Program Overview

Program Overview

The Doctoral Schools, in collaboration with VOKA Limburg and the Tech Transfer Office, are organizing the trajectory "Pitch like a Pro: Share Your Research in Minutes". This initiative consists of two complementary components: an intensive pitch workshop followed by a real-life pitching opportunity in front of Limburg-based companies.

Part 1 – Pitch Workshop

During the workshop, the focus is on four core elements:

• Investor Clarity: crafting a pitch that makes the problem, solution, traction, and opportunity instantly clear
• Structure & Momentum: opening strong, creating a logical flow, and building towards a compelling ask
• Persuasion & Delivery: speaking with confidence, presence, and credibility under time pressure
• Slides that Sell: creating minimal, purposeful slides that strengthen the story rather than distract from it

Participants receive access to a short e-learning video course in advance, covering the fundamentals of pitching. During the live workshop, participants pitch in small groups, receive focused feedback, and immediately iterate on their pitch, ensuring they leave with a strong, clear, and convincing message.

Part 2 – Real-Life Pitches to a Business Audience

After the workshop, participants get the opportunity to pitch their refined business idea to a real business audience, hosted in collaboration with VOKA. This moment allows participants to test their pitch in a realistic setting, gain valuable feedback from companies, and experience what it feels like to present to potential investors or business partners outside the classroom.

Learning Outcomes

After attending the workshop, participants will:

• be able to translate their business idea into a clear investor-focused core message
• be able to structure a short pitch with a strong opening, clear logic, and a convincing closing
• know how to highlight the elements investors care about most (problem, solution, market, traction, team, and ask)
• be able to deliver with more confidence, presence, and control over pace and nerves
• be able to design simple slides that support decision-making instead of overwhelming the audience
• be aware of common investor pitch pitfalls and how to avoid them

Competences

An important part of preparing for any further professional step is becoming (more) aware of the competences you have developed and/or want to develop. In the current workshop, the following competences from the UHasselt competency overview are actively dealt with:

• Interpersonal Competences:
  • persuasion
  • presentation skills
  • oral communication
• Intellectual Competences:
  • creativity
• Personal Effectiveness:
  • self-confidence
  • stress management

Practicalities

For Whom?

• PhD students/postdocs
• 15 places available

When and Where?

• Workshop "Pitch like a pro: share your research in minutes": May 13, 2026, 09:30-16:30 - campus Diepenbeek, building D, room C110
• VOKA company pitches: June 11, 2026, 09:00-17:30 - VOKA offices, Gouverneur Roppesingel 51, 3500 Hasselt

Acknowledged As?

• DS BSH: category 'research management & communication skills' - workshop aimed at developing communication skills
• DS HLS: category 'transferable skills' - one compulsory elective course
• DS ST: category 'scientific & generic communication' - course about generic communication

Programmes

• English master programmes
• English postgraduate
• PhD
• Dutch programmes
• Preparatory language courses

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