Fresh Founder Fest
Fresh Founder Fest marks the first edition of a new event for founders who have just started and are in the early stages of construction.
An afternoon for founders who turn research, expertise or technical depth into a company, and navigate the first questions that come with it.
Building something that is knowledge-intensive means longer validation cycles, harder to explain value propositions, and fundraising meetings that don't follow the standard playbook. This event is designed for that reality.
The program combines practical workshops, structured peer sessions and time with founders and experts at dinner. No panels, no pitches, just work sessions and conversations.
For whom
Early-phase founders, with startups set up from the end of 2024, in particular teams that build from a technical, scientific or specialist knowledge base.
What you bring
Sharper insight into what to focus on first: validating when your market doesn't exist yet, understanding what early-stage investors really pay attention to in deep tech, and building habits that you'll wear over a long journey.
Workshops
Early-stage investing: what founders need to know
By Niek Huizenga — early-stage tech investor at Future Tech Ventures
How early-stage investors assess opportunities, what makes deep tech and knowledge-intensive startups different to fund, and how to position yourself for these kinds of conversations.
Startup validation when the market doesn't exist yet
By Niels Palmers — business developer and trainer Startup Program at NV NOM
Standard validation advice assumes that you can talk to customers who already know they have a problem. What do you do if that's not the case? A practical session about finding signals in uncertain terrain.
Founder focus: don't sprint a marathon
By Geert Hidding — performance coach for entrepreneurs and author of The Switch Point — the invisible force behind focus and consistency
Knowledge-intensive startups need more time. An open conversation about keeping pace, protecting your focus, and staying effective over a multi-year build.
Fresh Founder Fest marks the first edition of a new event for founders who have just started and are in the early stages of construction.
An afternoon for founders who turn research, expertise or technical depth into a company, and navigate the first questions that come with it.
Building something that is knowledge-intensive means longer validation cycles, harder to explain value propositions, and fundraising meetings that don't follow the standard playbook. This event is designed for that reality.
The program combines practical workshops, structured peer sessions and time with founders and experts at dinner. No panels, no pitches, just work sessions and conversations.
For whom
Early-phase founders, with startups set up from the end of 2024, in particular teams that build from a technical, scientific or specialist knowledge base.
What you bring
Sharper insight into what to focus on first: validating when your market doesn't exist yet, understanding what early-stage investors really pay attention to in deep tech, and building habits that you'll wear over a long journey.
Workshops
Early-stage investing: what founders need to know
By Niek Huizenga — early-stage tech investor at Future Tech Ventures
How early-stage investors assess opportunities, what makes deep tech and knowledge-intensive startups different to fund, and how to position yourself for these kinds of conversations.
Startup validation when the market doesn't exist yet
By Niels Palmers — business developer and trainer Startup Program at NV NOM
Standard validation advice assumes that you can talk to customers who already know they have a problem. What do you do if that's not the case? A practical session about finding signals in uncertain terrain.
Founder focus: don't sprint a marathon
By Geert Hidding — performance coach for entrepreneurs and author of The Switch Point — the invisible force behind focus and consistency
Knowledge-intensive startups need more time. An open conversation about keeping pace, protecting your focus, and staying effective over a multi-year build.