You have an idea that goes beyond a napkin sketch. Maybe it came out of your PhD research, a graduation project at HAN, or a frustration you ran into as a student. Sooner or later the same question comes up: how do I pay for this? In this article we walk through the main funding options for early-stage startups, from free to venture capital, and explain which one fits which stage.
First things first: money is rarely your first problem
At The Launch we see many starters go looking for funding too early. An investor wants to see that there is a customer who recognises your problem and is willing to pay to solve it. A grant provider wants to know whether your idea is technically and commercially feasible. In the pre-incubation phase, validation is what matters: talk to potential customers, test your value proposition, build a first prototype. That mostly costs time, not money. Funding only becomes relevant once you know exactly what you need it for.
The funding ladder: which option fits which stage
1. Own resources and bootstrapping
It sounds boring, but this is how most startups begin. A job or side job, a small savings pot, free tools and the co-working space on campus. The upside: you keep full control and learn to build lean. The downside: it is slow. For the validation phase, that is perfectly fine.
2. Grants for startups based on research
This is where academic starters have a head start. The best-known scheme is Take-off, run by NWO. Take-off is open to all scientific fields and is designed to encourage entrepreneurship from Dutch knowledge institutions, including starters from universities of applied sciences (hbo) and starters who use knowledge from TO2 institutes. The programme has two parts: feasibility studies (phase 1, maximum 6 months) and early-stage trajectories (phase 2, maximum 24 months).
Phase 1 is interesting while you are still employed at the university. Researchers employed by a university or NWO institute can apply for funding for a feasibility study into the commercial application of their idea. The grant is up to 60,000 euros, applications are accepted on a rolling basis, and the closing date for the 2026 round is 10 December 2026. For research at universities of applied sciences there is a separate variant: with Take-off hbo, the institution applies for the grant, the maximum is being raised to 50,000 euros, and the next round is expected to open in September 2026.
Phase 2 comes next. It targets knowledge-driven startups in an early development phase, which can obtain a loan through Take-off to build the company further. Note: that is a loan, not a gift.
Not sure whether your research qualifies? Drop by The Launch. Together with the Knowledge Transfer Office we check whether your idea fits and help you sharpen the application.
3. Regional funds and loans in Gelderland
Nijmegen sits in a region with a remarkably well-stocked startup ecosystem. Startupfonds Gelderland provides subordinated loans of 30,000 to 100,000 euros to startups in the pre-seed phase and is linked to support programmes such as Orion, StartLife and Briskr. The fund is meant for companies that want to validate their concept, win their first customers or bring their product to market. Through Briskr, one of our ecosystem partners, you can be put forward for it.
Rabobank also plays a role here. Within the Orion network, the Rabo Innovatielening complements instruments such as Startup Fonds Gelderland and Startup Fonds Overijssel. Orion additionally offers starter vouchers and pitch training, with assessment rounds held at HAN in Arnhem.
4. Investors: business angels and pre-seed funds
Once you have a working prototype and first customers, investors come into view. The Business Angels Oost NL network connects entrepreneurs with private investors who bring knowledge and experience alongside their money. For students and recent graduates there are national initiatives too: the Graduate Entrepreneur Pre-seed Fund offers early funding to startups founded by students and recent graduates.
With equity funding you give away part of your company. Do not do that too early: the further along you are, the stronger your negotiating position. A founder who recently received a loan from Startupfonds Gelderland put it this way: in an early phase an equity investment is often difficult because no solid valuation can be established yet, which is exactly why subordinated loans and SAFE-type instruments are so useful.
5. Pitch competitions and prizes
Do not underestimate them. The amounts are usually modest, but you practise your pitch, get feedback from a jury and build visibility. That visibility is precisely what opens doors to the funds above.
Where do you start?
A practical sequence that works for most starters on campus:
- Validate first: customer interviews, value proposition, business model. The Discovery Track helps you with this.
- Working at a university or university of applied sciences, with an idea that comes from research? Look into Take-off phase 1.
- Ready to test your concept in the market? Look at Startupfonds Gelderland via Briskr and the Rabo Innovatielening.
- Got traction? Then it is time for angels and pre-seed funds, and the Venture Track helps you with your pitch and investor readiness.
A full overview of these schemes, with amounts, conditions and deadlines per scheme, is on our funding page.
Amounts, conditions and deadlines change every year. Always check the latest information with the provider, or just drop by the Forum building. We are happy to think along about which route suits your idea.
Disclaimer. The amounts, conditions and deadlines in this article reflect the situation at the time of writing (September 2026) and may change. This article is intended as general information and does not constitute financial, legal or tax advice. Always check the current terms with the relevant provider (NWO, Oost NL, Orion, Rabobank or others) before applying, and seek professional advice for your specific situation. The Launch accepts no liability for decisions made on the basis of this article.
Sources
- NWO, Take-off programme page and Take-off phase 1 Feasibility studies WO 2026 call
- ZonMw, Take-off programme page
- Regieorgaan SIA, Take-off hbo
- Oost NL, Startupfonds Gelderland
- Orion Gelderland, Financiering
- Zorg voor innoveren, Financiële wegwijzer voor ondernemers