Events that inspire
We host and organize a range of event formats, but all of them with the same goal – to inspire, learn and apply. Check out our events.
Connecting Maastricht’s student entrepreneurs
We empower students to take the next step in their entrepreneurial journey and are the seeding ground for new success stories.
START Maastricht is a daughter association of
START Maastricht is a Chapter of START Global
START is a place for the next gen of innovators
At START Maastricht, we’re committed to fostering entrepreneurial thinking within our local and surrounding student communities.
We promote personal growth and collaborative learning, connecting passionate students with founders, mentors, and the Europe-wide START Network.
Our mission is to cultivate forward-thinking talent, turning bold ideas into impactful ventures and positive change.
What makes us different
A diverse & inclusive community
- 15+
- nationalities
- 10
- academic backgrounds
- 2
- universities
Community that supports
You are the average of the 5 people you surround yourself with, and we make sure you’re in good company. We bring each other forward.
Network that accelerates
We are backed by a strong ecosystem and trusted long-term partners that share our vision and values and believe in the power of young innovative minds.
We’re a part of the sprawling START Network
This interconnection multiplies our potential across the world, allowing us to draw inspiration from diverse cultures, share insights, and create an ecosystem that nurtures collective progress.
- 22
- cities
- 11
- countries
- 500+
- members in our global community
- Barcelona
- Lisbon
- Maastricht
- Nuremberg
- Lausanne
- Vaduz
- Helsinki
- Berlin
- St. Gallen
- Stuttgart
- Hamburg
- Paris
- Bogotá
- Quito
- Lima
- Munich
We host events
Road to START Summit
Our annual pitching competition that brings the most innovative early-stage startups on one stage. They pitch for a monetary prize and a chance to pitch in front of 6000+ people at the entrepreneurship conference START Summit.
Drinks & Demos
Drinks & Demos is a monthly event where entrepreneurs, startup founders, and business leaders share their journeys, insights, and strategies for success — all over a relaxed networking atmosphere.
START the Conversation
START the Conversation is our expert circle: panel discussions on a specific topic, where experts share their views, debate with each other and open up the conversation to our community.
Online speaker events
Not every great founder can be in Maastricht. In our online speaker events, founders of, for example, Google Maps and SumUp share their story with our community and answer the questions our members have.
Why START? Reasons to join
- 20+
- events per year for our community
- 50+
- members in Maastricht
- 1500+
- social media followers
- €1.5m
- raised by affiliated startups
Learn & grow through our member formats
Founder Insights
What better way to learn about entrepreneurship than from successful and active founders. We meet with inspiring entrepreneurs and have an open chat about the personal journey of a founder.
Get Together
At START Maastricht all of us come together in our departments, to foster friendship, community and engagement.
Frequently asked questions
My background is not in business, can I still join?
Of course, our members come from a variety of fields, not just from business backgrounds.
Do I have to have a startup to join?
No. You should have an intrinsic motivation towards entrepreneurship topics, a hands-on mentality and willingness to learn.
I’m not a student in Maastricht, can I still join START Maastricht?
No, to become a member, you need to be a student enrolled in one of the universities in Maastricht. You are, however, very welcome to join one of our public events or collaborate with us.
How active is the community?
We prioritize an active and lively community by organizing over 20 events and community meetups, as well as working in smaller groups on various projects.
How can I benefit from joining START Maastricht?
You will get immersed into the entrepreneurship ecosystem, and find a community of like-minded, highly motivated and inspiring students that quickly become good friends. We have frequent event formats where you will gain new skills and insights and tackle hands-on challenges. As an active member you will join one of our departments, where you have additional opportunities to gain new skills and carry out projects.
What are the tasks I have to do as a member?
You will choose one of our departments to become an active member and take on different projects. By doing this, you will have a chance to practice proactive project management and execution, and develop new department-specific hard skills like building automations, designing a marketing campaign, partner acquisition, event organization or recruiting of new members.
Any question left unanswered?
Shoot us a message. Our people department is happy to answer any questions you have!
Why become a partner? Reasons to support us
Access to talent
with a wide range of backgrounds
Europe-wide START Network
of ever-growing chapters
Boost your brand awareness
by a chance to interact with our community and be featured on our platforms
Collaborate on projects and challenges
with highly talented and innovative young minds
Get in touch
Our partnerships department is happy to connect partners passionate about innovation and entrepreneurship of all industries and sizes who want to collaborate with driven students and are looking for stellar talent in Maastricht’s ecosystem.
Jakob Rojahn
Head of Partnerships
An opportunity to learn new skills to grow and succeed
Meet the team: the board
Lara Enzi
President
Leo Böse
Vice President
Jannis Laghusemann
Head of Operations
Kaya Bollmann
Head of HR
Jakob Rojahn
Head of Partnerships
TBA
Head of Marketing
We are self-sustained & self-organized
Our departments
Human Resources
We find the raw diamonds in Maastricht’s startup ecosystem, work hard with you to take the next step in your entrepreneurial journey, and most importantly, we build a community that feels like a family!
Marketing
We find creative and fun ways to engage with our ecosystem, communicate the values, vision, and happenings in START Maastricht, and connect to stakeholders, like students, industry partners, universities and other initiatives.
Operations
The Operations department is the backbone of our organization. We make sure our processes run smoothly and that START is set up for long-term success legally and operationally.
Partnerships
We establish and nurture flourishing partnerships that unite entrepreneurial minds. We work toward a positive impact for our members, partners and Maastricht’s entrepreneurship ecosystem.
Learn & grow through real ownership
As an active member in one of our departments, you take real ownership of projects from day one, expanding your hard and soft skills in a supportive team.
Projects & Sprints
Turn ambitious ideas into reality. Whether organizing major competitions or rolling out new initiatives, you develop proactive project management and execution skills.
Skill-Building & Workshops
Learn directly from experienced founders and industry experts through hands-on masterclasses in fundraising, marketing, operations, and leadership.
Ecosystem & Network
Build genuine connections with founders, innovators, and our Europe-wide START network across 22+ cities that accelerate your personal and professional journey.
Want to learn more? Get in touch
We are happy to connect with students passionate about innovation and entrepreneurship of all backgrounds, as well as partners open to collaboration with driven students and looking for stellar talent in Maastricht’s ecosystem.
Stay up to date!
We are active on LinkedIn, Instagram and TikTok.