A ‘must-do’ opportunity for starting 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 and one-on-one coaching sessions, the coaches and the other teams will challenge you to focus and turn your research into a solid business case. At the end of the Venture Challenge, the team with the best venture plan and pitch will be awarded € 25,000. During the Dutch Life Sciences conference, the teams of the previous edition get the opportunity to pitch during the plenary programme and the winner will be announced!

In 2008 an idea to create a programme to support life sciences researchers with entrepreneurial aspirations came true with the start of LifeSciences@Work. The Venture Challenge is part of the LS@W programme and has proven to be the most successful startup programme in Drug Development, Diagnostics and Medical Devices in the Netherlands. The alumni of this internationally recognised programme have recently surpassed the milestone of €1 billion in combined non-dilutive and dilutive funding, underlining the programme's lasting impact on the Dutch life sciences ecosystem.

The Venture Challenge is an instrument of the Dutch Ministery of Economic Affairs. It is organised as a collaboration between NWO and Health Holland. The program is further supported by private sponsors CMS Netherlands and Pivot Park. More information on the Venture Challenge and other LifeSciences@work activities can be found on www.lifesciencesatwork.nl. Questions? info@lifesciencesatwork.nl