In the past few months, the Hanze University of Applied Sciences and the Rabobank challenged students to develop their entrepreneurial qualities and sign up their business ideas, with the chance to win €10,000.. No less than 58 students signed up and three of them went on to the finals during the first edition of the Day of the Entrepreneurial Student at Startup City at the Zernike campus grounds.
The finalists
Industrial Product Engineering student Jorn Hofman pitched his idea for interior modules for RVs (campers and motorhomes). RV owners, who normally have to make do with a fixed interior, are able to choose from different modules, which are easily installed and removed, a little like Lego. Jorn plans to use the prize money to develop a VR application.
Real Estate Management student Jetze de Jong plans to disrupt the housing market, with an online platform. The twist is doing things the other way around, by letting see potential sellers see the demand instead of letting buyers see the supply. According to Jetze, the latent sellers (people thinking of selling their house) is a big untapped market, especially in a time where the regular housing market is as stressed as it is.
Alwin Tamminga designed a toilet seat for the elderly and disabled. The seat is designed in a way that makes sitting down and standing up a lot easier than with the use of bars, which are currently the norm. The seat is also fairly inexpensive to build and easy to install.
And the winner is…
After careful deliberation of the judges, Jorn Hofman took home the €10,000 cheque. Jorn also won the Audience Choice award, which earned him another €1137. The Audience Choice runner up also went to Jelle Berrevoets, who wasn’t a finalist, but came up with a comparison website for gyms.
PHOTO CREDITS: Wouter Brem