The Timeline
School of Business and Economics, Tapijnkazerne 11, 6211 Maastricht - Room TAP11 I0013A/B
14:30 - 16:30
By Robin de Heer
Ready to turn your passion into action?
Do you wonder how to take a spark of inspiration and turn it into something tangible? Or do you already have an idea bubbling, and you're preparing for the next step?
Join the Ideation Workshop, designed for:
Dreamers: those who are still exploring how to transform their passion into entrepreneurship.
Explorers: those who already have an idea but want to dig deeper, test assumptions and refine their concept before moving forward.
In this workshop, Robin de Heer will give you the space, tools, and energy to explore your ideas.
Advanced teams are welcome too! Just a heads-up: the workshop isn’t specifically tailored to advanced teams, but you may still find fresh perspectives and useful exercises to challenge your thinking.
Faculty of Science and Engineering, Paul-Henri Spaaklaan 1 6229 EN, Maastricht
13:30 - 17:00
The challenge begins! Join us as we bring together participants and our partner network for the first time. This is your chance to:
Meet fellow competitors and potential collaborators.
Get a clear overview of the challenge and next steps.
Hear how partners and mentors can support you along the way.
Faculty of Science and Engineering, Paul-Henri Spaaklaan 1 6229 EN, Maastricht
By Nicolle Bassie – van den Elst & Predrag Koncar
Taking place as part of the Kick-Off Event program.
What is the Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation and how can it support you during your entrepreneurial journey?
School of Business and Economics, Tongersestraat 53 6211 LM, Maastricht - Room C -1.03
14:00 - 17:00
By Predrag Končar
All key ingredients to make your entrepreneurial journey a success.
School of Business and Economics, Tongersestraat 53 6211 LM, Maastricht - Room H 0.06
13:30 - 16:00
By Hugo Delissen
Customers do not care about the product they buy but about the value they get from it. To develop the right product, which fits with the customer (product-market fit), is crucial to build business. That’s why understanding of the customer activities, pains and gains are the starting point of developing new products and creating value for the customer. In this workshop everyone can learn, based on his own specific case, how to create the value proposition (the reason to buy) for the customer based on the customer segment and the product.
Preparation for the workshop: Definition of your own clear customer segment and business idea.
Karl Dittrich Hall, Student Services Center, Bonnefantenstraat 2, 6211 KL, Maastricht
13:30 - 15:30
By Cameron Bavay
The importance of networking for your career cannot be underestimated. It is the best way to get detailed information about the job market, job openings, and job opportunities. And the way to present yourself professionally. So, how do you network? This lecture provides hands-on tips that help you build a network that supports you in your transition from university into the job market.
At the end of this lecture, you will be able to...
If you are specifically interested in digital networking, sign up for the free lecture Using LinkedIn.
Opinions of other students on Networking skills:
“This lecture made me feel much more comfortable about networking.”
“That we could think about our brand, what makes us unique and our qualities.”
“The networking games were great for practice.”
In the meantime...
You can have a look at the offer on the Personal & Professional Development Portal.
There are free and short online modules and resources on several topics. The following modules are aligned with this workshop:
School of Business and Economics, Tongersestraat 53 6211 LM, Maastricht - Room H 0.06
10:00 - 12:00
By Hovik Torkomyan
Craft Your Startup’s First Strategic Story
Got a big idea but not sure how to talk about it in a way that sticks?
This Positioning Workshop is designed for early-stage founders still shaping their startup idea. Whether you’ve got a landing page, a prototype, or just a Notion doc full of inspiration—we’ll help you turn your thinking into a strategic narrative that resonates.
You’ll learn the fundamentals of positioning, try out two hands-on exercises to define your startup’s strengths, and walk away with a clearer sense of what makes you different—and why it matters.
School of Business and Economics, Tongersestraat 53 6211 LM, Maastricht - Room H 0.06
13:00 - 15:00
By Hovik Torkomyan
From MVP to Product-Market Fit and beyond: A Strategic Marketing Playbook for SaaS Founders
Achieving Product-Market Fit (PMF) is the defining milestone for any B2B SaaS founder—the moment you validate that your product meets a critical need for a clear audience, creating the foundation for scalable growth. To get there, you need more than a MVP; you need a hyper-focused, Go-to-Market (GTM) strategy—or what I call a "Go-to-PMF strategy."
This master class is for founders ready to develop a laser-focused GTM strategy that drives them to PMF. I’ll break down the crucial marketing steps to bridge the gap from MVP to PMF and provide you with a clear action plan.
School of Business and Economics, Tongersestraat 53 6211 LM, Maastricht - Room H006
13:00 - 15:00
By Anirudh from Aestuarium & Laurin from Nemean BioLabs (former winners of the challenge)
Are you looking for insider strategies to fast-track your startup's growth, refine your pitch, or navigate the highs and lows of entrepreneurship? Look no further.
Join us for an exclusive Tips & Tricks + Q&A Session hosted by two successful alumni of the Brightlands Startup Challenge. Having walked the exact same path, they are stepping back onto the stage to share the raw, unfiltered lessons they learned, the shortcuts that actually work, and the pitfalls you’ll want to avoid.
Why you should join:
Insider Secrets: Get practical, battle-tested advice on how to maximize your time in the challenge.
Open Q&A: No gatekeeping here. Bring your toughest questions about funding, scaling, pivoting, or pitching, and get real-time answers.
Community Connection: Network with fellow innovators and find inspiration from those who have successfully crossed the finish line.
Don't miss the chance to learn from those who have been there, done that, and won.
School of Business and Economics, Tongersestraat 53 6211 LM, Maastricht - A123
09:00 - 11:00
By Rabobank & LIOF
School of Business and Economics, Tongersestraat 53 6211 LM, Maastricht - H006
14:00 - 16:00
School of Business and Economics, Tongersestraat 53 6211 LM, Maastricht
12:30 - 17:00
An exciting afternoon of speed-dating where selected teams will connect with partners for brainstorming, coaching, and valuable feedback. This dynamic event offers a unique chance to engage face-to-face, receive valuable feedback, spark new ideas, and build meaningful connections to help elevate your projects and collaborations.
School of Business and Economics, Tongersestraat 53 6211 LM, Maastricht - Room A123
14:00 - 16:00
By Nicolle Bassie – van den Elst & Predrag Koncar
As the name already says, all practical matters related to your business.
School of Business and Economics, Tongersestraat 53 6211 LM, Maastricht - C-103 (below the Mensa)
11:00 - 13:00
By the Brightlands Startup League and LIOF
Discover how Limburg’s dynamic start-up ecosystem fuels innovation and growth. This workshop offers a fast-paced tour through the Brightlands campuses and key support organizations like LIOF and RVO, giving you a clear overview of the resources, networks, and opportunities available to help your start-up thrive.
Open for all participating students!
School of Business and Economics, Tongersestraat 53 6211 LM, Maastricht - Room A123
15:30 - 17:30
University of Maastricht, Minderbroedersberg 4-6, 6211 LK, Maastricht
12:00 - 17:00
The best teams will take the stage to deliver a pitch about their entrepreneurial idea or innovative prototype. The afternoon concludes with an award ceremony and a celebration of the challenge!