Pole position
Pole position
Pole position
Techleap's flagship peer-to-peer programme for deep tech CEOs and founders ready to scale - invite-only, cohort-based, and led by leaders who've done it, pushing you further.
Techleap's flagship peer-to-peer programme for deep tech CEOs and founders ready to scale - invite-only, cohort-based, and led by leaders who've done it, pushing you further.
Techleap's flagship peer-to-peer programme for deep tech CEOs and founders
ready to scale - invite-only, cohort-based, and led by leaders who've done it, pushing you further.
Our flagship
programme
Our flagship
programme
Our flagship
programme
12
12
weeks
weeks
100+
100+
Alumni
Alumni
cohort-based
cohort-based
Vertical focused
Vertical focused
Peer-led
Not lECTURED
Peer-led
Not lECTURED
what is it
what is it
what is it
Pole Position is cohort-based, peer-to-peer programme themed around a specific area. Challengers, experts from companies like Axelera.AI, PasQal, Besi, Energy Dome and Proxima Fusion cbring real expertise in that domain, while you work alongside peers facing your toughest scaling challenges.
Every cohort is highly curated to ensure the best quality and match. Pole Position is invite only, but you can express your interest.
Pole Position is cohort-based, peer-to-peer programme themed around a specific area. Challengers, experts from companies like Axelera.AI, PasQal, Besi, Energy Dome and Proxima Fusion cbring real expertise in that domain, while you work alongside peers facing your toughest scaling challenges.
Every cohort is highly curated to ensure the best quality and match. Pole Position is invite only, but you can express your interest.
Pole Position is cohort-based, peer-to-peer programme themed around a specific area. Challengers, experts from companies like Axelera.AI, PasQal, Besi, Energy Dome and Proxima Fusion cbring real expertise in that domain, while you work alongside peers facing your toughest scaling challenges.
Every cohort is highly curated to ensure the best quality and match. Pole Position is invite only, but you can express your interest.
our
cohorts
our cohorts
our
cohorts
PLANNING
Climate TECH
Climate TECH
Climate TECH
Batch #9 · opens next
Batch #9 · opens next
current cohort
current cohort
Energy TECH
Energy TECH
Energy TECH
Batch #8
Batch #8
Batch #8
Current cohort
Current cohort
Future of Compute
Future of Compute
Future of Compute
Batch #9
Batch #9
Batch #9
Why this exists
Why this exists
Why this exists
Scaling deep tech brings challenges generic advice doesn’t touch: complex technology, an unforgiving supply chain, growth-stage funding, and keeping a team together for years, not months. Pole Position exists for leaders past product-market fit, ready to be challenged by peers under a strict NDA - some call it shock therapy for how it reshapes founders’ thinking.
Scaling deep tech brings challenges generic advice doesn’t touch: complex technology, an unforgiving supply chain, growth-stage funding, and keeping a team together for years, not months. Pole Position exists for leaders past product-market fit, ready to be challenged by peers under a strict NDA - some call it shock therapy for how it reshapes founders’ thinking.
Scaling deep tech brings challenges generic advice doesn’t touch: complex technology, an unforgiving supply chain, growth-stage funding, and keeping a team together for years, not months. Pole Position exists for leaders past product-market fit, ready to be challenged by peers under a strict NDA - some call it shock therapy for how it reshapes founders’ thinking.
Why it works
Why it works
Why it works
Under NDA, participants and guests (challengers) who've been through the same journey can speak freely about what actually worked and what didn't - no polish, no pitch. Techleap plays a purely independent role as facilitator, with no stake in the outcome. That honesty is what sharpens perspectives and shapes pivotal decisions.
Under NDA, participants and guests (challengers) who’ve been through the same journey can speak freely about what actually worked and what didn’t - no polish, no pitch. Techleap plays a purely independent role as facilitator, with no stake in the outcome. That honesty is what sharpens perspectives and shapes pivotal decisions.
Under NDA, participants and guests (challengers) who’ve been through the same journey can speak freely about what actually worked and what didn’t - no polish, no pitch. Techleap plays a purely independent role as facilitator, with no stake in the outcome. That honesty is what sharpens perspectives and shapes pivotal decisions.
who is it for
who is it for
who is it for
Pole Position is for ambitious deep tech leaders ready to scale.
If you meet these criteria, we'd love to hear from you
Pole Position is for ambitious deep tech leaders ready to scale.
