How to apply

Student, researcher, staff, or recent alumni – graduated within the last three months – at VU, UvA, Amsterdam UMC, or HvA with a great business idea?

Step 1: Send an email
Send us a brief description of your idea to dlab@vu.nl. You will receive a response within a week.

Step 2: Join a Demonstrator Lab intake
The team will explain what we expect from our users, what support we offer, and check if you meet the following three criteria:​

• At least one team member is related to VU, UvA, Amsterdam UMC or HvA (student, staff, or recent alumni – within the last 6 months). ​
• Your proposition is ethically responsible.​
• Your proposition is not contradicted by science.​

And of course, we would like to hear what you need from us!​

We have an intake sheduled every two weeks on Thursday at 12:45 – 13:30. Location VU WN P232.

Step 3: Fill in the Application Form
To have a good overview of your project, we ask you to fill in a application form. This form will request, among other things, a summary of your idea and information about the team. The deadline for filling it in is two days before the pitch, which is the Tuesday of the week you will be pitching.

Step 4: Pitch Your Idea
The pitch is free format, but it is always good to elaborate on the unmet need, how your product/service addresses that need, what progress you have already made, and what your next steps will be. The pitch meeting is online via Teams. A group consisting of the Demonstrator Lab team from both VU and UvA, business developers from IXA, and Caempus will be present to give feedback. You will hear if your application is accepted or not within a week after the pitch.

Step 5: Welcome to the Demonstrator Lab
If you successfully complete all these steps, you will be admitted to the Demonstrator Lab. You will first be invited for an onboarding session, and then you will officially become part of the Demonstrator Lab. After three months, an evaluation will take place where we will review your contribution to the community, progress, and presence. This is also an opportunity to provide feedback to the Demonstrator Lab and discuss any additional support you may need.

 ​