Innofest

The City of Utrecht and Innofest are once again working together in 2023 and 2024 in the Validation Lab Utrecht. We will help as many as 14 start-ups and scale-ups set up their test case at a test location as close to reality as possible. These are festivals in the Utrecht region, including Bevrijdingsfestival Utrecht and Le Guess Who?

We are looking for entrepreneurs who are developing innovations that contribute to healthy people, a future-oriented living environment and valuable digitalisation. Apply before 16 August using the button below!

Apply here

The programme

The programme consists of a series of three workshops (Innolessen) in which the test case takes shape step by step. During the final practical test at the festival, entrepreneurs receive personal guidance from a test expert to achieve optimal results. We also organise innovation tours to give partners and sponsors a look behind the scenes.

We will also organise a funding workshop together with ROM Utrecht Region and participating startups will receive mentoring from our partners ROM Utrecht Region and Gemeente Utrecht.

After the test case there will be an evaluation workshop. In it, the entrepreneurs look back on the test case and look ahead to possible future steps. This way, we ensure that the data collected is actually used to improve the prototype.

Good to know: if your startup is selected, a test budget will be available that allows you to partially reimburse your expenses.

Why would you participate?

> You will test your prototype using a proven method;
> You will have access to unique test locations in the Utrecht region;
> You will collect valuable data to further develop your prototype;
> You receive a test budget, that allows you to partially reimburse your expenses.
> You create visibility for your company.

More info on the themes

Healthy people: This theme deals with innovations in greening, care, nutrition and exercise.

Future-proof living environment: Think mobile batteries, smart tools to monitor usage, electric transport, generation and renewable sources.

Valuable digitalisation: Apps and tools, such as sensors that track when you can empty your container, a digital household book or an app that indicates free charging stations.

These entrepreneurs previously tested with us:

ZigZagSolar, BAMBOOXL, Blue Millies, WAUW Closet, Our Market, AeroCount and 4OMID tested their innovations in 2021 during Le Guess Who? and at Berlin Square. In 2022, we could be found at Bevrijdingsfestival Utrecht with Watermeln, Beton-Lab, Respyre, Pure Carbon Blue and Solar Sedum, among others. Watch the videos below to see all the entrepreneurs in action.

"Innofest's work is an important complement to our accelerators. It forces entrepreneurs to name their assumptions and test them in the real world."

Manon Klein, Innovation Lead Impact Hub Amsterdam

Important data for in your calendar

August 16 → Application deadline
24 August → Innoles 1
26 September → Innoles 2
31 October → Innoles 3
9 to 12 November → testing at Le Guess Who?
30 November → Innoles 4

Dates for testing at Bevrijdingsfestival Utrecht in 2024 will be announced later.

About Innofest

Innofest offers startups and scaleups the chance to test prototypes at living labs, kickstarting their success. By validating key assumptions at an early stage, startups increase their innovation’s chances of success and extract crucial evidence for investors or ‘launching customers’.

Since its foundation in 2016, Innofest has guided more than 200 test cases at festivals and living labs. We do this using our own validated test methodology. Download the whitepaper in which we set out our methodology.