Impact Studio
Impact Studio is the pre-startup program of TU Delft for researchers and students who want to bring their impactful innovations or research to the market. Our team of experts is ready to support the exploration of market opportunities and the commercial potential of new technologies.
We are a joint initiative of the Innovation & Impact Centre, Delft Centre for Entrepreneurship, and Delft Enterprises. As part of TU Delft's entrepreneurial ecosystem, we also closely collaborate with YES!Delft.
Our offerings
Impact Studio supports both researchers and students by offering the following services:
- Ideation Labs: Helps researchers (and research groups) identify and validate the practical applicability and commercial viability of technologies emerging from their research, and offers students the opportunity to experience entrepreneurship.
- Customer Discovery Support: our team of experts conducts rapid market validation for technologies or innovations and analyzes market opportunities.
- Open Office Coaching: Provides the opportunity to ask initial questions to our expert coaches. For everyone who is (working on) starting a start-up.
- Digital Founders Library: An online platform with entrepreneurial knowledge and tools to independently take the first steps.
TU Delft is fertile ground for excellent technological research, but making the step to societal impact can be challenging. Therefore, we help researchers identify and validate the practical applicability and commercial viability of technologies emerging from their research.
Our programme lasts about 6 months:
- We match researchers with talented (master’s) students. Together, they investigate the practical applicability and viability of the technology.
- We guide this process with specialized entrepreneurship workshops and 1-on-1 coaching by our startup experts. Participants also receive access to our Digital Founders Library.
- If researchers or students are interested in becoming the founding team for the technology they have worked on, Impact Studio can provide further support.
Benefits and Application
- Researchers: Get the opportunity to systematically and effectively investigate the commercial potential of their technology and gain experience in entrepreneurship.
- Application: Send an email to impact-studio@tudelft.nl to discuss the possibilities. Research groups, project leaders, or business developers can also send an email.
- Students: Gain experience in entrepreneurship and may become part of the founding team.
- Application: Express your interest via this form. We will contact you when a new Ideation Lab starts and provide more information.
New Ideation Labs start twice a year.
Customer Discovery Support (CDS) is specifically designed for researchers. The expert team of Impact Studio conducts rapid market validation for technologies or innovations and analyzes market opportunities.
The benefits of our 3-month service:
- Research and Insights: Our research ranges from technological investigation to ideation, exploration, and validation of market segments and opportunities.
- Report: We deliver a comprehensive report with our findings, recommendations, and suggestions for next steps.
- Advice: We provide advice on how to take your idea/technology to the next level, how to prioritize your research to better align with the market, etc.
- Grant Applications: If desired, we support writing grant applications (e.g., TTO).
Application
- Suitable for researchers seeking help to commercialize their research/innovation.
- CDS can start throughout the year and involves a small fee (€7000).
- Inquire about the possibilities by sending an email to impact-studio@tudelft.nl.
Our open office hours are accessible to TU Delft students, researchers, employees, or alumni who are starting (or investigating the possibilities for) a startup and have questions for one of our expert coaches. Topics can include market research, business case development, team building, and more.
Application:
Our online platform with entrepreneurial knowledge and tools is designed for independent learning and taking the first steps on your own. Here you will find everything you need to know about value propositions, customer discovery, the market, team building, pitching, marketing, and more.
Application:
- Register here for the Founders Library. Access to this platform is free for students, researchers, employees, or alumni of TU Delft.