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Pitch competition · Netherlands

Philips Innovation Award

A student startup competition in the Netherlands. Teams submit a business plan; 30 reach the semi-final with coaching and 8 pitch in the final for an Innovator Award worth EUR 50,000 or a Rough Diamond Award worth EUR 10,000.

Open · closes 6 Dec 2026 Run by Philips Innovation Award foundation (student board, in cooperation with Philips)

Apply on the programme's site Programme website

Verified 19 October 2026 · From the programme's own pages

Terms

Funding
not published Innovator Award: a prize worth EUR 50,000; Rough Diamond Award: a prize worth EUR 10,000. The site does not say how much of each prize is cash.
Instrument
Prize
Equity taken
not published
Programme fee
No fee Participation is free
Duration
not published
Cohort size
not published
Cohorts
not published
Delivery
In person
Stages
Idea, pre-seed, seed
Sectors
Sector-agnostic
Open to founders from
Netherlands
Perks
  • Written feedback on every business plan from the Business Panel
  • Coaching sessions and workshops for the 30 semi-finalists
  • Investor-readiness sessions and pitch training for finalists

The final jury is chaired by the CEO of Philips. Teams that reached the Innovator League semi-final in an earlier edition cannot enter again. Participants are expected to attend a few events to be eligible to win.

Application dates

Open · closes 6 Dec 20262027 edition

Who can apply

  • At least half the team enrolled at a Dutch university, HBO or MBO, a PhD student at a Dutch university, or graduated from one after 1 September 2022
  • At least 75% of the team's FTEs aged 30 or under on 1 September 2026 (current PhD students and recent graduates are exempt)
  • Teams of 1 to 10 FTEs; an existing business should be younger than four years
  • Innovator League: registered with the Dutch Chamber of Commerce before 1 October 2026; Rough Diamond League: not registered, or registered later
  • Stage: idea, pre-seed, seed

Companies it names as alumni

Somnox, Rapidemic, Syntho, Hable, SoundCell, Lightyear

What founders should check

  1. The programme does not publish how much equity it takes. Ask before you accept a place.
  2. It charges no programme fee.
  3. It runs in person. Plan to be there for the length of the programme.
  4. Applications are open until 6 December 2026.

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