The Aerospace Startup Voucher has a maximum financial support of €2.500,- in the production of a prototype, or for the making of a ‘proof of principle’ for new technologies related to aerospace engineering. This idea needs to be research-based and the voucher must be used to develop a concrete result.

Purpose

With the Startup Voucher & Coaching Programme, the Faculty of Aerospace Engineering (AE) aims at scouting, creating, and supporting start-ups. By lowering the financial barrier, AE students can develop their innovative idea and turn it into a business. The Aerospace Startup Voucher tries to bridge the gap between graduation and (pre-)incubation. Throughout the year a maximum of five teams are selected to start the Startup Voucher & Coaching Programme.

Eligibility

The Aerospace Startup Voucher is available for both BSc- and MSc students, as well as PhDs at the Faculty of Aerospace Engineering. Those students should have a research-based, innovative, and scalable idea related to an AE subject, and an ambition to start their own company. When applying, you should also be able to make clear what the synergy for TU Delft and your start-up would be.

To minimize delay in the study- or promotion progress, the target group is narrowed down to:

  • BSc- and MSc graduate students (applications will be assessed in line with the graduation project of the applicant; the supervisor or track coordinator of the applicant will be consulted in the selection process);
  • MSc students with the entrepreneurship annotation;
  • Graduated BSc- and MSc students and PhDs within six months after graduation or promotion.

Coaching

Starting a company requires more than ‘just a brilliant idea’. To guide you to the next step on the exciting but also challenging road of launching your idea, the AE Faculty offers coaching and networking support. If you receive the Aerospace Startup Voucher, you will be linked to a professional who will help you throughout the first six months. He will improve your entrepreneurial skills, ask the critical questions that are so important and guide you through the process of developing the first steps to your successful start-up. Additionally, you will join the community of the Aerospace Innovation Hub @TUD which is full of ambitious and likeminded people that are willing to help you out.

Application process

The process of the Aerospace Startup Voucher consists of several steps:

  • Application: apply by filling out an application form. Note that you can only receive one Aerospace Start-up Voucher per project;
  • Pre-selection: after the application deadline, all application forms will be evaluated. A pre-selection will be made based on the adherence to program objective and target group criteria;
  • Pitches: the applications that passed the pre-selection will be invited to pitch their ideas to the selection committee, consisting of academia and professionals. Your application will be reviewed based on the following criteria:
    • Ambition to launch a start-up, entrepreneurial skills, the team and its attitude;
    • Novelty, technical feasibility, and commercial potential of the idea;
    • Project approach and planning.

The selection committee will decide upon the winners of the Aerospace Start-up Voucher.

  • Start Program: when your application has been approved by the selection committee, a contract will be sent to you and the program will soon be kicked off with your coach and other winners!

Deadline: Fall 2021

Conditions

If awarded, the Aerospace Startup Voucher will be made available under the following conditions:

  • Only realised, eligible costs may be covered with the Aerospace Startup Voucher, grantee may have to (partially) repay the Aerospace Startup Voucher if one deviates from the granted application.
  • Only costs with receipts or invoices of registered companies are eligible costs to be covered with the Aerospace Startup Voucher.
  • Invoices by entities held by applicant or partners in the project are not eligible costs.
  • Hours spent by the team are not eligible costs.
  • Unless invoiced by a KvK registered entity, hours of externals are not eligible costs.
  • After one year remaining budget for which no eligible costs can be shown must be returned.
  • Any other conditions set by the Innovation & Impact Centre or the applicant’s faculty.
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