Amsterdam-based ASIF Ventures, a student-run venture capital firm, and Tulip Ventures, a startup student association, have launched XLerate, an eight-week incubator for students and recent graduate founders.
The programme includes mentorship, workshops, and access to Amsterdam’s startup ecosystem. It concludes with PitchXL, the city’s largest student pitch competition.
Support for young founders in Amsterdam
XLerate is a free student-run incubator designed to support young entrepreneurs in developing their startups.
Organised by ASIF Ventures and Tulip Ventures, the programme offers workshops led by experienced founders and investors, mentorship, networking opportunities, and access to essential resources such as software, legal support, and co-working spaces.
Participants engage in discussions with entrepreneurs, receive tailored support, and collaborate with a community of student founders.
The eight-week programme takes place at key innovation hubs in Amsterdam. It concludes with PitchXL, a competition where participants present their ventures to investors.
Giovanni Antonelli, Xlerate’s Programme Lead, says, “XLerate is here to create the next wave of student-led startups. We provide the tools, guidance, and community to help ambitious founders turn ideas into reality.”
XLerate is open to early-stage startups, including teams with well-defined ideas and those generating initial revenue. The programme welcomes students and recent graduates from any Dutch educational institution, including high school, bachelor’s, master’s, and PhD programmes, up to five years after graduation.
Students and recent graduate founders can now apply for XLerate. The application deadline is March 31, 2025. According to Asif Ventures, XLerate requires four to six contact hours per week, allowing participants enough time to focus on developing their startups.
ASIF Ventures in a nutshell
ASIF Ventures is a venture capital fund in Amsterdam that supports startups founded by students and recent graduates from the University of Amsterdam and Vrije University.
At least one (co)founder must be a current or former student of the University of Amsterdam or Vrije University.
The organisation provides early-stage funding of up to €40K and connects founders with industry experts and investors.
The fund is managed by students and recent graduates, working alongside an advisory board to help emerging entrepreneurs grow their ventures within Amsterdam’s startup ecosystem.
Brief about Tulip Ventures
Tulip Ventures is a student association at the University of Amsterdam focused on startups. It helps students enter the startup world by supporting company creation, venture capital careers, and roles in existing startups.
The organisation consists of students interested in entrepreneurship and innovation. It is working to strengthen Amsterdam’s startup ecosystem. Tulip Ventures educates students through content and events while fostering connections within the community.
Its goals include building an active network of startup-focused students, providing knowledge and experience for career growth, and linking the student community with the broader startup ecosystem in Amsterdam.
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