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Round 3: Business Planning & Execution Ability – Preparing for Growth

The Academic Startup Competition 2024/25 entered a new phase with Round 3: Business Planning & Execution Ability! This pivotal stage focused on equipping our science-driven startups with the tools and strategies needed to transform their ideas into scalable ventures.
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Round 2: Pitch Day Impact Potential & Team Power – A New Chapter

The Academic Startup Competition 2024/25 took another exciting step forward with Pitch Day Impact Potential & the launch of Round 2: Team Power! This event brought together our most promising science-driven startups for a day filled with high-energy pitches, valuable insights, and hands-on collaboration.
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Kick-Off and & Round 1 ASC 2024/2025: A Day of Insights, Strategy, and Collaboration

Last Friday, January the 17th, the Academic Startup Competition 2024/25 officially launched at Omnia, Wageningen University. This dynamic kick-off event brought together the Top 40 science-based startups, industry experts, and thought leaders for a day filled with inspiration, strategic insights, and collaboration.
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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...
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Nearly 80 Nominations for the Academic Startup Competition!

The Academic Startup Competition has officially received an overwhelming response, with almost 80 nominations from universities, incubators, research centers, and applied science institutes across the Netherlands! This is a testament to the incredible innovation happening throughout the country—and we’re excited to see these brilliant startups join us on a journey of growth, collaboration, and opportunity.
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Are you an ambitious founder aiming to make a real impact with your academic startup? The Academic Startup Competition is back for its 5th edition, and it’s your chance to take your venture to new heights. Read on to learn how ASC is empowering founders across the Netherlands to refine their focus, expand their networks, and unlock valuable opportunities.

Applications for the 5th Edition are Now Open!​

Are you an ambitious founder aiming to make a real impact with your academic startup? The Academic Startup Competition is back for its 5th edition, and it’s your chance to take your venture to new heights. Read on to learn how ASC is empowering founders across the Netherlands to refine their focus, expand their networks, and unlock valuable opportunities.
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REVEALED: The 10 winners of the Academic Startup Competition 2022

The 10 winners of the Academic Startup Competition ten winners have been named: TargED biopharmaceuticals, Time Travelling Milkman, Carbyon, Quix Quantum, Mantispectra bv, Sensip DX, Exit071, Cellcius bv, Pharmi and ImcoMet bv. They earned the title of "The Most Promising Academic Startup in the Netherlands," and will go on a tailor-made business trip to the USA.
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Meet the second 10 finalists of the Academic Startup Competition 2022!​

After hitting a record number of registrations, the Association of Universities in the Netherlands (UNL), the Netherlands Academy of Technology and Innovation (AcTI), Techleap and THRIVE Institute, have nominated 20 academic startups as finalists to compete in the Grand Finale of the Academic Startup Competition 2022 for the title of "Most Promising Academic Startup in the Netherlands.’
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Meet the first 10 finalists of the Academic Startup Competition 2022!​

After hitting a record number of registrations, the Association of Universities in the Netherlands (UNL), the Netherlands Academy of Technology and Innovation (AcTI), Techleap and THRIVE Institute, have nominated 20 academic startups as finalists to compete in the Grand Finale of the Academic Startup Competition 2022 for the title of "Most Promising Academic Startup in the Netherlands.’
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Academic Startup Competition 2022: What’s Next?

After 3 months of scouting for the most promising Dutch academic startup companies, the registration deadline is closed. With over 120 registrations, this year's applicants are from a very broad spectrum, leading from deep-tech, to SDG-focused, to social startups
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The Academic Startup Competition is looking for the most promising academic startups in The Netherlands!

During the third edition of the ASC; Techleap, Universities of the Netherlands, AcTI, NFU, THRIVE Institute and the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate, are looking for the most promising academic startups in the Netherlands.
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Academic Startup Competition winners learn how to do business in Silicon Valley

From 9 February to 5 March 2021, ten Dutch startups – founded by students and staff of Dutch universities and university medical centres – will take part in the Digital Mission West Coast USA. The West Coast region is home to the leading universities Stanford and Berkeley, as well as startup valhalla Silicon Valley. During the mission, the startups will learn about the latest developments in their specialist field and be shown the ropes of doing business and pitching in the United States by experienced entrepreneurs.
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Revealed: The Top 10 most groundbreaking academic startups in NL

The ten winners of the prestigious Academic Startup Competition 2020 have been named as Bimini Biotech, DeNoize, Digi.Bio, IamFluidics, Kaminari Medical, Lusoco, NC Biomatrix, Taylor, uCrowds and VanBoven. The 10 winning startups can use the title ‘Best Academic Startup of 2020’ for the coming year.
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