Student Community
Our community connects students and PhD candidates from all faculties who are curious about new ideas, driven to make a difference, and eager to support each other’s journey.
Why Join?
Anyone can drop by Playground, but joining the community lets you step into something bigger:
Connect with open-minded, collaborative peers regularly
Gain early access to workshops, events, and outings
Receive exclusive invitations to external events we attend as a group
Be first to hear about startup opportunities — from internships to co-founder roles
Explore and join interest groups to act on what excites you
Help shape Playground through our community Think Tank
We Connect Online...
If you study at UU or UCU, or are a UU PhD candidate, you're welcome to join our Playground Community on WhatsApp. Here's how it works:
Sign up - Complete the registration form to access our Announcement Channel. Here you'll find updates on Playground news, workshops, and events.
Get involved - Explore community spaces open to all, no onboarding required:
Interest groups: Discuss niche topics like AI, fashion, or sustainability, and form project teams.
Startup marketplace: Find internships and co-founders.
Community outings: Attend external events with other members.
Unlock full access (optional) - Attend an onboarding workshop introducing the entrepreneurial mindset to join the Main Chat. Onboarding gives everyone a shared entrepreneurial foundation, so conversations are focused, collaboration is easier, and ideas turn into projects faster. It's also a chance to meet new members and explore entrepreneurship together, building connections that carry into events and new projects.
Note: PhDs without a SOLIS-ID can contact Bianca Meyer (b.a.meyer@uu.nl) to join the WhatsApp community.
... and Also Meet Offline!
Our community stays vibrant through face-to-face meetups, such as:
- Monthly Lunches – Casual meetups with delicious food, fun conversations, and occasional PlayGrant Awards or guest entrepreneurs. Open to non-members.
- Playground Hangouts – Fun, exclusive outings to bars, experience centres (e.g., escape rooms, The PingPong Club), and more!
- Workshops & Events – Build skills individually or in teams while meeting other students. Open to non-members.
- External Events – Attend external networking and entrepreneurial events together, like Fuckup Nights and Crossroads Utrecht.
- Everyday Connections – All students are welcome at Playground, so there’s always someone to chat, brainstorm, or grab coffee with.
Curious about what this looks like? Check out our News & Insights for more.
