This year, the Netherlands’ largest student entrepreneurship contest celebrates 20 years of fostering innovation and entrepreneurship. What makes this award so special is the unique trajectory it offers, designed to support students and recent graduates turning their ideas into successful startups, or providing more developed start-ups the tools to becoming a success.
Startups can participate in coaching days, where they receive valuable feedback from experts, attend insightful workshops and various training sessions, and connect with PHIA’s extensive network of alumni and jury members. Most importantly, participants gain access to a prominent platform to showcase their ideas. It’s a fantastic accelerator program that benefits every contestant!
Over the past 20 years, the Philips Innovation Award has provided a platform for numerous successful startups from diverse backgrounds. From last year’s winners AlphaPace and SoundCell, with their impactful healthcare solutions, to other notable winners like Respyre with its bioreceptive concrete, LaLaLand.ai offering digital models of every size, age, and race for the online fashion industry. Loop Biotech with their innovative mycelium-based living coffins. This award spans across sectors, and PHIA participants have made their mark both in the Netherlands and beyond.
Two leagues to ensure fair competition
The Philips Innovation Award offers two competition tracks to give every startup a fair chance to shine:
- The Innovator League for more developed startups
- The Rough Diamond League for early-stage ideas
The Innovator League winner will be awarded a prize worth €50,000, while the Rough Diamond League winner will receive €10,000 – a significant boost for any startup. All participants follow the same trajectory, benefiting equally from the program’s offerings.
Program timeline
The journey to the grand finale begins with submitting a business plan (deadline: 6th December 2024). Startups are evaluated by an expert panel on originality, sustainability, commercial potential, and innovation. The top 30 startups selected will follow the program, which leads to the semi-finals – the Refining Stage. Here, participants engage in events like Coaching Day and Investor Day, designed to refine their ideas and prepare for the semi-finals.
In the Final Stage, the top startups from both leagues will compete at the grand final on 17th June 2025 at Theater Rotterdam. This event will feature inspiring pitches, dynamic speakers, and an expert jury. Before the final, teams will have the chance to perfect their pitch at Pitching Day, ensuring they take the stage with confidence.
Deadline: Sign Up – Dare to Innovate!
Do you have an innovative startup or a groundbreaking idea? This is your chance! Submit your business plan before the deadline and take the first step toward accelerating your startup. The deadline for submissions is 6th December 2024, so don’t wait – get started today!
Watch our Call to Action video to experience the energy and excitement of PHIA, and sign up now at www.phia.nl.
The 20th edition of the Philips Innovation Award promises to be a milestone event – we look forward to celebrating a future filled with innovators, creators, and visionaries ready to make a difference!
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