our website at https://lnkd.in/em79CPK

🎉 Celebrating the achievements of our Academic Startup Competition finalists! Our 4th ASC cohort has just completed an amazing six-month journey filled with invaluable networking opportunities, insightful learnings, and significant growth! Last tuesday, we gathered to celebrate this journey alongside our 20 finalists, team captains, experts, and partners. We reminisced about the fun memories, reflected on key learnings, and mapped out strategic plans for the next 180 days. 🙌 A huge thank you to InsectSense, ExCulture, Eddytec, Autoscriber, Ayuvant, Vibrotwist B.V., Scope Biosciences B.V., VivArt-X, MicroAlign, Social Shuffle, Sencilia, Newton Energy Solutions, Nature's Principles, Veridis, TracXon, MemoryLab, SolarFoil, Unifix Care, Axite, Avalanche Medical B.V. for making a significant impact across so many diverse domains! #AcademicStartup #InnovationJourney #Entrepreneurship #FutureLeaders #StartupSuccess

🤩🇫🇷 The Hello Tomorrow Global Summit has concluded and we were there too with a handful of our #ASC participants! Nature's Principles, Scope Biosciences B.V., SolarFoil, Avalanche Medical B.V., Axite, ExCulture and Sencilia, alongside the Dutch delegation, including Techleap, 4TU.Federation, Invest-NL and TNO were there to talk #DeepTech and #Innovation with industry leaders, investors, and policymakers to explore new trends and potential collaborations 💥 Here are some highlights: 🚀 Sencilia and SolarFoil rocked Investor Day, showcasing their potential to a diverse investor audience. Proving that informal settings foster valuable connections and conversations. 🌱 Nature's Principles sparked a sustainability revolution, uniting major chemical producers in the journey towards eco-friendly practices. 💡 Axite uncovered unexpected synergies with corporate giants, demonstrating the power of open-minded collaboration. In short – we had an absolute blast connecting and squeezing every drop of excitement out of this awesome event! 🤩 #Innovation #StartupLife #DeepTech #Collaboration