Driving force behind the VU StartHub is president of the Executive Board and Professor of Entrepreneurship Mirjam van Praag and director of the VU StartHub Hans Drenth. With the arrival of the VU StartHub, they aim to offer students, staff and VU alumni a place for inspiration and guidance to turn their business ideas into reality. "Entrepreneurship is so much more than bringing a product or service to the market. It requires qualities like creativity, flexibility and perseverance; the ability to withstand setbacks and deal with losses. These are skills we want to teach our students. An entrepreneurial attitude gets you much further," Van Praag said.
Entrepreneurship with support from VU network and business community
The VU StartHub was developed by the VU Entrepreneurship & Impact team. The sustainably built pavilion on the campus square at De Boelelaan in Amsterdam offers help and support to start-ups at all stages of entrepreneurship. From gaining inspiration for a business idea and sharpening the proposition in the Demonstrator Lab, to founding the start-up and stimulating business growth in the hub itself. In doing so, they have access to the VU network and team, the Mentoring Pool consisting of about 70 entrepreneurial alumni, and experts from business partners such as Roland Berger, EY-VODW, Van Doorne, Pfizer, IQVIA and Catalyze Group. An important condition for joining the start-up community at VU Amsterdam is that a company also contributes to society. "It is great to see that the start-ups are really in it from a 'purpose': there is a challenge in society and they want to offer a solution to it. That we meet a need is shown by the fact that we are almost at a waiting list at the opening," says Drenth.
Turn scientific insights into innovative applications
Not only does the VU StartHub fill a need among students for entrepreneurship, but according to Van Praag the opening of the VU StartHub pavilion seamlessly aligns with what VU stands for. "Entrepreneurship is in the DNA of VU Amsterdam. We wouldn't exist without it. And I think every organisation should embrace it. I have been researching it for more than 30 years and it continues to fascinate me. Studies show that entrepreneurship is not just a skill people are born with, but that it can be learned to a large extent. A university education proves to be a great success factor. And besides, companies that get their start at a university can translate scientific insights into innovative applications."
Sustainable
Built sustainable from 'refurbished' construction units, including green roofs, waterless urinals, a diversity of plants and trees and a rooftop terrace with a bee hive, the VU StartHub physically houses 25 start-ups founded by VU students, researchers, staff or recent alumni. Through pitch events and a Student Startup Competition, innovative start-ups in the fields of sustainability, technology, mobility, real estate, education and healthcare have been selected in recent months. They will make way for new start-ups after a maximum of three years.
The opening of the entrepreneurial pavilion
The opening of the VU StartHub started last Thursday, 6 October, with a roundtable discussion led by VU alumnus and entrepreneur Simon Douw on the importance of entrepreneurship within a university. Participants included HRH Constantijn van Oranje (envoy Techleap), Simone Brummelhuis (founder lens and Borski Fund), Jalal Es-Sbai (founder Catalyze Group), Eva de Mol (founder CapitalT) and startup entrepreneur Huib Wielinga, founder of Mozo and member of the VU StartHub community. The VU StartHub was then officially opened by VU president Mirjam van Praag and director Hans Drenth, and attendees were shown around the pavilion and introduced to the selected startups.