Join the AmsterdamStartup Launch Spring '25

March 5th we kick-off again!

March 5th, we kick-off with the seventh edition of the Amsterdam Startup Launch. The entrepreneurs will meet 10 times to go over one component of the business model canvas each time. The track will come to an apotheosis at the Final Day on June 12th, where the pitches will be judged and the prizes awarded!

Q&A session Amsterdam Startup Launch

Have you been walking around with a nice business idea? Do you need help with your business plan? Do you doubt it is feasible? The organizers of the Amsterdam Startup Launch will answer all your questions. Please find the slides we showed during an earlier Q&A session here.

From idea to startup business plan

Amsterdam Startup Launch is a course of 10 highly interactive sessions in which you will gain all the knowledge and tools you need to develop your business idea into a solid business plan. Experienced professional business experts, entrepreneurs and (Roland Berger) coaches will guide you through customer validation, proposition development, marketing, IP issues, finance and team composition. The program is based on the highly successful pre-startup program that Roland Berger already (co-)provides at TU Delft. Success factors in this challenging series of lectures are of course the quality of your idea, but also the commitment and motivation of the team and the ability to adapt your business concept with the knowledge and tools you have gained. Also a highly rated pitch training is part of the program.

What’s in it for you?

• get professional help with all the elements of a good business plan
• learn from former entrepreneurs who will speak
• validate the business idea you have
• have a chance to win the main prize and the prize for the most sustainable startup idea
• meet fellow entrepreneurs and build your network.

The program is designed for Amsterdam MSc and PhD students (and last year BSc) from all fields of study and is taught in English. Admission to the program is based on an interview, and you need to have an idea that is well worked out in order to develop a business case for it. Also you need to pitch your idea at one of the VU pitch moments, every month. It is an elective course. The program takes into account the exam periods as much as possible.

Example agenda lecture

1:45 walk-in
2:00 homework from last lecture (e.g. Mission, Vision, Strategy)
2:30 interactive presentation about Go-To-Market strategy
3:30 wrap up + discussion, assignment for next lecture (e.g. Finance & Administration)
3.45 break
4:00 Q&A with entrepreneur, e.g. Hans Ober, founder of Ticketswap
5:00 drinks & networking

VU Entrepreneurship & Impact facilitates entrepreneurial behavior among VU students, researchers and staff. The ultimate variant of this is becoming an entrepreneur. We offer young entrepreneurs an ecosystem with physical and virtual office space, network, mentoring and funding.