Last years winners
In 2009 a record number of 136 business plans were sent in. Three start-ups took €25,000 home. What was their secret? Last years winners are giving a crash course "Win money with your business plan".
Douwe Jacobs - Flux
Why should a folding chair be ugly? Douwe Jacobs came up with a beautiful one: the Flux. Moreover it's only four millimeters thick; put 250 together and you have a stack of only one meter. Made from one piece and therefor easy to recycle. Tom Schouten (photo) took care of the commercial side
“We made a very specific product. And from round one we made big steps in the development. We only had a photo of a paper model then. 'Prove us that it really works' the judges said. Round two we hade a prototye and by round three our first customers. We put a lot of time in our plans and proved we wanted to start our own company."
Lucas van de Akker - Protension
Composite materials (often fiber reinforced plastics) are gaining in popularity: they are light and strong. Yet there is a downside: producing complex forms is labor intensive. Lucas van den Akker (photo) came with a solution, so that for example motorcycle helmets can be produced for half the cost, lighter and stronger. Together with Daan Duurkoop, he founded Protension to put their idea on the market.
"Our idea is quite special, it is not obvious. And during our pitch we strongly emphasised the commercial aspect. Winning New Venture opens doors; investors can be very skeptical, but when they hear that you've won you do get invited."
Edwin van Rest - Mastersportal
Edwin van Rest created with college friends order in the chaos of European Master Studies. On site survey 'Mastersportal.eu' there are now more than 450 universities and over 10,000 masters.
"We have proven that it works. Last month we had 335,000 visitors, in the coming months we expect to grow another 15%. Our coach, Ruud van Hoek, has been a great help. Both professionally and financially: he helped us to find an investor. I do think it is also because socially Masters Portal is a good initiative, it promotes your international mobility. "
