The Entrepreneurial Experience
The Entrepreneurial Experience brings together students and startup founders in a hands-on program focused on entrepreneurship, innovation, and collaboration. Over the course of two months, participants work on real ideas and challenges while learning from experienced entrepreneurs, mentors, and industry experts.
Through workshops, company visits, and interactive sessions, students develop practical entrepreneurial skills and gain insight into turning ideas into impact. Startup founders share their experiences, connect with talented students, and explore new perspectives and opportunities for collaboration.
The program creates a unique environment where participants learn from one another, expand their networks, and engage with innovative companies in the region. Upon completion, participants receive a digital edubadge and an official certificate recognizing the entrepreneurial skills and experience gained throughout the program.
Business: take your startup to the next level.
As a startup, you participate in the Business Phase of the program and join a dynamic entrepreneurial ecosystem. Throughout the program, you attend a series of PRO workshops that help you develop essential entrepreneurial skills, validate your business model, and accelerate your venture's growth.
The program provides opportunities to connect with fellow founders, entrepreneurial students, industry experts, and leading companies in the region. Through events such as Founders Meets Founders, you engage with potential partners and expand your network within the innovation ecosystem.
Beyond learning and networking, the program offers visibility for your startup and opportunities to showcase your progress. You exchange experiences with other entrepreneurs, receive valuable feedback, and strengthen your connections within the regional startup community. The program culminates in a pitch event, where selected startups present their ventures on stage and compete for cash and support prizes.
Ideation: step into the world of entrepreneurship.
The Entrepreneurial Experience is for every student who wants to experience what it’s like to be an entrepreneur, develop real-world entrepreneurial skills, and explore new ways of thinking. By choosing the most entrepreneurial university in the Netherlands, you’ve already taken the first step – now this is your chance to dive deeper. You don’t need to have an idea yet; this program is about exploring, learning, and experimenting. Along the way, you’ll meet regional corporate companies, gain hands-on experience with real challenges, and maybe even connect with your future employer.
The Program
-
Ideation Workshops
In the first phase of The Entrepreneurial Experience, you’ll build a solid foundation in entrepreneurship through hands‑on workshops.
-
Business Labs
Experience real-world challenges by visiting and collaborating with innovative local companies. Together with other students, you explore fresh ideas, gain hands-on experience, and get a behind-the-scenes look at how these companies operate.
-
Expertise Workshops
Level up your ideas and skills with practical sessions led by experienced experts. You’ll learn how to pitch with confidence, build strong business models, talk to customers, and lead effectively.
-
Pitch Night
Showcase the idea you’ve been developing during the program and pitch it in front of a jury of experts and entrepreneurs. It’s your chance to get feedback, gain experience, and shine with your project.
-
Edubadge & Certificate
Earn your Edubadge and official certificate to showcase your entrepreneurial skills and achievements. To earn an Edubadge, you must attend at least two Ideation Workshops, one Business Lab, hand in a Lean Business Model Canvas, and deliver a pitch during Pitch Night.
-
Business Phase
During the Business Phase, existing startups will join the program. You will take part in professional workshops led by our core partners, focused on accelerating the growth of your startup.
-
The finals
Step into the ultimate showdown of The Entrepreneurial Experience and pitch your idea to top judges and a live crowd. Not in the finals? No problem – watch, get inspired, and celebrate the creativity and achievements of all participants in a festive finale.
1 / 7
This is more than just a study.
The Entrepreneurial Experience gives you the chance to explore, experiment, and grow as an entrepreneur while gaining skills, experience, and connections that set you apart
- Get hands-on experience by working on real challenges and turning your ideas into something tangible.
- Develop key entrepreneurial skills like pitching, business modeling, leadership, and teamwork.
- Meet mentors, experts, entrepreneurs, and regional companies – build connections that could even lead to your future job.
- Explore, experiment, and learn without pressure – you don’t need an idea to get started.
- Earn an edubadge and certificate to show off what you’ve achieved.
- Boost your confidence, gain insights, and build connections that give you a head start in your career.
First edition of The Entrepreneurial Experience
The first edition of The Entrepreneurial Experience came to an exciting close during the Grand Finale, where students and startups showcased the ideas, skills, and progress they developed throughout the program. Building on nine successful editions of the UT Challenge, the renewed program combined entrepreneurial learning, hands-on experience, and meaningful connections with founders, experts, and regional partners. After months of workshops, business labs, company collaborations, and pitching opportunities, participants took the stage to present solutions to real-world challenges and compete for a range of awards. Oculoo won the Thales Business Award, Sano Sole received both the Ideation Award and ASML Young Makers Award, and Hemicron was recognised with the Novel-T Impact Award. The finale marked a celebration of entrepreneurship, innovation, and the next generation of changemakers.
The journey does not end here. We are currently evaluating the first edition and using the insights gained to shape the future of The Entrepreneurial Experience towards 2027.
Veelgestelde vragen
Kun je meedoen zonder idee?
Ja, zowel met als zonder idee kun je instromen. Wanneer je nog geen idee hebt, helpen we je met het ontwikkelen van een goed idee.
Maakt het uit in welke fase van je studie je zit?
Nee, je kunt in elke fase instromen. Zolang je maar commitment laat zien, maakt het niet uit of je een eerstejaars bachelorstudent bent, tweedejaars masterstudent, of zelfs PhD’er.
Wat is de werklast?
De verplichte momenten staan gelijk aan 1EC (28 uur), verspreid over drie maanden. Die EC krijg je ook in de vorm van een EduBadge.
Is het goed te combineren met je studie?
Ja, dit programma is specifiek gericht op studenten en daarom houden we rekening met je colleges. De meeste momenten zijn daarom in de avonduren.
Kun je je alleen inschrijven? Of moet dat met een groep?
You can register individually or with a group. If you register alone, we will guide you in forming a team during the initial contact sessions.
Hoe groot mag een groep zijn?
De ideale groepsgrootte is 2-5 personen.
Kun je meerdere jaren meedoen aan TEX?
Ja, dat kan. Bijvoorbeeld als je aan een nieuw idee wilt werken, of wanneer je in het volgende jaar al een startup hebt - dan stroom je in bij de pitch night.
Kun je meedoen als je al een startup hebt?
Ja, dat kan. In dat geval stroom je in tijdens de pitch night, omdat je de basis al hebt gelegd.
Voor wie is The Entrepreneurial Experience bedoeld?
Voor studenten die op een laagdrempelige manier kennis willen maken met ondernemerschap, of ze nou al een startup-idee hebben of niet. Ook wanneer je een startup hebt, kun je meedoen: dan start je op de pitch night.
Kan ik meedoen als ik niet zeker weet of ik ondernemer wil worden?
Ja. TEX draait om een ondernemende mindset en skills die waardevol zijn in elke carrière. Het staat altijd goed op je CV!
Heb ik een business- of technische achtergrond nodig?
Nee. Diversiteit in teams is juist een kracht van het programma.
Kost deelname geld?
Nee, deelname is gratis voor studenten van Universiteit Twente en Saxion.
Waar vinden de activiteiten plaats?
Op de campus van Universiteit Twente en bij partnerbedrijven in de regio, zoals in Almelo, Hengelo en Enschede.
Is TEX een competitie of een leerervaring?
Het is vooral een leerervaring. De competitie-elementen zijn bedoeld om je groei zichtbaar te maken, niet om te winnen.
