The prize
Don’t win a trophy. Win a real start.
The winning team gets €2,000 print budget to bring your first collection to life, a stage at Visualize Expo 2027 and a speaker profile on SPREKKERS.FRL and together, a kickstart for your startup.
Not a school prize. A launchpad.
Two prizes
First a strong concept. Then real sales.
9 December @ MICA
Concept prize
For the strongest venture concept after the hackathon.
Prize: to be announced soon.
Assessment: customer relevance, feasibility, business case, evidence of learning (test results) and clarity of the pitch.
15 January 2027 @ MICA
Commercial prize
For the team with the best commercial result after the live period, on the way to the trade fair.
€2,000 print budget, a spot on the Visualize Expo startup square (23 to 25 March 2027), a speaker profile on SPREKKERS.FRL and launch support.
Commercial prize
How the jury picks the winner.
At Demo Night @ MICA on 15 January, every finalist team pitches live, with a working shop and their first orders to show for it. The jury scores each criterion, and the weighted scores determine the final result.
The jury
Who’s judging your pitch.
Entrepreneurs, makers and organisers from brand, print and events.
Gerrit Brouwer
Entrepreneur, previously at Appical & Total Talent
Built Appical and Total Talent around software and happiness at work. Looks at your story, your team and whether your idea can scale.
Sjouke Kingma
The signmaker behind DSGN Project & founder of SPREKKERS.FRL
Brings brands to life through print and signage, and founded SPREKKERS.FRL. Focuses on craftsmanship: does the design still work when it's actually produced?
Didier Kick
MICA | Media Innovation Campus
Brings education and business together at MICA. Judges whether your concept adds real value and whether you can deliver as a team.
Martijn Brandse
Easyfairs | Visualize Expo
Organises Visualize Expo, the showcase for the print and signage industry. Assesses whether your brand can hold its own among professionals and buyers.
Jan van Erve
Board member at KNKB
A board member with a passion for Frisian clubs and events. Looks at whether your brand can build a real community and whether your plan can stand on its own beyond the challenge.
Corry Vlasma
Business developer at Rabobank, on behalf of the Green Dragons
As a business developer at Rabobank she helps entrepreneurs grow, and she joins on behalf of the Green Dragons. She looks at whether your plan is investable: is there a market, a revenue model and a team that keeps going?
Some of the jury members are linked to SPREKKERS.FRL, the speakers' platform that also offers the winner a spot.
What the winner gets
€2,000 print budget and guidance during the launch support period. And the biggest prize: your own spot in the startup zone at Visualize Expo 2027, 23 to 25 March, alongside professionals, suppliers and buyers from the print and signage industry.
Plus a speaker profile on SPREKKERS.FRL, so you can keep sharing your story on stages across Fryslân after the challenge.
What we expect
A working shop, a clear offer with real prices, and evidence from the market: orders, pre-orders or concrete feedback from your target audience.
Terms and conditions
Read the terms of participation for all rules on taking part, ownership and the prizes.