Our Program
Explore our Venture Building Program designed to turn deep-tech innovations into successful startups.
Offers
What we offer
At HighTechXL, we empower entrepreneurs to build ventures that solve grand societal challenges. Our 12-month Venture Building Program gives you the tools, support, and ecosystem to bring groundbreaking technology to market and to do it with confidence.
Apply now- Structured venture building approach
- Hands-on support from experts and industry leaders
- Access to a powerful Ecosystem
*numbers shown are from Q2 2025
Numbers
Our success in numbers
94+
Ventures created
35%
Survival rate
400+
Guiding Experts
25+
Different nationalities
€ 171M
Raised in funding
3000+
New jobs created
Stuctured venture building approach with our Venture Journey©
You have the drive, we have the expertise
The HighTechXL Venture Building Program immerses you in a dynamic, fast-paced environment where aspiring founders collaborate, learn, and build breakthrough deep-tech ventures.
You’ll experience hands-on coaching, intense sprint weeks, and deep collaboration with world-class experts and industry leaders, all designed to accelerate your startup’s growth.
What makes our Venture Building program unique?
Our level of commitment
Structured venture building
Follow our proven 3-phase approach using the Venture Journey©, a digital platform that helps you build a robust proposition across 9 key dimensions from market to team to tech.
Weekly hands-on support
Work closely with our Program Manager, Entrepreneurs in Residence, and expert coaches during business 1-on-1s.
Sprint Weeks for acceleration
Each month, you’ll spend one focused week on-site for intensive workshops, partner sessions, and 360 reviews
Access to top industry partners
Be guided by the top experts in our network: PwC, KPMG, TNO, ASML and more during partner office hours and Gate Moments.
Timeline
How does the program work?
Program Kick Off
Congratulations! You made it to the program, now you and your team can work on your new venture with our support.
Phase 1: Opportunity Validation
In this first phase, you’ll work intensively to validate the problem you’re solving, align your team, and begin shaping your business opportunity through 1-on-1 coaching, reviews, and workshops.
Gate 1
You’ll pitch your venture to HighTechXL and our partners, demonstrating that your team and opportunity are strong enough to move forward in the program.
Phase 2: Venture Validation
Here, you’ll deepen customer validation, refine your business model, and start gaining traction while accessing expert support, partner office hours, and targeted workshops.
Gate 2
You’ll present a validated business proposition, showing clear traction and tech progress, and receive feedback on your readiness to enter the investor-focused phase.
Phase 3: Investor Readiness
In the final stretch, you’ll build out your data room, sharpen your pitch, finalize deliverables on the Venture Journey© platform, and prepare to meet investors.
Gate 3
You’ll go through your final assessment with HighTechXL, our partners, and investors, and if you’re ready, you’ll officially graduate as an investor-ready startup and you finalize your first investment round with HighTechXL.
Alumni Support
After graduation, HighTechXL continue to check- in and provides investor introductions, strategic direction and access to exclusive events . We also provide connection to experienced Alumni teams.
What you get?
A clear path to building an investor-ready venture
Startup Coaching & Strategic Alignment
✔️ Business 1-on-1s
Weekly sessions to refine your value proposition, validate assumptions, and align business and tech strategy.
✔️ Team 1-on-1s
Monthly coaching to help you shape a high-performing, collaborative, founder team.
✔️ 360 Reviews
Structured feedback from HighTechXL and industry experts to strengthen every part of your venture.
Skills, Knowledge & Networking
✔️ Workshops (20+ per cohort)
Interactive sessions led by internal and external experts covering business, tech, team, and market-building essentials and pitch practice.
✔️ Lunch and Learn
Learn from experienced Alumni and entrepreneurs who’ve walked the path before you.
✔️ Events
Career Expos, Investor’s Day, ExperienceXL and more
Milestones & Venture Execution
✔️ Gate Moments
Phase-end reviews to assess progress, challenge your strategy, and decide your next steps.
✔️ Deliverables via Venture Journey©
Our proprietary platform tracks progress, guides your work, and prepares you to meet investor expectations by Gate 3.
Contact
Get in touch
Because the world’s greatest challenges demand bold collaboration.
- 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 program is 9 – 12 months. Phase 1 is 3 months, Phase 2 is 3 months, Phase 3 is 3 to 6 months.
A strong Team (including a business focused founder, and a founder with the right technical knowledge) that has found a viable Market Opportunity which can be addressed with a Technology.
The goal of Phase 2 is a fully developed business case for the venture. This includes a Validated Problem in the market, combined with a Validated Product concept to solve the problem and a Validated Business Model.
The focus of Phase 3 is becoming Investor-ready. A validated business and final model are necessary to start discussions with investors. The venture also moves to create a Tangible Prototype, or technical proof-of-concept. All brought together in a effective Investor pitch and a complete data room.
The program is ran out of the HighTechXL office on the High Tech Campus Eindhoven, building HTC 27.
Yes, you can join the HighTechXL Program from anywhere in the Netherlands. Your weekly meetings can be hybrid (online or in-person). However, once a month you must make sure you are at the HighTechXL’s offices for the Sprint Weeks, since in-person attendance is mandatory.
It is possible, nevertheless, some Legal requirements might apply to each case. Please investigate how to be a founder in a startup incorporated in the Netherlands. Note: Sprint Weeks attendance in-person is mandatory.
No, you will not be paid to join the HighTechXL Program. There will be possibilities for remuneration via investments and subsidies.
No, that’s not possible. Once per month (except during Dutch school holidays), all co-founders are required to be at the HighTechXL office to join the Sprint Week activities. Attendance is mandatory and remote participation is not allowed.
It is a possibility, but you must check with your employer, if they agree. There is legislation regarding dual employment in the Netherlands. Secondly, it’s important for you to do a self-check: “Can I sustainably carve out 16 hours a week (at least partially) during office hours to work on my venture next to my full-time job?” If the answer to that is “yes,” and if your employer agrees, then you can join the program.
Our ecosystem
