
Navigate through the valley of death

Are you an ambitious deeptech startup that wants to get ahead of the race as fast as possible?
Pole Position connects you to peers, seasoned Deeptech entrepreneurs and Techleaps experienced and well-connected community. Together, we work on your challenges while developing a strong roadmap through the valley of death towards your dot on the horizon: a global scale company!
A new round for Pole Position, focused on Life Science & Health, is now open for applicants. Deadline for registration is February 26, 2024.

Pole Position in short
Starting a Deeptech company is very challenging. Developing complex technology, operating in a complicated ecosystem while accessing the market, raising money ahead of traction and keeping up the spirit for yourself and your growing team requires a high level of ambition, vision, focus and endurance.
Because we need these breakthrough technologies to find their way to success through the valley of death Techleap designed Pole Position. A programme that challenges you and your team on your vision & ambition, market access, business model, leadership & team and funding roadmap. Pole Position is a programme for founders only to level with peers and get challenged by experts and experienced founders that are already ahead of the race.

Who is the programme for
We select deeptech companies with the potential to scale and that want to have global impact and fit the criteria (in the image) below. The upcoming batch is specifically designed for Deeptech companies with a focus on Greentech. These ventures develop breakthrough products and services that combine advanced hardware and digital technologies – such as advanced materials, photonics & optical technologies, quantum technologies, chemical technologies, nano technology and engineering & fabrication technologies,
Application(s) can range from renewable energy, storage & optimalisation, carbon capture & offset, alternative mobility, climate tracking/mitigation, green materials, aquatech, circular waste management and low-carbon construction.


Planning the main phases
What does the programme offer?
Pre-phase
Intake
Provide us with necessary information we ask for in the application.
In preparation of the programme you will have to provide us with necessary information we ask for in the application. We will ask you for a video motivation of the ‘Why’ you started your company and what you aim for. When preselected, we will ask you for your roadmap and pitchdeck. These and your live pitch with Q&A will be judged by a jury of investors, founders and experts, chaired by Constantijn van Oranje. When selected, you will have an intake call with the Pole Position team and Race Captain.
Pase I
Assess
Getting to know and prepping you and your company.
This first part of the programme will consist out of assessing, getting to know and prepping you and your company by means of a scale scan, 1 on 1 sessions with our pitcrew and 2 kick-off days offsite.
Phase II
Insight
Work on your challenges and get insights on where to focus on as a company.
In four group sessions together with scale founders, serial (deeptech) entrepreneurs and experts you will work on your challenges and get insights on where to focus on as a company after the programme.
Challenging elements of your roadmap like Market Access, Team and Leadership, Business models and Funding will be discussed in depth. There is always an inspirational element!
Phase III
Boost & Connect
Boost your journey towards global impact.
All the knowledge, tough love, shared learnings and insights will help you in your journey to global impact. In the period after the programme you will be supported by the Techleap platform and the BOLD community.
Planning timeline Life Science &
Health in 2024

Pitcrew and Challengers
Deeptech

Alexander Crowell
Partner PureTerra Ventures

Pippa Gawley
Founding Partner Zero Carbon

Hamed Sadeghian
CEO Nearfield Instruments

Fabrizio Del Maffeo
CEO & Co-founder Axelera

Lise Rechsteiner

Bram de Zwart
Co-founder Hubs

Corinne Vigreux
TomTom

Vincent Kamphorst
Innovation Industries

Jos Burger
Founder Ultimaker

Menno van Dijk

Ton van ’t Noordende

Constantijn van Oranje
Special Envoy TechleapNL

Alexander Ribbink
General Partner KEEN Ventures

Beau-Anne Chilla
Investment Manager Forward.one

Pia Michel
Prima Materia

Guus Frericks
DeeptechXL

Boudewijn Docter

Oscar Kneppers
ACE

Riemer Smink
FORWARD.one

Johan Feenstra
CEO Smart Photonics

Martina Barabas
Deeptech Equity NL

Rene de Vries
Founder Aito

Samir Ahmad
Deeptech Equity NL

Ferdinand Grapperhaus
Founder PHYSEE

Arno van Mourik
CEO Airborne

Richard Visser
Founder SMART Photonics

Helmer Schukken
Managing Partner Rubio Ventures

Teska van Vuren
Partner Deeptech XL

Gert Jan Vaessen
Fund Manager Deep Tech Fund

Soukaina Adnane-Murphy
Founder Onera Health

Art de Boo
Coach

David Rosenberg
OXYGY

Sebastian Peck
Partner Kompas VC

Michael Smith
General Partner Regeneration VC
Pitcrew and Challengers
Life Science & Health

Sjaak Vink
Founder & CEO at The Social Network, on a mission to give everyone access to the best medicines

Dinko Valerio
Scientist-turned-entrepreneur, founder & former CEO of Crucell, mentor

Eline van Beest
CEO Hybridize Therapeutics and Venture Partner at Thuja Capital.

