From Monday, July 6 through Friday, July 17, the next edition of this renowned international summer school will take place, titled “New Venture Creation in the Amsterdam Entrepreneurial Ecosystem”.
This course is one of 25 programs offered as part of the VU Amsterdam Summer School 2026.
During the course, students learn how to start their own business while working in international teams. Two key themes are emphasized: sustainable entrepreneurship and the life cycle of the small firm. All activities take place within the context of the Amsterdam Entrepreneurial Ecosystem. Amsterdam offers a diverse and dynamic network of entrepreneurs, companies, and entrepreneurial organizations.
This summer school is organized by the Center for Entrepreneurship of the VU. The teaching staff includes both academic professors and guest speakers who have successfully applied their expertise in real-world business settings.
Morning lectures cover topics such as the Business Model Canvas for Startups and Scaleups. In the afternoons, students work on practical assignments. Sessions are partly at relevant locations outside the VU, throughout Amsterdam, including DLAB, the organization for startup pre-incubation in Amsterdam. The course concludes with team project pitches presented in a Dragon’s Den/Shark Tank-style setting.
The previous two editions of this summer school received an average student rating of 4.9 out of 5.0. One participant commented, “I really enjoyed the course because it was highly interactive and featured guest speakers every day.” Another student added, “It was an amazing experience. I loved staying in Amsterdam while being exposed to so much knowledge.” Nevertheless, further improvements will be introduced again this year.
Registration is now closed (the maximum number of participants is 25). If you are interested in attending one or more parts of this summer school, please contact the coordinator, Professor Enno Masurel, at e.masurel@vu.nl