Rockstart supports you with all the necessary tools, network and guidance to grow your startup. We’ve run multiple programs since 2012, assembled an extensive mentor and partner network and developed programs that provide validation opportunities and hands-on access to the healthcare system. If your team is focused on turning your startup into a high-growth company, Rockstart Program is the right partner to take the next step forward.

Yes. Your investor(s) would probably like you to join an program because they know what kind of support you can get by participating. Seed investors often spend a lot of time to coach the companies they invest in to increase their survival rate but cannot organize a mentor network or provide the expertise an accelerator can. Rockstart’s Health Program will help you to bring your startup to the next level by teaching your team how to think through your business proposition, open doors that have been closed, help you with funding, marketing & PR and make sure you lay the foundation for growth plus lots more. We tailor the program to meet the needs of the 10 selected startups.

You need to have a team of least two people to join the program. It is difficult enough to build and grow a business, so you should have a partner to be able to make it a success. During the selection period we focus on team dynamics and it’s a critical component of the selection process. You and your teammates should have complementary skills and positive team dynamics to be able to make it work. However, we realize it is sometimes difficult to find the right partner. If you are very convinced that your startup should be part of the program, we recommend you apply. We might be able to connect you to the right partner. A team should be in place before we invite you for selection days.

Startups accepted to the Rockstart Health Program receive € 20.000 plus an in-kind investment consisting of office space and other facilities, expert workshops, international events, exclusive deals and intensive hands-on (mentor) support, all in exchange for 8% equity. We are willing to give our all alongside your other co-founders to make your startup work. You can call on us as a co-founder; before, during and long after the program has ended.

For our 2016 Health program we are looking for health startups that show potential of changing the way in which health created or delivered through technology. Our focus areas are: Prevent (e.g. in the work place), Connect (think connected patients or Quantified Self) and Communicate (patient-to-patient communication and more).

We believe in the power of a great team. Since our program is extremely intense and requires full team dedication, it’s important that you have a strong team in place with a track record, motivation and potential. We’re also looking for innovation. It doesn’t mean that you have to come up with a totally original idea, but your execution of that idea has to be unique. We’re looking to change the world with the startups we work with. We don’t care where you’re from in the world as long as you can get here before the start of the program.

In order for us to help you get the most out of the program, we’re primarily looking for startups that have developed at least a MVP (minimal viable product), have customers or users and some traction. If your idea is still on the back of a napkin at the moment, we suggest you go to the next Startup Weekend or Startup Next and test it out. However, as long as you have a business vision by the end of our application process in August 2016, we’d love to hear it.

Rockstart’s Health Program is based at the Novio Tech Campus in Nijmegen. Located in the heart of Health Valley, a regional network of 700+ companies and institutions involved in healthcare, Novio Tech Campus is also home to other (digital) health startups.

No. We are open for startups from all over the world. If you are from outside of the EU, we will support you in applying for the Dutch startup visa. Rockstart is one of the few accredited facilitators who can propose startups receive this visa.

If you have other questions, please send us an email or plan a Skype call with us. We will get back to you shortly.