Derk Arts
CEO at Castor, Making Decentralized Trials Scale.

Judith Heikoop
InspiringFifty Europe winner, MedTech & Life Sciences, Scaling start-ups and C-Suite Executive and Board member.

Anke Huiskes
Early Stage Investor. Managing Partner NP-Hard at Ventures and Founding Partner Planet Positive

Fenna Heyning
NLC

Henk Westendorp
Medtronic

Sarah Fisher
Venture Partner

Harm de Vries
General Partner Innovation Industries

Eva Hukshorn
CFO MRIguidance

Ger van Jeveren
Investor PhotonVentures

Jaap Maljers
Business man with a strong social drive, entrepreneur & investor in health care

Chretien Herben
Mentor for startups and scale-ups in Life Sciences, Biotech, Medtech and Cleantech

Jan Hunik
Building business in Biotechnology, Food and Biomedical materials

Alain le Loux
Partner at Dutch-American deeptech VC firm Cottonwood Technology Fund

Miranda Berkhof
Owner BeyoUnd Transformation. Developing thriving teams and authentic leaders

Anne DeGheest
Mentor Capitalist, Investor and Corporate Adviser. Pioneered the HealthTech space as entrepreneur. Founder of HealthTech Capital and MedStars.

Allard Kaptein
Managing Director LAMA Ventures

Jorge Juan Fernandez Garcia
Venture Partner Nina Capital

Merel Boers
CEO Nicolab

Koenraad Wiephaup
Founder, CEO Leyden Labs

Ton van ’t Noordende
QDNL Participations, PHX
What participants say about
Pole Position
Who participated in Pole Position?
These are some of our alumni

Are you a deeptech founder that matches the criteria but are not fitting the greentech theme;
leave your details here so that we can keep you updated on future batches.
Meet the team

Annemieke Wisse
Snr. Programme Manager

Lech Bakhuizen van den Brink
Programme Manager

Iris Visser
Project Manager

Peter Maarten Westerhout
Director Deeptech
How do I apply
To apply, fill in the application form.
Once you submit your application, your candidature will be thoroughly reviewed by a group of experts. Eventually, we will select fifteen ventures that will be invited to pitch and do a Q&A in front of the selection committee on the September 11, 2023.
Application deadline September 11
Selection day September 28
You will get an answer on their decision ultimately on September 29, 2023.
What are the costs?
We do not seek equity. There are no participation costs involved besides your full commitment. We aim to build a thriving (deeptech) startup & scale community and therefore we do ask you to give back. For both Pole Position and this community, we believe that the more effort you put in the more you will get out of it. Let’s make an impact together!
What is the selection process?
Once you submit your application, your candidature will be thoroughly reviewed by a group of experts. Eventually, we will select fifteen ventures that will be invited to pitch and do a Q&A in front of the selection committee on September 28, 2023.
You will get an answer on their decision on September 29. 2023. Once selected you will be part of the greater Techleap community of serial entrepreneurs, investors and other ecosystem stakeholders.
What is Pole Position’s added value?
With the Pole Position Programme we will help you, as a deeptech venture, to bridge the so-called 'valley of death' with its complex obstacles. This includes expert support, peer-to-peer and role-model learning (with tough love) and access to an extensive and (sector specific) relevant network including great (intern)national exposure. Summarised:
- The benefit of 13 collaborating Dutch public incubators including their networks, their proximity to research and scientific facilities and their startup expertise.
- The benefit of Techleap’s network of high quality experts, including policymakers, top-notch entrepreneurs and other ecosystem stakeholders.
- You will gain (facilitated) exposure for your company on Techleap.nl and Incubators United channels.
- You’ll learn from like-minded entrepreneurs through our peer-to-peer sessions, ignited by theme specific role models.
Do you run the Pole Position initiative for startups from all industries?
Yes, however, we focus on specific themes to create added value among peers and address similar challenges. The fifth theme will be focused on Greentech.
In case you are interested in joining the initiative but do not fit any of these batches, please contact our Programme manager Lech Bakhuizen v.d. Brink at lech@techleap.nl or leave your contact details here.
Still more questions?
We are happy to answer them! Please reach out to our Programme manager Lech at lech@techleap.nl.