Food Commerce and Technology lecturer Zeger Stinis supports his students by having them start their own businesses during the third and fourth years of the program at Inholland University of Applied Sciences Delft. This year, five companies just completed the internal minor "Challenge Entrepreneurship. According to Zeger, a lot of great products always disappear into the closet from the course, and that while entrepreneurship is something very beautiful. With the minor 'Challenge Entrepreneurship' Zeger prepares his students for the working field and they really get to know themselves well.
In the third year of the program, students take the culinary product development course where they attempt to create a product or concept. They can then choose to further produce their product in year four with the minor in Challenge Entrepreneurship. In the first block of the fourth year, students learn how to scale up production, write a marketing plan and what social media channels to use. At the end of the first block, students must find investors so they can produce and market the product in the second block.
Jong Ondernemen is a foundation that encourages entrepreneurship among young people. Inholland Delft makes use of various facilities offered by Jong Ondernemen such as a private bank account and tax schemes. In the pitch battles of Jong Ondernemen, the students of Inholland Delft score well because of their targeted focus on product development.
Instructor Zeger Stinis is very passionate about the program he has created and loves seeing students grow as professionals and on a personal level. He recommends future students choose the Challenge Entrepreneurship program because the learning curve is so much higher than other minors.
This year's companies are Bienjes, Saucijs Uniq, Peppertree Food, Trusty Truffle and Bonborange. For more information, visit the Inholland Delft website.