Pole Position: Navigate Critical Challenges in Deeptech
Join the leading programme to drive your deeptech from breakthrough towards global impact!
Pole Position in short
Scaling a deeptech company poses unique challenges: developing complex technology, navigating a complicated ecosystem, understanding your critical value chain, secure growth funding , and maintaining team morale. Success demands vision, focus, and endurance.
Pole Position is Techleap’s flagship programme for high-potential deeptech companies. We dive with you and your peers into this critical growth phase to sharpen the vision, enhance market access strategies, tackle leadership and funding challenges, and accelerate growth.
Deeptech Founder Journey
Are you an ambitious deeptech venture ready to accelerate and get in Pole Position ?
Techleap and Pole Position is all about founders for founders, so you’ll also be challenged to the bone and gain insights from founders and CEOs of leading companies.
Participating in this programme will also give you access to the power of the Techleap brand and community. We will invite you to meetings and events where you’ll have the opportunity to connect with top international founders, industry leaders, government, and deeptech investors.
Who is the programme for?
We’re seeking the most ambitious Deeptech ventures with global impact potential and scaling ambitions. Our next cohort focuses on ‘Future of Compute’ – breakthrough products & services combining advanced hardware and digital technologies.
Minimum requirements (Criteria):
- • Netherlands-based
• Led by a dedicated full-time founder team and minimum 15+ FTE
• Have a Problem Solution Fit (PSF), progressing towards or secured Product Market Fit (PMF)
• Initially funded (min. €4.5M), seeking significant capital
• Developing breakthrough Deeptech (scientific or technology-based)
• Aligned with the cohort’s theme
• Driven by a founder mentality (growth mindset, ambition, willingness to give back and be challenged by peers and seasoned entrepreneurs)
• Ready to transition from successful pilot to commercial deployment or already commercially active
Programme Structure
Meet our Pole Position alumni:
Trailblazers in Deeptech
Challengers & Experts
from previous cohorts
Dinko Valerio
Founder & former CEO of Crucell
Hamed Sadeghian
CEO Nearfield Instruments
Corinne Vigreux
Co-Founder TomTom
Arno van Mourik
CEO Airborne
Fabrizio del Maffeo
Co-Founder & CEO Axelera
Eline van Beest
CEO Hybridize Therapeutics
Olivier Heyning
Co-Founder & former CEO of Lumicks
Tim Knotnerus
CEO AgomAb
Soukaina Adnane-Murphy
Founder Onera Health
Jos Burger
Founder Ultimaker
Krijn de Nood
Richard Visser
Founder SMART Photonics
Susanne Schorsch
Partner Amadeus Capital
Menno van Dijk
Lise Rechsteiner
Gen. Partner VSquared Ventures
Rene de Vries
Founder Aito
Johan Feenstra
CEO Smart Photonics
Ton van ’t Noordende
Meet the team
Lech Bakhuizen van den Brink
Programme Manager
Iris Visser
Project Manager
Peter Maarten Westerhout
Director Deeptech
Annemieke Wisse
Deeptech Capital Lead
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 October 8th, 2024.
Application deadline September 23rd 2024.
Selection day October 8th 2024.
You will get an answer on their decision ultimately on October 9th.
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 October 8th, 2024.
Application deadline September 23rd 2024.
Selection day October 8th 2024.
You will get an answer on their decision ultimately on October 9th.
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 October 8th, 2024.
You will get an answer on their decision on October 9th 2024. 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 getting challenged by experts and experienced founders that are already ahead of the race.
- 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's 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 upcoming (7th) theme will be focused on the 'Future of Compute'.
In case you are interested in joining the initiative but do not fit our upcoming batch, please contact us via deeptech@techleap.nl
In case you are interested in contributing with your knowledge and experience (as a entrepreneur) feel free to reach out to our Programme manager via lech@techleap.nl
Still more questions?
We are happy to answer them!
For general questions reach out via deeptech@techleap.nl For specific questions reach out via lech@techleap.nl.