About VITO4STARTERS
With the VITO4STARTERS competition, VITO supports young companies that contribute to greater sustainability with technical knowledge, a proof-of-concept and/or access to infrastructure. In this way, VITO strengthens the start-up community and the Flemish economic fabric.
VITO highly values sustainability and is very active in the start-up community through its own spin-offs. With VITO4STARTERS, VITO wants to give existing start-ups a boost.
VITO thinks in the long term and even after the competition there are various possibilities for collaboration. VITO possesses numerous innovative technologies with significant potential and also manages its own investment fund.
Who can participate?
All European starters with a project or concept that focuses on sustainability can register for VITO4STARTERS. Do you have an idea to make materials or processes more circular? Have you developed a process that reduces CO2 emissions or uses less water? Or have you developed an intelligent or efficient energy system? If so, VITO4STARTERS is the ideal programme for letting these ideas grow. The participation criteria for the startups are:
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Company focusing on sustainability
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Established by the start of the support period and maximum 5 years old
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Need for technological support or access to infrastructure
Selection criteria
We select the best projects or ideas based on these criteria:
- Innovation and technology: the link between the start-up and VITO expertise
- Business model and strategy: the strength of the business plan or idea
- Team and execution: team composition, background and expertise
- Sustainability and impact: alignment with VITO’s mission to accelerate the transition to a sustainable world together!
- Pitching skills: clarity, engagement, and presentation skills
The selection process
During the first round, start-ups are selected based on their submitted pitch (i.e., video and deck) and any additional online intake interviews. In the second round, ten finalists get the chance to pitch at the Love Tomorrow Conference in Boom on 25 July 2024.
Registration closes on 19 May 2024, we will announce the ten finalists on 26 June 2024.
What can you win?
The winner receives VITO support worth EUR 50,000 consisting of one or a combination of the following:
- Technological advice
- A proof of concept
- Access to infrastructure (labs, pilots, ...)
They will also get:
- Access to the VITO network
- Visibility and promotion on the VITO channels
The runner-up will receive similar support worth EUR 30,000 and the second runner-up will receiver support wordt EUR 20,000.
Register your start-up for VITO4STARTERS
Register your sustainable start-up of business idea now!
UZE wins VITO4STARTERS 2023!
At the Love Tomorrow Conference, the jury decided on UZE as the winner of VITO4STARTERS 2023! UZE offers charging-as-a-service, EV charging when and where it suits you.
Thanks to their solution, EV drivers don't have to waste time looking for a charging spot. Instead, UZE's mobile battery comes to wherever you are parked and charges your car up to 200 km in 40 minutes.
Dieter Schotte of UZE, with Bart Swaelens and Nils Wuytens (VITO)
MyGrid wins VITO4STARTERS 2022!
After an exciting pitch competition at Love Tomorrow, our jury chose MyGrid as the winner of VITO4STARTERS 2022. MyGrid provides a unique plug-and-play homebattery and portable battery pack all-in-one attractive device that can be plugged into any standard power outlet.
According to the VITO4STARTERS jury, of all the finalists, MyGrid proved to be the most comprehensive in what they have to offer. "A prototype has been developed, a solid team has been set up, a road-to-market has been mapped out and attention has also been paid to the look-and-feel of their product," according to the jury report.
That required a word of explanation. We discussed MyGrid's further ambitions with founders Jan Wellens and Kristof Geerts, CEO and CTO, respectively.
