How We Became a Top 5 Finalist in the UvA Impact Challenge 2025 Advanced Category

We’re thrilled to announce that our company has successfully secured a position among the top 5 startups in the prestigious UvA Impact Challenge 2025! This achievement reflects two years of dedicated work building our startup and developing our solution. The Advanced Category competition gave us the opportunity to showcase the progress we’ve made and validate the viability of our business model. Here’s an inside look at our journey.

Understanding the Advanced Category Requirements

The Advanced Category at the UvA Impact Challenge is designed for startups that have moved beyond the ideation phase. Unlike the Ideation Award, which focuses on early-stage concepts, the Advanced Award targets ventures that are ready to scale and prove their business model in the real world.

What We Had Already Built

Over the past two years of operating our company, we had developed the key components that the Advanced Category requires:

• Prototype or Scale Model: We had developed a functional prototype that showcased our core technology and value proposition. This wasn’t just a concept—it was a working demonstration of how our solution addresses real market needs.
• Minimum Viable Product (MVP): Building on our prototype, we had created an MVP that could be tested with actual users. This allowed us to gather valuable feedback and iterate on our product design.
• Business Model Canvas: We had mapped out our entire business strategy using the Business Model Canvas framework, clearly defining our value proposition, customer segments, revenue streams, key resources, and partnerships.
• Comprehensive Business Plan: We had developed a detailed business plan that outlined our market analysis, competitive landscape, financial projections, go-to-market strategy, and growth roadmap for the next 3-5 years.
• Customer Validation: Perhaps one of the most crucial aspects was the customer validation we had achieved. We had conducted extensive market research, user interviews, and pilot programs to prove that our solution resonates with our target audience and solves a genuine problem.
• Chamber of Commerce Registration: To show our commitment and legal establishment as a business entity, we had completed our registration with the Chamber of Commerce, making our venture official.

Our Journey Through the Competition

The competition gave us the platform to present the work we had been doing for the past two years. We refined our pitch to clearly communicate our progress, strengthened our business case with the data we had collected, and showcased the relationships we had built with customers and partners. The challenge pushed us to articulate our vision with clarity and conviction, demonstrating how far we had come as a company.

Key Success Factors

• Strong Value Proposition: We clearly communicated how our solution creates value for customers and stands out from competitors.
• Evidence-Based Validation: We backed up our claims with data, testimonials, and pilot results that demonstrated real market traction we had built over two years.
• Scalability Potential: We showed how our business model can scale efficiently and sustainably to reach a larger market.
• Team Expertise: We highlighted our team’s skills, experience, and passion, proving we have what it takes to execute our vision.
• Impact Focus: We emphasized how our startup creates positive social or environmental impact alongside commercial success.

What This Achievement Means for Us

Being recognized as a top 5 finalist in the UvA Impact Challenge 2025 validates the two years of hard work we’ve invested in building our company. It provides us with:

• Increased visibility and credibility in the startup ecosystem
• Access to a network of mentors, investors, and industry experts
• Valuable feedback from experienced judges and entrepreneurs
• Potential funding opportunities to accelerate our growth
• Motivation to continue pushing boundaries and innovating

Looking Ahead > Presentation at the Royal Theater Carré in Amsterdam

While we’re proud of this achievement, we know this is just the beginning of the next chapter. We are honored to present our startup at the Royal Theater Carré in Amsterdam as a finalist of the competition, sharing the stage with the CEO of Philips. The UvA Impact Challenge has given us additional tools, insights, and connections to complement what we’ve built over the past two years. We’re committed to continuing our journey, refining our product, expanding our customer base, and making a meaningful impact in our industry.

We want to thank the UvA Impact Challenge organizers, our mentors, our early customers, and everyone who has supported us along the way. This milestone belongs to all of you!