26 November 2026
Leiden Bio Science Park - CORPUS Congress Centre
Leiden Bio Science Park - CORPUS Congress Centre
Present your company, products, technology or service to participants in the Dutch Life Sciences conference!
Open from 08:30 a.m. till 18:30 a.m.
Interest in becoming an exhibitor? More information >>
Hosted by Leiden Bio Science Park
by Esther Peters, Director Leiden Bio Science Park
Hosted by Health~Holland
The winner of the Venture Challenge Spring 2026 will be announced.
About the Venture Challenge
A ‘must-do’ opportunity for all life sciences entrepreneurs and the ideal way to receive coaching and advice on essential elements of setting up a business. In two 3-day workshops, the facilitators and other ‘competing’ teams will challenge you to focus your business idea to create optimal customer value, and you will learn to pitch your business case. At the end of the Challenge, the team with the best venture plan and pitch will be awarded € 25,000.00.
More than ten years ago, an idea to create a programme to support life sciences researchers with entrepreneurial aspirations came true with the start of LifeSciences@Work (LS@W). The Venture Challenge is part of the LS@W programme and has proven to be the most successful startup programme in Therapeutics, Diagnostics and Medical Devices. As of 2021 the Venture Challenge will be organised as a collaboration between NWO and Health~Holland, the Top Sector Life Sciences & Health and is further supported by private sponsors such as Loyens & Loeff and Pivot Park. More information on the Venture Challenge and other LifeSciences@work activities can be found on www.lifesciencesatwork.nl.
Time for networking and to visit the exhibition.
Hosted by Johnson & Johnson Innovation, supported by Biotech Booster and BOM (Brabantse Ontwikkelings Maatschappij)
Discover seven promising early-stage Life Sciences startups that are transforming groundbreaking scientific ideas into future healthcare solutions. These ventures, ranging from proof-of-concept projects to pre-seed stage, will pitch their innovations and growth ambitions to a jury of experts and investors.
The jury consists of:
Lisanne Blauw, Associate Thuja Capital (chair)
Thom Frielink, Sr. Associate Curie Capital
Viggo van Tendeloo, Director, Early-stage Innovation Benelux J&J Innovative Medicine
Time for networking and to visit the exhibition.
Hosted by Johnson & Johnson Innovation, supported by Biotech Booster and BOM (Brabantse Ontwikkelings Maatschappij)
Meet seven high-potential later-stage Life Sciences startups that are advancing innovative technologies towards commercialisation and market adoption. From seed-funded ventures till Series A companies, these finalists will showcase their progress, business potential, and impact on the future of healthcare.
The jury consists of:
Lisanne Blauw, Associate Thuja Capital (chair)
Thom Frielink, Sr. Associate Curie Capital
Viggo van Tendeloo, Director, Early-stage Innovation Benelux J&J Innovative Medicine
Hosted by AXON Lawyers
Find out all about the latest advances in neurodegenerative disease research, highlighting emerging therapies, investment trends, and recent clinical trial results. How scientific innovation and strategic funding are accelerating the development of new treatments for diseases such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and ALS will be discussed. You will gain insights into key breakthroughs, challenges, and opportunities shaping the future of neurological healthcare.
Time for networking and to visit the exhibition.
During the parallel Startup Forum Early-Stage session in the morning and the Startup Forum Later-Stage session in the afternoon, seven selected companies in each category presented their ventures, technologies, and growth ambitions to an expert jury and the conference audience.
Following a thorough evaluation of the pitches, the jury selected one winner from each category based on criteria such as innovation, impact, business potential, and presentation. During this closing session, the winners of the Early- and Later-Stage Startup Forums will be announced and celebrated.
The lines between food, nutraceuticals and pharmaceuticals are becoming increasingly blurred, creating new opportunities for innovation, growth and value creation across the healthcare ecosystem. In this keynote, Gali Artzi, CTO and Partner at PeakBridge, a global venture capital firm, will explore how consumer demand, scientific validation and evolving regulatory frameworks are reshaping business models at the intersection of health and wellness. Drawing on trends in venture capital, corporate investment and industry partnerships, Gali Artzi offers a forward-looking perspective on the convergence of food, nutrition and medicine, and what it means for the next generation of life sciences companies.
Drinks, bites, networking and visit the exhibition!