The Timeline
Room A123 - School of Business and Economics, Tongersestraat 53 6211 LM, Maastricht
13:30 - 15:30
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 Predrag Končar from CEI
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?
Room A123 - School of Business and Economics, Tongersestraat 53 6211 LM, Maastricht
10:00 - 12:00
By Hovik Torkomyan
Description
Positioning isn't a sentence you write once. It's a system you use to define what you stand for and sharpen it as you learn. This hands-on session gives you that system, built on your own startup. You leave with a first positioning and everything you need to run the system again, whether you keep building, pivot, or start something new.
What we do in the session
A hands-on, interactive workshop on your own startup. You'll learn how to find out what you're genuinely good at, turn it into value propositions, and turn your value propositions into a messaging framework. We explain each step, do it together, and move on. At the end we recap what we built and what you run at home.
What you take home
Room A123 - School of Business and Economics, Tongersestraat 53 6211 LM, Maastricht
13:00 - 15:00
By Hovik Torkomyan
Description
Positioning isn't a sentence you write once. It's a system you use to define what you stand for and sharpen it with every conversation you have with the market. This hands-on session gives you that system and connects it to your launch. You leave with your positioning defined and everything you need to take it to market and keep iterating, whether you keep building, pivot, or start something new.
What we do in the session
A hands-on, interactive workshop on your own startup. You'll learn how to find out what you're genuinely good at, turn it into value propositions, and turn your value propositions into a messaging framework. Then we connect it to your launch: how your positioning defines your ideal customer profile, and how founder-led sales tells you whether it's right. At the end we recap what we built and what you run at home.
What you take home
School of Business and Economics, Tongersestraat 53 6211 LM, Maastricht
13:00 - 15:00
By Nicola from HARDRADA and Jimena + Marie from crustico (former winning startups 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
10:00 - 12:00
By Predrag Končar from CEI
All key ingredients to make your entrepreneurial journey a success.
Karl Dittrich Hall, Student Services Center, Bonnefantenstraat 2, 6211 KL, Maastricht
09:30 - 11:30
By Lars Smits
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...
Opinions of other students on Networking skills:
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
10:00 - 12:00
By Hugo Delissen from Brightlands
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.
School of Business and Economics, Tongersestraat 53 6211 LM, Maastricht
14:00 - 16:00
By Predrag Končar from CEI
How to build a successful pitch deck? Get ready to pitch your business!
School of Business and Economics, Tongersestraat 53 6211 LM, Maastricht
13:00 - 15:00
By Rabobank & LIOF
How do you fund your next growth step?
School of Business and Economics, Tongersestraat 53 6211 LM, Maastricht
10:00 - 12:00
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.
School of Business and Economics, Tongersestraat 53 6211 LM, Maastricht
13:00 - 15:00
By Predrag Končar from CEI
As the name already says, all practical matters related to your business.
The Mensa - 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
13:00 - 15:30
School of Business and Economics, Tongersestraat 53 6211 LM, 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!