Are you a BSc/MSc student, PhD candidate, or Postdoc working in AI—and curious about entrepreneurship? Ever wondered whether your research could grow into a real business?

On Thursday, 5 March 2026, we’re hosting AI‑preneurship Day at LAB42, University of Amsterdam. Starting at 12:00, this free, one‑day event brings together AI students and early‑career researchers who want to explore how academic work can translate into real‑world impact. Lunch and drinks will be provided so you can focus fully on learning, connecting, and exploring new ideas.

Whether you’re just beginning to think entrepreneurially or already developing an idea, AI‑preneurship Day will give you the inspiration, tools, and confidence to take the next step toward your own academic spin‑off.

Throughout the afternoon, you’ll have the chance to test and refine potential AI business ideas, explore realistic investment and funding opportunities, learn how to take the lead in building your own academic spin‑off, and gain practical insights from experts with hands‑on experience.

What you’ll gain

  • Test and refine potential AI business ideas
  • Explore realistic investment and funding opportunities
  • Learn how to take the lead in building your own academic spin‑off
  • Gain practical insights from experts with hands‑on experience

Bonus: The evening session includes an opportunity to pitch your idea and receive 1‑on‑1 feedback from experienced mentors—perfect for anyone ready to take their first entrepreneurial step.

Agenda

12:00 – 13:00
Walk-in & lunch
13:00 – 13:10
Opening
13:10 – 13:40
Keynote speaker
Jorn Eiting-van Liempt, ROM InWest Insights from years of entrepreneurial experience across diverse roles.
13:40 – 14:15
Keynote speaker
Ross Gordon, Amsterdam Academic Ventures Building strategic roadmaps and overcoming fundraising challenges for early-stage spin-outs.
14:15 – 14:45
Break
14:45 – 15:05
Intro to academic spin-offs & support
Paul Blank, NWO – Dutch Research Council What it takes to launch an academic spin-off, including available subsidies, grants, and support structures.
15:05 – 15:25
Valorisation and impact
Erik Boer, Roeterseiland Impact Turning research into impactful products.
15:25 – 15:45
Investment opportunities
Thomas Hannes, LUMO Labs Exploring feasible investment opportunities for AI ventures.
15:45 – 16:05
In-house start-up talk
Harro Stokman – Kepler Vision
16:05 – 16:25
In-house start-up talk
TBD
16:25 – 18:00
Networking & 1-on-1 pitches
⚠️ Limited spots available
The AI-preneurship Day is organised as a collaborative initiative between ELLIS Unit Amsterdam, ICAI – Innovation Center for Artificial Intelligence, TTT-AI | Thematic Technology Transfer Artificial Intelligence, and ELIAS Node Amsterdam, part of the ELIAS Alliance.

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