Startup Fest Brightlands – Incubate. Accelerate. Validate. Scale.

Startup Fest Brightlands. Incubate. Accelerate. Validate. Scale., is an exciting one-day entrepreneurship event with masterclasses by industry leaders, ‘Get in the Ring’ startup pitch competition and a networking party with official opening of Brightlands Innovation Factory.

Brightlands is the place to be when it comes to advanced materials, health, food and smart services. During Startup Fest Brightlands we celebrate the opening of Brightlands Innovation Factory, the entrepreneurial backbone of the Brightlands ecosystem. We get inspired by daring ideas for a better and more sustainable world. We empower today’s pioneers in advanced materials, health, food and smart services on their journey from a bold idea to a legendary company. The Brightlands ecosystem is home to daring entrepreneurs and visionary investors, forward-thinking corporations and knowledge institutes, talented researchers and students.

Startup Fest Brightlands will take place on Friday, May 27th in Muziekgieterij, Boschstraat 7, 6211AS in Maastricht.

You can attend the entire event by registering for all 3 activities, or choose the ones you're available for.

Event Program:

9 AM  - 1 PM

Masterclasses

To kick off this big day, we invited four professionals to give the Masterclasses in the areas of their expertise.

- Richard Habets
How to build a legendary company without driving yourself (and others) crazy?
Turn your personal blind spots into highly valuable insights.

- Patrick Vroomen
What is the basic equipment for today's start-ups?
Accelerate your business with eight practical agile insights.

- Martijn Kagenaar
You never get a second chance to make a first impression.
Learn about the best & worst practices, audience participation, and low hanging fruits.

- Theo Ploeg
Are you a smart citizen? Roles of bottom-up smart citizenship & new media.
Your real smartness comes with an understanding of technology and its impact.

1 PM - 5 PM      

‘Get in the Ring: Brightlands Edition’

After a careful selection, we invited the best startups from Zuyd University, Maastricht University, TU/e and Brightlands to pitch and fight against each other in a boxing ring. The winner of this battle will travel to the global ‘Get in the Ring’ Final in 2017. 

Keynote 

- Tom van Aken, CEO Avantium

What’s it like to be an entrepreneur?
Tom van Aken, the CEO of Avantium will walk us through his 10-year journey to build an innovative renewable chemistry company. He will talk about many challenges, but also moments of excitement and luck.

Opening Brightlands Innovation Factory

We are thrilled to celebrate the opening of Brightlands Innovation Factory. Our new initiative is the entrepreneurial backbone of Brightlands ecosystem, where health, smart services, food and materials are the building blocks. 

5 PM – 8 PM

Networking Party
We will end the day with the Brightlands Innovation Factory Networking Party - the evening full of celebrations and networking with drinks, food and music in the company of speakers, experts, academics and fellow entrepreneurs.