Can’t make the masterclass? Book a one-on-one meeting with Menno Crol during the partner-in-residence session on 23 Jul >>

Turn the complex funding landscape into financial gain

This is an urgent call to all those startups that are leaving significant funding on the table simply because the subsidy landscape feels too complex and time-consuming to figure out. Many startups focus instead on their day-to-day work and developing the latest technical innovation. This 1.5-hour masterclass cuts through that noise and will give you the impetus and tools to navigate your own subsidy roadmap.

In one focused session, Dynova will walk you through the full Dutch and European subsidy ecosystem covering: fiscal schemes, such as WBSO and the Innovatiebox; national programmes including MIT and EFRO; and European instruments, such as the EIC Accelerator, Eurostars and Horizon Europe. Every scheme is translated into one practical question – does this actually fit your project, your stage and your ambition?

Why attend this masterclass?

Timing is key. A number of subsidy call deadlines are approaching soon. Join this masterclass and you will be prepared to apply once the key dates roll by. You will learn how to match the right instrument to your roadmap, what evaluators are looking for in a winning application, and how to build a multi-year funding strategy rather than chasing one-off grants.

Whether you are pre-revenue, scaling up or planning your next R&D cycle, you will leave knowing exactly which funding opportunities are appropriate for you and your startup at this stage of your journey – and what to do next to start capturing them.

Important dates and imminent deadlines (list in text format here):

Subsidy areas in the spotlight

The key topics to be covered include:

• The components of the Dutch subsidy stack and how to combine them
• European instruments and when they fit your stage
• How to match the right scheme to your roadmap
• What evaluators look for in a winning application
• How to build a multi-year funding strategy

The presenters will discuss real examples of successful and rejected applications, plus there will be plenty of time for discussion of the individual situations of the participating startups.

Discover tools to navigate your startup’s subsidy roadmap >>

This masterclass offers a clear, actionable overview of the full Dutch and European subsidy landscape and will help you identify which instruments fit your roadmap, avoid common pitfalls and turn funding into a structural part of your growth plan.

Conversations can continue over lunch, starting directly after the masterclass. Reserve your place when you register for the event.

SPEAKER PROFILES

Menno Crol – Funding expert at Dynova responsible for the company’s “short term” funding proposition. He works closely with startups to guide them through the process of finding the right financial instrument.

Jarno van der Vleuten – Technical innovation consultant at Dynova who has concluded multiple successful grant applications (including Eurostars, EFRO, IMKE and MIT) that have accumulated more than 6 million euros in grand funding.

Dynova is a community partner of SBIC Noordwijk; discover more here

GOOD TO KNOW:
The event is open to all. It is free for ESA BIC Noordwijk startups and SBIC community members (check the Slack channel for your link). If you are not in our community yet, sign up for membership here! Students can get 50% discount when registering for this event. Get in touch using your institution’s email address.

Definitions of acronyms used on this page (in alphabetical order):

DEI+, Demonstratie Energie- en Klimaatinnovatie
EFRO, Europees Fonds voor Regionale Ontwikkeling
EIC, European Innovation Council
ERC, European Research Council
IMKE, Maakindustrie Klimaatneutrale Economie
LIFE, L’Instrument Financier pour l’Environnement
MIT, Mkb-innovatiestimulering Regio en Topsectoren
WBSO, Wet Bevordering Speur- en Ontwikkelingswerk

View upcoming events happening at SBIC Noordwijk >>

The post Navigate the subsidy landscape: Next step funding for tech startups (masterclass: 2 Jul) appeared first on Space Business Innovation Centre Noordwijk.

Are you an SBIC community member? Get link from Slack to reserve your place!

Strategies for crucial equity conversations

Life as a tech startup is hectic and requires having strategies that will help you to relentlessly focus your energy on growing your company and create a framework for the future. Ironing out financial matters and being clear about expectations and objectives early in a company’s trajectory can mean fewer awkward discussions later on.

During this 1.5-hour session, the participants will get to iron out their own strategy plan. The masterclass will guide founders through the technical, strategic and emotional aspects of allocating shares. The core goal is to create a “fair” split that incentivises long-term commitment, avoids future disputes and satisfies investor

What to expect

The session is designed to be highly interactive. It will begin with a focused 30-minute introduction and key insights from the presenters. They will then provide highlights from case studies of their own, with the majority of the session dedicated to working through real participant cases.

