On February 3rd, Lumière Cinema came alive with energy, creativity, and ambition as twelve bright student teams took the stage for the Grand Finale of the Brightlands Startup Challenge!
Over the past months, ambitious student teams have taken bold ideas and transformed them into promising ventures, tackling real-world challenges with creativity, courage, and an entrepreneurial mindset.
To all participating teams: thank you! You brought energy, curiosity, and determination into every workshop, coaching session, and pitch moment. Whether you are walking away with a prize, new skills, a stronger concept, or a fresh perspective, you are all winners in our eyes. Your ideas and dedication are shaping the future!
The finalists confidently pitched their ideas to the audience and a panel of expert judges representing our partners Rabobank, LIOF, the Brightlands Health Campus, and the Brightlands Smart Services Campus.
The finale was a celebration of the innovative power of students in the Brightlands region, and we're proud to announce this edition's winners:
A heartfelt thank-you to all partners and jury members! Your expertise, time, and belief in young entrepreneurial talent make this challenge possible. You do more than support ideas, you help shape innovators, founders, and changemakers.
And a special word of gratitude to Maastricht University for being the cornerstone of the challenge. Your commitment to entrepreneurship, innovation, and student development continues to create a powerful environment where talent can thrive.
To everyone involved: thank you for making this edition unforgettable! See you in spring!
"The Brightlands Startup Challenge programme is a great opportunity to broaden and test your entrepreneurial skills and competencies in close cooperation with other students and a network of industry partners.
You will be given ample chances to meet and work with different companies and businesses in interdisciplinary teams, in line with the actual development stage of your projects, whether it is ideation, prototyping or start-up."
.png)
