Venture Academy
We help you create your own job
In order to keep pace with the demands of the 21st century and its rapidly changing work environment, we need to complement the skills that are taught in academia today. Our mission is to better prepare students of Leiden University for their career. Our vision is to bridge the gap between the University and the job market by helping students with business.
The Venture Academy supports you in the development of a new start-up by offering workshops that provide you with the tools and methods needed to help build your business skills. The Venture Academy enrols eight selected teams. We provide each team with an iterative 22 week program that equips you to enter the market place by the end of the program.
Together with our partners we are able to provide dedicated and professional mentorship and coaching support to each individual team. Throughout the programme we advocate and encourage a high level of self-initiative and a professional business ethos. The student entrepreneurs are not in it for ECTs. The objective is to start a business and make a profit.
The Venture Academy is looking for:
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Student entrepreneurs with the right attitude;
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8 start-ups consisting of at least 3 team members;
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One of these team members needs to study at Leiden University;
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Motivation to join 11 workshops once every two weeks;
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At least 1 working day per week to invest in your project.
Practical Information
You can apply as an individual or as a team for the Matchmaking Event by submitting your CV and motivation letter (max 200 words) at c4i@fgga.leidenuniv.nl with subject “Venture Academy 2016 - your name and surname”. Deadline is the 5th of February at 12:00.
In order to get accepted into the programme (starting with the second workshop), you will need to submit a filled out Business Model Canvas and a one-pager outlining your business proposition and a page describing your team composition - more information will be given during the Matchmaking Event. Deadline for this submission is the 19th of February at 12:00. A total of 8 teams will be selected based on the thoroughness of their submission, their business feasibility and their team composition.
Application and attendance of the Matchmaking Event is required to apply for the programme.
Programme overview
|
Date |
Workshop |
Deliverable |
|
10/02/16 |
Matchmaking |
Start-up Team |
|
24/02/16 |
Rapid Prototyping |
Ideation and Testing |
|
09/03/16 |
Agile Methods |
Project Roadmap |
|
23/03/16 |
Business Development |
Tested Assumptions |
|
06/04/16 |
Legal and Financial Administration |
Legal Entity |
|
20/04/16 |
Sales Strategy & Operations |
Approaching Customers |
|
04/05/16 |
Business Model Writing |
Business Model |
|
18/05/16 |
Demo Day |
Possible Equity |
|
01/06/16 |
Optimize your Product |
Prototype |
|
15/06/16 |
Optimize your Story |
Product Identity |
|
29/06/16 |
Final pitch |
Presenting |
Contact
The Venture Academy is an initiative of the Centre for Innovation. The objective of the program is to give students the opportunity to gain high quality career experience. The Centre for Innovation is dedicated to prepare our students for the future.