Kickstart Lab: where young entrepreneurs grow and connect

Entrepreneurship in the region

Kickstart Lab, an initiative of New Future Lab, is a dynamic program for young entrepreneurs in the Delft region. It offers an inspiring community and an accessible place to work and create, where diversity and collaboration are paramount.

It is a place where entrepreneurs of different levels of education from high school to college, college and university can come together to exchange knowledge and ideas. Through close cooperation with educational institutions, Kickstart Lab promotes entrepreneurship in all its forms. We offer young entrepreneurs the space, guidance and practical support they need to realize their ideas. Whether they are freelancers, creative studios, manufacturing initiatives or other entrepreneurial projects: Kickstart Lab is a place where everyone can grow and contribute to an inclusive and entrepreneurial community.

The Delft region and surrounding area is bustling with entrepreneurship in all forms. From students with fresh ideas to professionals with years of experience entrepreneurship offers opportunities for everyone. How do we ensure that all entrepreneurs, regardless of their business profile, background, education or ambitions, have the opportunity to grow and work together?

A place where everything comes together

With Kickstart Lab, we as New Future Lab continue to build a place where entrepreneurial young people from Delft, The Hague and Rotterdam feel that anything is possible. A place where people can be themselves and where you get the help and encouragement to realize your full entrepreneurial potential together. 

In education, the focus on entrepreneurship is growing, but the link to practice could be stronger. That is why we are working with schools, businesses and entrepreneurs in the region to ensure that young entrepreneurs get the skills and networks they need to be successful. We focus on promoting equity of opportunity and encouraging blending between MBO, HBO and WO so that everyone can broaden their knowledge and network and be better prepared for entrepreneurship.

Young entrepreneurship has many faces. It is the one-person entrepreneur who runs their own design studio, the group of friends who start a catering company together, and the talented doers who offer a craft service, the social initiators of a community foundation or the engineers-in-training behind an innovative tech startup. This diversity is what makes our region strong, and connecting these entrepreneurs creates an inclusive community that allows for growth and collaboration.

What you'll find at Kickstart Lab

With Kickstart Lab we offer a place where all entrepreneurial young people from the Delft region and surroundings are welcome. It is a connecting platform between theory and practice, where entrepreneurs from different forms of education from mbo to hbo and wo come together to share knowledge and experience.

Kickstart Lab stands for accessibility and diversity in entrepreneurship. Here, young people are given the space to develop their talents, regardless of their background or level of education. Through workshops, mentoring and collaboration with experienced entrepreneurs, we support them in gaining practical skills that will help them in the real business world. It is the place to dream and do big!

• Inspiring workplace - Access to free workspaces as well as manufacturing and storage space in the warehouse of our office in the former Delft Cable Factory. A creative environment that encourages entrepreneurship.
  
  
• Workshops & events - Five times a year a Kickstart Night where student entrepreneurs learn the practical side of entrepreneurship (sales, accounting, business models, marketing). In addition, participants can join New Future Lab events.
  
  
• Customized mentoring - Each participant gets an experienced entrepreneur as a mentor. This person actively thinks along about growth, balance and strategy, so that young entrepreneurs take steps faster.
  
  
• Strong network of futurists - Participants are part of an inspiring community of student entrepreneurs. Here, collaborations, exchange of ideas and new initiatives emerge.

Kickstart Lab: Post-Graduate track

‍Withthe Post-Graduate track within Kickstart Lab, we support recent graduates from the Delft, The Hague and Rotterdam region to further develop and grow their idea or part-time business in six months.

In this more intesive track, participants receive free of charge:

• Intensive workshops and personal coaching
• Access to workspace and an entrepreneurial community
• Expertise in marketing, strategy, finance and pitching

The program is open to a variety of entrepreneurs: from all-round freelancers to start-ups, from creative studios to tech companies. The program will most likely be taught in English. However, the final language of instruction will depend on the composition of the group of participants. 

The program is co-sponsored by Metropoolregio Rotterdam-Den Haag, municipality of Delft, ROC Mondriaan, Haagse Hogeschool, InHolland, TU Delft and many established entrepreneurs as expertise partners.

Entrepreneurs speak out

"At Kickstart Lab I can gain a lot of motivation and it offers me a nice place to work on my business outside of my own home."

Kyra van Seters - Tumi2you

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"At Kickstart Lab, I was given the space to grow my hobby into a serious business. The assertive atmosphere and coaching from professionals have allowed me to maximize my creativity while doing business!"

Jesse Bregman - truck rearview mirror

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"We got a mentor from Kickstart Lab that we can now meet with regularly and spar with"

Sophie Haccou - CupHub

Building the future together?

New Future Lab builds entrepreneurial communities that make a difference. Want to know more about Kickstart Lab? Take a look at the website or email kickstart@newfuturelab.nl directly . You are always welcome for a tour!

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