The Venture Lab Twente program has forecast to create 15 new large companies in the coming five years through its iniative to combine a community of entrpreneurs, scientists, managers, and experts from industry and financial circles under one umbrella.
By allowing time to pursue his dreams after submitting his final thesis, Pavin Pawal, a PhD candidate in computer science, has emarked on a new personal enterprise as a participant in the VTL program. The ambitious thirty-year-old hailing from India offered his views on the program, designed to nurture a new breed of entrepreneurs, in an interview with the UT-Nieuws.
How does the VLT program help and support you to establish your own company?
PP: “The best thing about VLT is that it is run and operated largely by people who know what to do and when to do it. The VLT Program Managers Rob van Lambalgen and Jaap van Tilburg are experienced and motivated to turn VLT into a sort of “Startup Factory.” There is a common saying: “It is not important what you know, but who you know,” and the instructors are the right people to connect you with a wider network. Apart from these people, VLT has a dedicated coaching staffs who offer you all the necessary help and support to start a high-growth technology startup. The whole process begins with screening potential participants to gauge their motivation level. If participants are highly motivated then the VLT works to improve on their personal skills, competitive edge and career development by offering an extensive training, coaching and follow-up process. By means of the program, you receive all the necessary support to refine your ideas, conduct market research, obtain funding, build a product and launch it into the market. The support also includes a dedicated office space for your company.”
What were your initial expectations?
PP: “Regarding my expectations, I joined the program hoping that VLT would provide the necessary guidance. Being a foreigner in the Netherlands, I also expected to learn the rules, regulations and legal procedures to open a startup in the Netherlands. I must say that VLT offers more than what I had expected, and I’d definitely recommend it to other international students who are motivated to begin a startup in the Netherlands but are unaware where to find the required information. The VLT sessions are offered by world renowned professors and entrepreneurs and all the sessions are conducted in English. One of my good Indian acquaintances is Dr. Pramod Agrawal who is also a VLT participant. He recently founded his own startup ‘Agrawal Ecolabs’ in Enschede.”
Do you plan to begin your own company in the Netherlands?
PP: “I have plans to begin my own company. But as of now, I am working on refining my ideas and developing my personal skills and competitive edge with the help of VLT. So, I am not sure when I will officially begin.”
Which services or products will you offer customers?
PP: “My technical expertise is in the field of computer applications in the healthcare domain, and I’m in the process of refining the company services and products. I hope to find core employees through peer healthcare researchers and current VLT members.”
Can you describe aspects of the program that helped you as a starting entrepreneur?
PP: “So far, the program has helped me personally strengthen and maintain my motivation level. I’ve learned more about my own personality and many competitive aspects of business, based on value-based approaches to marketing. Mostly, I’ve overcome my fears about opening a new business and learned about the whole process of writing a business plan. I think it’s a good start, and now it’s basically up to me to develop a program to create a startup and make it a success.”
How does your business relate to your study program?
PP: “My business definitely relates to my study program. In fact, we are exploring valorization grant options for assessing the feasibility of a startup company through the Dutch Technology Foundation STW. The process works in close cooperation with the university and encourages researchers to convert their successful prototypes into future startup companies.”
The Venture Lab Twente team will offer an information meeting, giving more details about its program on October 27 in the Faculty Club on campus. Interested to learn more: www.venturelabtwente.com
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| Pavin Pawar listens, on the right in front of the audience, to advice on starting his own business at a Venture Lab Twente class given by lecturer Roel Pieper in August. |
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| PhD candidate and budding entrepreneur Pavin Pawar is one of the participants in the Venture Lab Twente program. |