Founders are encouraged to bring current challenges or submit in advance.

The presenters can offer feedback based on the participants’ questions covering the current status of shares division, the desired outcome of the division of shares among stakeholders, and any restrictions for the division of shares (e.g. retaining certain voting rights for founder).

Curious about the discussions that might arise? See example case below. If you want to know the answer and discover how this scenario unfolds, then join the masterclass!

Shares scenario: This example case is from the perspective of a founder and sole shareholder of a tech startup. The company’s (solo) founder wants to reward and motivate their employees by giving them shares in the company. The founder does not want to relinquish control of the company and intends to retain between 51% and 65% of voting rights. Is this advisable? Register

What you will learn

Gain insights that will be particularly relevant for founders about:

• Tax implications for the company and/or its stakeholders
• Potential legal pitfalls to watch out for
• Common approaches to dividing shares

Discover strategies for startup share allocation >>

This masterclass offers insights of how to structure splits that won’t destroy your company, how to have the crucial equity conversations and what to document once you’ve reached an agreement.

Conversations can continue over lunch, starting directly after the masterclass. Reserve your place when you register for the event.

SPEAKER PROFILE

Daan van der Weijden – Lawyer who focuses on mergers and acquisitions and complex corporate transactions, turning strategic legal challenges into practical solutions for clients.

Michiel Romijn – Tax advisor helping clients with both national and international cases, managing tax risks and identifying opportunities in an increasingly complex tax landscape.

GOOD TO KNOW:
The event is open to all. It is free for ESA BIC Noordwijk startups and SBIC community members (check the Slack channel for your link). If you are not in our community yet, sign up for membership here! Students can get 50% discount when registering for this event. Get in touch using your institution’s email address.

View upcoming events happening at SBIC Noordwijk >>

The post Sub-division of shares: Startup equity split among stakeholders (masterclass: 16 Jun) appeared first on Space Business Innovation Centre Noordwijk.

Are you an SBIC community member? Get link from Slack to reserve your place!

Tools for founders facing high-stakes conversations

Negotiation sits at the core of every startup journey, from closing your first customers to navigating investor conversations and defining key partnerships. Yet most founders approach these moments without a clear structure, often reacting under pressure instead of leading the process. This masterclass is designed to change that.

In this 1.5-hour session, participants will be introduced to a set of practical negotiation frameworks that help founders prepare, structure and execute high-stakes conversations more effectively. The approach is based on Harvard-developed negotiation methodologies combined with over a decade of hands-on experience in international business development and dealmaking.

What to expect

The session is intentionally designed to be highly interactive and grounded in reality. After a focused 30-minute introduction to key principles and frameworks, the majority of the session is dedicated to working through real participant cases.

Founders are encouraged to bring current challenges which we will unpack together.

Rather than theoretical advice, the focus is on practical application. Participants will learn how to move beyond surface-level positions, understand underlying interests, create better outcomes and handle pressure more effectively.

What you will learn

Gain insights and discover new tools that will be particularly relevant for founders who:

• Are negotiating with larger, more experienced counterparts
• Are entering investor discussions or term sheet negotiations
• Want to improve their confidence and structure in high-stakes conversations

Discover tools to help sharpen your negotiation skills >>

This masterclass offers essential insights and brings calm clarity to complex negotiations and conflicts. You’ll walk away with practical techniques to stay clear-minded when the stakes are high, keeping perspective intact.

Conversations can continue over lunch, starting directly after the masterclass. Reserve your place when you register for the event.

SPEAKER PROFILE

Tamas Egei is the founder of 18 Camels, a practice focused on negotiation and conflict resolution. He previously led global expansion at TicketSwap, launching and scaling markets across Europe, LATAM, and Australia. He is trained at Harvard Law School in negotiation and conflict resolution, and combines research-based frameworks with over a decade of hands-on experience in complex commercial negotiations.

GOOD TO KNOW:
The event is open to all. It is free for ESA BIC Noordwijk startups and SBIC community members (check the Slack channel for your link). If you are not in our community yet, sign up for membership here! Students can get 50% discount when registering for this event. Get in touch using your institution’s email address.

View upcoming events happening at SBIC Noordwijk >>

The post Mastering the art of negotiations for startups (masterclass: 28 May) appeared first on Space Business Innovation Centre Noordwijk.