How the two days work
Look at your market and your numbers, if you have them.
You decide how you want your business to grow and which kind of funding fits that.
You turn your plan into a short pitch with facts that support what you say.
Present your pitch to a panel, answer their questions and get honest feedback.
Two days, 09:00 to 16:00
Know your market
On the first day you learn how big your market is, who your customers are and how to prove that they want what you offer. This is the base for your pitch on day two.
Build and present your pitch
On the second day you turn everything you learned on day one into a short and clear story. In the afternoon you present it on stage.
Founder Pitch Arena
What you gain
Even if you don't win you leave with something valuable: honest questions from the panel that show you exactly what to work on next.
Pitch Rules
- Your pitch has at most three slides, following one simple structure that we give you.
- You don't need to prepare anything at home because you build your pitch and slides during the two days.
- All slides run from one shared presentation so you never lose time switching laptops.
- A clear signal shows you when 1 minute is left and when your 3 minutes are over.
- Only the panel asks questions.
- You never have to share financial details in public. What you share is your choice.
Judging and Prizes
A panel of five judges evaluates every pitch on the same criteria, such as how clear the problem is, how strong the solution is and how well you handle questions. Two panel members come from Rabobank and three are invited by Eindhoven Entrepreneurs.
- a personal meeting with a Rabobank financing specialist
- an invitation to return as an expert speaker at the next edition
You leave with a finished pitch and a clear next step.
Every founder goes home with practical tools, a finished pitch and new contacts.
- 01A clear picture of how big your market is and which customer to focus on first.
- 02A file with your market evidence, ready for a conversation with a bank or an investor.
- 03A three-minute pitch with at most three slides, practised and presented on stage.
- 04Feedback from your practice group, the experts and the panel.
- 05Our team looks for people who can help with your next step.
- 06One clear next step for your business.
- 07A certificate of participation.
- 08Access to the approved event photos.
- 09Your €99 deposit back as a voucher after both days, plus €100 from Rabobank when you open a business account.
You get it back
You get your €99 back as a voucher when you join both days.
Starting your own business?
If you start as a self employed professional, known in the Netherlands as a zzp’er, you need a business account. Rabobank offers the Rabo ZZP Rekening for people who run their business on their own, either as a sole proprietor or as the only owner of a BV.
Discover the Rabobank ZZP-rekening →Apply for a place
The programme works best when every founder joins both full days and is ready to share, practise and pitch. We choose the group on fit with your business and stage. We also look for a good mix of founders.
Not running a business yet? You are welcome. The programme is for people who plan to start a business and for founders in their first or second year.
Want to share what you know with a selected group of founders?
Are you an experienced entrepreneur, investor or specialist? Tell us briefly who you are and how you would like to take part.