The offer

For the sum of € 2.500 the program offers the entrepreneur a variety of different facilities to keep the initiation and operating costs as low as possible during the first critical year. One of the facilities which is crucial for TOP is to tap in to the knowledge potential of the University in the field where the business or product idea is based upon. By offering the entrepreneur a physical place in a research group the knowledge is easily accessible. The TOP program is a tailor-made program for the starting entrepreneur, and in this respect there can and are differences in support between entrepreneurs that originates from different needs.

The facilities and support given by the TOP program can be listed as follows:

· Office space.

The entrepreneur is housed physically in the research-group. The research-group receives a financial compensation for its hospitality from the coordinator of the TOP-program.

· Secretarial support.

The entrepreneur can use (within certain limits) all communication aids as computer, fax, copier and telephone in arrangement with the research-group.

· Laboratory facilities.

Depending on the type of company, the entrepreneur sometimes needs the access to expensive equipment. By arrangement with the research-group he is able to use it.

· Scientific mentor.

Usually the one who decides to let the entrepreneur in the research group also acts as a scientific mentor. Sometimes the entire research group plays that role. This way the knowledge is easy accessible.

· Course "Becoming an Entrepreneur".

A starting entrepreneur is not yet an entrepreneur and this course helps him to develop important skills and to write a sound business-plan. The course is part of the university curriculum and is offered for free to students. As an entrepreneur they have to pay a small fee. An outline of the course is in Annex X to this Chapter.

· Financing.

In order to make it possible for the entrepreneur to concentrate fully on his product/business without having a paying customer from the beginning the TOP-entrepreneur receives an interest-free loan of € 14.500 if necessary. It is a personal loan, not a loan to the company, which has to be paid back in 4 years, starting the second year.

· Business mentor.

Because the starting entrepreneur lacks experience in doing business, the entrepreneur is matched with an experienced businessman who started his own business in the past.

Access to the TOP program is decided on a business plan. This business plan should reflect the type of company, range of expertise, products and/or services, considerations on the market, pricing strategies, etc. The plan should not be longer than 10 pages (The standard format for a business plan is in Annex X). It should be the business plan for a company in the incubation phase. The prospective entrepreneur is supported with advice of the program manager to write the business plan. The business plan is discussed in the TOP Commission. When approved the entrepreneur can enter the program immediately.

During the TOP year the TOP-Commission monitors and gives advice. In general after six month there is a midterm review in which the expected results for the past six months period are reviewed. A second time the Commission meets with the entrepreneur is at the end of the TOP year (exit interview). The Commission checks if the entrepreneur is doing what he is supposed to be doing: doing business. Sometimes it is concluded that the entrepreneur concentrates too much on desk research and hardly having a paying customer. In such cases the TOP-Commission has an important role: They have to convince the entrepreneur that if nobody wants to pay for the development of the product or service now, it is very likely that nobody will when it is ready.

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Home Information for applicants Information for university staff TOP-companies General information Sitemap Search Print version	The offer For the sum of € 2.500 the program offers the entrepreneur a variety of different facilities to keep the initiation and operating costs as low as possible during the first critical year. One of the facilities which is crucial for TOP is to tap in to the knowledge potential of the University in the field where the business or product idea is based upon. By offering the entrepreneur a physical place in a research group the knowledge is easily accessible. The TOP program is a tailor-made program for the starting entrepreneur, and in this respect there can and are differences in support between entrepreneurs that originates from different needs. The facilities and support given by the TOP program can be listed as follows: · Office space. The entrepreneur is housed physically in the research-group. The research-group receives a financial compensation for its hospitality from the coordinator of the TOP-program. · Secretarial support. The entrepreneur can use (within certain limits) all communication aids as computer, fax, copier and telephone in arrangement with the research-group. · Laboratory facilities. Depending on the type of company, the entrepreneur sometimes needs the access to expensive equipment. By arrangement with the research-group he is able to use it. · Scientific mentor. Usually the one who decides to let the entrepreneur in the research group also acts as a scientific mentor. Sometimes the entire research group plays that role. This way the knowledge is easy accessible. · Course "Becoming an Entrepreneur". A starting entrepreneur is not yet an entrepreneur and this course helps him to develop important skills and to write a sound business-plan. The course is part of the university curriculum and is offered for free to students. As an entrepreneur they have to pay a small fee. An outline of the course is in Annex X to this Chapter. · Financing. In order to make it possible for the entrepreneur to concentrate fully on his product/business without having a paying customer from the beginning the TOP-entrepreneur receives an interest-free loan of € 14.500 if necessary. It is a personal loan, not a loan to the company, which has to be paid back in 4 years, starting the second year. · Business mentor. Because the starting entrepreneur lacks experience in doing business, the entrepreneur is matched with an experienced businessman who started his own business in the past. Access to the TOP program is decided on a business plan. This business plan should reflect the type of company, range of expertise, products and/or services, considerations on the market, pricing strategies, etc. The plan should not be longer than 10 pages (The standard format for a business plan is in Annex X). It should be the business plan for a company in the incubation phase. The prospective entrepreneur is supported with advice of the program manager to write the business plan. The business plan is discussed in the TOP Commission. When approved the entrepreneur can enter the program immediately. During the TOP year the TOP-Commission monitors and gives advice. In general after six month there is a midterm review in which the expected results for the past six months period are reviewed. A second time the Commission meets with the entrepreneur is at the end of the TOP year (exit interview). The Commission checks if the entrepreneur is doing what he is supposed to be doing: doing business. Sometimes it is concluded that the entrepreneur concentrates too much on desk research and hardly having a paying customer. In such cases the TOP-Commission has an important role: They have to convince the entrepreneur that if nobody wants to pay for the development of the product or service now, it is very likely that nobody will when it is ready.