Become a co-founder

We bring together skilled individuals and advanced technologies to build deep-tech ventures that tackle grand societal challenges.

Apply for the SPRING cohort 2025!

(The Program starts in April)

APPLY NOW

You have the vision, we have the expertise! Join us

CEOs

Are you having an entrepreneurial mindset and ready to take a new challenge?

CTOs

Are you passionate about deep-tech?

CBOs

Are you interested in building a business from scratch and develop the strategy behind?

About us

We merge the unique skills of our global ecosystem with deep tech and entrepreneurship to build deep-tech ventures that tackle grand societal challenges. We support teams as they progress through our venture building program and connect them with essential resources, such as investors, advisors and customers.

VETURES CREATED

77 companies created

SURVIVAL RATE

35% of our ventures successfully complete the program

DIVERSITY

Co-founders from over 15 nationalities of which 30% are woman.

TECHNOLOGIES

We scout groundbreaking technologies at Technology Readiness Levels (TRL) 3+

2023-04 EP&C Blog Europa - GM groente_2_Kolom_356x301

SUPPORT

1-year structured program with tailored guidance from 400+ experts.

PRE-SEED

Up to 30.000€ pre-seed investment upon successful completion of the second phase.

FUNDING SECURED

More than 132 million funding raised in Euros by our ventures

IMPACT

Over 3000 new jobs created

Our unique recipe

Our venture building approach is rigorous, with teams working on all aspects of the venture with support from our global network. We support teams throughout and after the program. See our unique offer

Team & Talent Development
Co-Founder Matching: Together we will find the right co-founder to complete your high-performing startup team.

Team Dynamics Support: Active team dynamics coaching and support in the development of your high-performing team.

Business Coaching: Hands-on, weekly business coaching to accelerate venture development.

Storytelling and Pitch Training: Extensive coaching in storytelling, stage presence, pitching, and media training to be ready to sell your story in any setting.

Carbyons-ultra-fast-swing-process-by-Bart-van-Overbeeke-Photography

Tech & Resources
Access to Advanced Technologies: Access to disruptive technologies from world-renowned universities, research institutes, and corporates.

Legal Support: Legal support for all internal and external interactions.

Program Partner Support: Free of charge first line support from Program Partners such as EP&C, PWC, Innovecio, Holland Innovative, RVO, Alien.TT, and more to come!

Office Space and Amenities: Join our open community and use our office space complete with everything you need, coffee, internet, and sunlight, and sit amongst your fellow entrepreneurs.

Ecosystem & Growth Opportunities
Mentorship and Expert Network: Wide network of mentors and experts for entrepreneurial, business, and technological support.

Marketing and Communication Support: Marketing and Communication support tailored to the stage your startup is in.

High-Tech Ecosystem Access: Access to a world-renowned high-tech ecosystem, The Brainport, and support from its actors in and after the program to accelerate startup growth.

Investor Network Access: Access to a large deep tech investor network for all types of investment rounds.

Apply now

Twice a year we start our Venture Building Program where we give co-founders the possibility to join us in tackling big societal challenges! We support teams as they progress through our proprietary 1-year DeepTech Venture Builder Program and connect them with essential resources, such as investors, advisors, and customers. We support teams throughout and after the program.

Application Process

Fill in the questionnaire

Is startup life for you? The first step to becoming a co-founder is to fill out the entrepreneur questionnaire. Fill out the questionnaire here.

Talk with the Talent Team

We use the previous questionnaire as input for an interview so we get to know each other better and explain more about the process.

Join the pool!

After a positive assessment from the talent team, you will be invited to join the co-founder pool, where you will have the opportunity to get to know the other co-founders and find a potential partner for your team.

Pre-program

Join our pre-program, with meet and greets to get to know possible co-founders, tech briefing where will will give you all insights about the available technologies and the FasTrackathon.

Start the program!

The program spans one year and is divided into three phases. At the end of each phase, we conduct a “gate moment” assessment to evaluate the teams and determine which ones are ready to progress to the next phase.

START YOUR VENTURE JOURNEY!

Have more questions? Email us at entrepreneur@hightechxl.com

Available technologies

We give co-founders a unique opportunity to build deep-tech ventures from the ground up, starting with selected advanced technologies from world-renowned research institutions and tech companies such as CERN, European Space Agency (ESA), TNO, Philips, PORT, Waterloo Institute for Nanotechnology, PhotonFirst, PhotonDelta and other global innovators.

CHECK THEM OUT

It matters because with the right people and technology, we can make a profound positive impact on the world

Great people
plus great tech

Hear the stories of our co-founders and alumni

Co-founder stories

Co-founder stories

Rudie Verweij

Marco van Hoorn

Betsy Lindsey

Fill in our questionnaire

Interested?

Contact us to start your venture journey.