Become a co-founder

We bring together skilled individuals and advanced technologies to build deep-tech ventures that tackle grand societal challenges. Our unique co-founder selection process ensures the right entrepreneurial talent is matched with groundbreaking hardware technologies. It matters because with the right people and technology, we can make a profound positive impact on the world.

Become a co-founder

Elegibility Criteria

Who should apply?

You have the right mindset

You can be a CEO, CTO, CBO, or simply someone with an entrepreneurial mindset and you’re ready to take on a new challenge.

You’re driven by deep-tech

You have a genuine passion for deep-tech innovation and are eager to turn complex technology into real-world impact.

You’ve got time to build.

In the first phase you can commit at least 20 hours a week ,, to shape and grow a venture from the ground up.

Deadline

When should you sign up?

We are actively recruiting for our Fall Cohort 2025. Apply Now!

Application deadline: October 2025

Recipe

Application Process

Step 1

Applications are open

We are actively recruiting for our Fall Cohort 2025. Apply Now!

Step 2

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.

Step 3

Talk to 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.

Step 4

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.

Step 5

Pre-program

Join our pre-program. Including Meet and Greets to know possible co-founders, the Tech Briefing where we will give you all the insights about the available technologies and finally the FasTrackathon to validate the potential market.

Step 6

Start the program!

The program spans over 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. Do you want to know more about the program? Visit the Program page Our program

Questionnaire

Fill in our questionnaire

Time to build your venture

Available opportunities

Download onepager

By TracXon

Flexible Printed Electronics

Replacing traditional printed circuit boards (PCBs)

Solving society’s hardest challenges

Join ventures building real solutions

The problem

Air pollution in industrial settings

Biofouling on underwater surfaces

Cognitive decline and mental wellness

Corrosion and erosion in energy infrastructure

Excess atmospheric CO₂ contributing to climate change

High costs and inefficiencies in hydrogen production

High incidence of pressure ulcers in immobilized patients

High-speed, secure backhaul connectivity in dense urban areas

Inefficient and limited laser marking capabilities

Inefficient gas sensing in agriculture

Inefficient material characterization hindering recycling efforts

Lack of actionable vehicle telematics data

Limitations in traditional SMT manufacturing processes

Limitations of current imaging techniques in diagnosing knee conditions under load or motion

Low-precision motion tracking in VR

Mental stress and performance in athletes

Need for durable, custom control interfaces

Need for purpose-driven tech solutions

Pain and stress in pre-term infants due to intrusive monitoring

Running injuries due to poor form

Undetected issues in EV battery packs

Unsustainable data center power consumption

Our Venture’s solution

Industrial air cleaning system mimicking Earth’s natural self-cleaning

UVC light-emitting coating for eco-friendly biofouling protection

Digital therapy via sensory stimulation and profiling

Integrated photonic sensors for real-time monitoring

Fast-swing thin film technology for direct air capture of CO₂

Membraneless electrolyser technology for efficient green hydrogen production

Textile-integrated optical fiber sensors for continuous, non-invasive pressure and temperature monitoring

Free Space Optics (FSO) systems for wireless backhaul communication

Innovative laser technology for faster, eco-friendly, high-precision marking

Photonic gas sensors for optimized agricultural operations

Innovative technologies for complex material characterization

End-to-end IoT platform for connected vehicles

Laser Induced Forward Transfer (LiFT) technology for stencil-free SMT manufacturing

High-resolution ultrasound tomography scanner enabling dynamic knee imaging during motion

High-fidelity glove-based finger tracking for VR and mocap

Neurofeedback tech to enhance mental performance

Custom engineered user interface manufacturing solutions

Software development specializing in exponential technologies

Wireless, non-intrusive vital signs monitoring device for NICUs

Smart insoles that analyze gait and guide performance

Diagnostics tool using hardware and ML to ensure battery health

Photonics-powered infrastructure for green data centers

What we offer to our founders

Our unique recipe

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.

Get in touch Become a co-founder

Tech & Resources

Access to advanced technologies: Access to disruptive technologies from world-renowned universities, research institutes, and corporates.

Legal support: Professional 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, Innovencio, Holland Innovative, RVO, Alien.TT, and more to come!

Office Space and amenities: Join our open community of fellow entrepreneurs, and enjoy our office space complete with everything you need: coffee, internet, and sunlight!

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 located in the High Tech Campus, in Brainport region.

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

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Do you want to become a founder?

Get in touch

Ximena Cortes Gaviria

Manager of Recruitment

Reach out to our Recruiter

We’ll get back to you within 5 working days
Get in touch with the right person for the job
We’ll happily guide you on how to get involved

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FAQ

Frequently asked questions

The co-founder pool is the name that we assigned to the group of talents that are getting ready to start the next program. Once you are in the cofounder pool, you will receive access to the basic information of all the other talents in the pool, this way you can arrange your own interactions with them. In addition to that, you will be invited to Meet and Greets, private and open events that will help you to learn more about potential partnerships, HighTechXL and the deep-tech startup ecosystem.

The program is 9 – 12 months. Phase 1 is 3 months, Phase 2 is 3 months, Phase 3 is 3 to 6 months.

When you want to start your journey as one of the co-founders in the HighTechXL venture builder program, the first step is to fill in the co-founder questionnaire. After that, we will contact you to start the assessment process. We will have a first introductory meeting, followed up with a 1-1 interview. If you have a technical profile, we will invite you to a final interview with one of the experts from the HighTechXL tech team. After receiving a positive feedback from the assessment process, you will be invited to be part of the co-founder pool.

As a starting point, we ask co-founders to be available at least 20 hours per week during working hours (9:00–17:00, Monday to Friday). After the first gate, we expect to gradually increase to full-time availability.

The program is hybrid. For three weeks each month, you may work from HighTechXL’s office space or from any location that works best for you and your team. One week per month is designated as Sprint Week, during which all co-founders are required to be physically present at the office.

You will benefit from tailored guidance across nine key performance indicators (KPIs): business model, communication, finance, sustainability, market, team, technology, supply chain, and legal.

This assistance is delivered through 1-on-1 business consultations, personalized coaching sessions, workshops, masterclasses, sprint weeks, 360 reviews, partner office hours, and more. All the support is adapted to the current stage of your venture.

Sure, new ideas/ technologies are always welcome. However, HighTechXL Tech team has their own assessment process regarding potential new ideas. If this is the case for you, we will facilitate a template for you to fill in and we will stablish contact with the Tech Team. They will review and assess your information and come back to you with a decision.

Please note that this process can take a couple of weeks.