The scholarship program, an initiative of the Main Social Institute, welcomes seven students for 2026: Lucas Kuunders, Melchior Besancon, Sofiia Ivanova, Reza Hekmatirad, Joy Zwarts, Max van den Berg, and Gurkarmandeep Sidhu. Through financial support, personal mentoring, and access to Main’s professional network, the program helps students explore their ambitions and prepare for their future careers.
This year’s cohort brings a curiosity about the software industry and an eagerness to connect with professionals. From understanding how businesses operate to exploring entrepreneurship, the students look forward to taking their learning beyond the classroom.
For Joy Zwarts, the program offers an opportunity to build professional relationships and gain a clearer picture of working life.
“I want to build connections in the business world, with support from the mentors. I’m looking forward to getting to know the industry and understanding how it works in practice,” says Joy.
Mentorship is central to that experience. By connecting students with professionals from Main’s portfolio companies, the program creates opportunities to ask questions, explore career paths, and learn from firsthand experience.
The mentors supporting the 2026 cohort are:
Max van den Berg, a second-year student at TU Delft, is particularly interested in understanding how software businesses operate and what it takes to start a company.
“I’m looking forward to being paired with a mentor and gaining a better understanding of how B2B software companies work. I’d like to start my own company one day, and I’m also excited about all the events the program offers,” says Max.
With opportunities to learn from mentors, meet fellow students, and attend events throughout the year, the 2026 cohort has much to look forward to.
Main Capital Partners is proud to support Lucas, Melchior, Sofiia, Reza, Joy, Max, and Gurkarmandeep as they develop their interests, expand their networks, and take their next steps towards a professional career.
“I’m looking forward to being paired with a mentor and gaining a better understanding of how B2B software companies work. I’d like to start my own company one day, and I’m also excited about all the events the program offers.”
Read more related articles about the Main Social Institute.
Main Capital launches a scholarship for ambitious IT- students in collaboration with The Hague University of Applied Sciences (HHS), through its newly formed Main Social Institute.
The Main Scholarship was kicked-off through an introductory event in The Hague, The Netherlands for ambitious students in the IT-sector.
Main kicked-off the second year of the Main Scholarship, giving newly joined ambitious students of the program the opportunity to get to know their mentors.