If you meet these criteria, we'd love to hear from you
Pole Position is for ambitious deep tech leaders ready to scale. If you meet these criteria, we'd love to hear from you
Pole Position is for ambitious deep tech leaders ready to scale. If you meet these criteria, we'd love to hear from you
Netherlands-based, 15+ FTE leadership team
Already funded (min. €4.5M), raising more
At or near product-market fit
Ready to move from pilot to commercial scale
THE PROGRAMME
THE PROGRAMME
THE PROGRAMME
01
Kickoff Days
Meet your cohort, learn about the most important scaling factors, and sharpen your scaling priorities together.
01
Kickoff Days
Meet your cohort, learn about the most important scaling factors, and sharpen your scaling priorities together.
01
Kickoff Days
Meet your cohort, learn about the most important scaling factors, and sharpen your scaling priorities together.
02
Session 1: Market Access & Industry
Work through how to enter markets that don’t yet exist, with founders facing the same challenge.
02
Session 1: Market Access & Industry
Work through how to enter markets that don’t yet exist, with founders facing the same challenge.
02
Session 1: Market Access & Industry
Work through how to enter markets that don’t yet exist, with founders facing the same challenge.
03
Session 2: Operational Excellence
Tackle what it actually takes to run a capital-intensive deep tech company at scale.
03
Session 2: Operational Excellence
Tackle what it actually takes to run a capital-intensive deep tech company at scale.
03
Session 2: Operational Excellence
Tackle what it actually takes to run a capital-intensive deep tech company at scale.
04
Session 3: Policy & Regulations
Navigate the regulatory landscape shaping your path to market, with direct policy input.
04
Session 3: Policy & Regulations
Navigate the regulatory landscape shaping your path to market, with direct policy input.
04
Session 3: Policy & Regulations
Navigate the regulatory landscape shaping your path to market, with direct policy input.
05
Session 4: Capital & Funding
Pressure-test your funding strategy with peers and experienced entrepreneurs.
05
Session 4: Capital & Funding
Pressure-test your funding strategy with peers and experienced entrepreneurs.
05
Session 4: Capital & Funding
Pressure-test your funding strategy with peers and experienced entrepreneurs.
06
Session 5: Leadership & Team Composition
Build the leadership team and structure a scaling deep tech company actually needs.
06
Session 5: Leadership & Team Composition
Build the leadership team and structure a scaling deep tech company actually needs.
06
Session 5: Leadership & Team Composition
Build the leadership team and structure a scaling deep tech company actually needs.
07
Wrap-up
Discuss your learnings and insights, forecast your growth path for the next 6 months, and set clear goals to guide the next 180 days.
07
Wrap-up
Discuss your learnings and insights, forecast your growth path for the next 6 months, and set clear goals to guide the next 180 days.
07
Wrap-up
Discuss your learnings and insights, forecast your growth path for the next 6 months, and set clear goals to guide the next 180 days.
08
180 Days Milestone
Reconvene with your cohort to share progress and tackle what’s next.
08
180 Days Milestone
Reconvene with your cohort to share progress and tackle what’s next.
08
180 Days Milestone
Reconvene with your cohort to share progress and tackle what’s next.
Express your interest or get in touch
Express your interest or get in touch
Express your interest or
get in touch
Tell us a little about you and your company. We read every submission and will come back to you about the next cohort.
Tell us a little about you and your company. We read every submission and will come back to you about the next cohort.
Tell us a little about you and your company. We read every submission and will come back to you about the next cohort.
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During the Pole Position programme, we received invaluable feedback from an ambitious and supportive peer group and from experienced deep-tech entrepreneurs. As a result, we increased the ambition level of our funding strategy, leading to a much better understanding of the business case and roadmap needed to realise our mission
Kiki Lauwers
CEO, Thorizon
During the Pole Position programme, we received invaluable feedback from an ambitious and supportive peer group and from experienced deep-tech entrepreneurs. As a result, we increased the ambition level of our funding strategy, leading to a much better understanding of the business case and roadmap needed to realise our mission
Kiki Lauwers
CEO, Thorizon
During the Pole Position programme, we received invaluable feedback from an ambitious and supportive peer group and from experienced deep-tech entrepreneurs. As a result, we increased the ambition level of our funding strategy, leading to a much better understanding of the business case and roadmap needed to realise our mission
Kiki Lauwers
CEO, Thorizon
