Organization · Event Organizer
Erasmus University Challenge
The Erasmus University Challenge is an annual entrepreneurship competition organized by Erasmus University Rotterdam, aimed at supporting students in developing innovative ideas into viable businesses through training, mentorship, and networking.
Overview
What Erasmus University Challenge does
What Erasmus University Challenge is
The Erasmus University Challenge is an annual entrepreneurship competition organized by Erasmus University Rotterdam, aimed at supporting students in developing innovative ideas into viable businesses through training, mentorship, and networking.
How it participates in the startup ecosystem
The current public profile supports community and event host capabilities. Each capability below is shown separately so organization identity and role-specific information do not get conflated.
Operational profile
Organization status and context
Organization status describes the entity itself. Funding and program availability appear within the relevant capability profile.
- Operational status
- Active
- Organization type
- Event Organizer
- Structured capabilities
- Community · Event host
- Last reviewed
- April 2, 2026
Official channels
Find Erasmus University Challenge elsewhere
Open the official website or a supported primary organization account.
Capability profile
Erasmus University Challenge as a community
Community overview
The Erasmus University Challenge is an entrepreneurial and innovation competition organized by Erasmus University. It aims to provide students with the opportunity to develop their ideas, prototypes, and research projects into viable business plans. The challenge fosters collaboration among students, academic institutions, government entities, and businesses, promoting innovation and entrepreneurship. The initiative is open to students at all levels, including Bachelor, Master, PhD, and PDEng programs.
Community focus
The Erasmus University Challenge focuses on encouraging students to create innovative solutions for societal problems. Participants can engage in various stages of business development, from ideation to prototyping and startup phases. The challenge emphasizes community building and co-creation with a network of partners, which includes businesses and organizations that provide expertise and support.
Membership
- Pricing models
- free
Format and cadence
- Modality
- in-person
- Schedule
- cohort-based
- Commitment
- light
Availability
- Membership state
- Accepting
Audience and fit
- Audience
- Students
- Benefits
- mentorship and network-access
- Program types
- community
- Selection criteria
- open
- Stages
- Pre-seed
- Regions
- Europe
Community activity
Notable members
Key team members include Annelien Bredenoord (Chair, Erasmus Universiteit Rotterdam), Floriske Deutman (Managing Director, DSBP Consultants), Bart Lubbers (Co-founder, Fastned), Han Go (Executive and Brand Director & Owner, Go-Tan), Vivienne de Leeuw (CFO, Port of Rotterdam), Stijn Buiter (Startup Leader Europe North, Amazon Web Services), Robert-Jan Vreeburg (Owner, Katalist Company), Hicham Shatou (CEO, LeQuest), Raimondo Cau (Patent Attorney, V.O. Patents & Trademarks), Steven van der Krogt (VP Supply Chain Development, Albert Heijn), Ruud van der Knaap (CCO, Feyenoord Rotterdam NV), and Aukje Hassoldt (Dean at Rotterdam School of Management).
Capability profile
Erasmus University Challenge as an event host
Event focus
The Erasmus University Challenge focuses on encouraging students to create innovative solutions for societal problems. Participants can engage in various stages of business development, from ideation to prototyping and startup phases. The challenge emphasizes community building and co-creation with a network of partners, which includes businesses and organizations that provide expertise and support.
Format and cadence
- Event types
- pitch-night
- Startups can present
- Yes
Availability
- Registration state
- Accepting
Audience and fit
- Selection criteria
- open
- Stages
- Pre-seed · Seed
- Audience
- Students
- Regions
- Europe
Speakers and past editions
Speakers
Key team members include Annelien Bredenoord, Chair at Erasmus Universiteit Rotterdam; Floriske Deutman, Managing Director at DSBP Consultants; Bart Lubbers, Co-founder of Fastned; and several other notable professionals from various industries.
Past editions
Notable winners from the Erasmus University Challenge 2025 include Uosis, SeaSpark, SolPhyX, and FlexWheels, recognized for their innovative solutions in skincare, biodegradable materials, pollution removal, and sustainable cycling.
Common questions
What to know about Erasmus University Challenge
Upseed classifies Erasmus University Challenge under the Event Organizer organization type. Its current public profile includes community and event host capabilities.
Source and update disclosure
Know what this page is based on
Source basis
Public organization and program material, official websites, and structured Upseed records.
Last reviewed
April 2, 2026
Known limits
Capability profiles appear only when a structured public profile also contains decision-useful role evidence. Terms and availability can change.
Upseed is an independent guide. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by the organization described on this page.