The two Brabant universities, four Brabant universities for Applied Science, the province of North Brabant and all the regional development companies will work together to support promising Brabant startups. This alliance leads to a single joint programme under the name of Braventure. The official launch was this afternoon in Tilburg.
Partners in the new start-up programme are TU Eindhoven, Tilburg University, Fontys Hogescholen, Avans Hogeschool, NHTV Breda and HAS Hogeschool, province of Noord-Brabant with the Brabant Development Company (BOM), REWIN, Midpoint Brabant, Brainport Development, Agrifood Capital and NV BIM.
Braventure offers startups access to finance as well as guidance. One of the financing options to which the programme can refer is the new Brabant Startup Fund (BSF). The province of North Brabant has set up the fund and has filled it with €10 million to provide loans. With this, Braventure ensures “growth, excellence and speed”, according to Bert Pauli, gedeputeerde, at the launch.
The chairman of the Brabant Startup Alliance is Koen Becking (also chairman of the Executive Board of Tilburg University). In his introduction speech, Becking stressed the importance of a one-stop shop where startups can report their plans and questions. “We are not starting from scratch, because, of course, a great deal has already happened in this area. But now all forces have been combined, which is an optimal environment for startups to be successful. Braventure can thus build and strengthen the ecosystem, as a kickstart for companies in their first steps towards success.”
The fund focuses on the first phase of entrepreneurship: the development of ideas and the development of a start-up company. Thanks to the fund, Brabant is assured of a financing opportunity for start-ups for the next fifteen years. Bert Pauli: “One of the biggest challenges for new entrepreneurs is to attract sufficient investment. With the Brabant Startup Fund, the province is helping them with start-up capital to investigate how they can market their product or expand their activities. This is how we support the major employers of tomorrow today.” If the loan turns out to be a success, the money is pumped back into the system, so that the next startup can benefit from it.
