Utrecht, with its vibrant blend of talent, resources, and forward-thinking entrepreneurs, has become a thriving hub for innovation and entrepreneurship. The city’s startup ecosystem, bolstered by esteemed incubators and accelerators, has proven to be a fertile ground for early-stage companies in diverse sectors such as health, education, gaming, and biotech.

The Kamer van Koophandel (KvK), the Chamber of Commerce in the Netherlands, recently listed some of the most innovative Utrecht-based firms in its Innovation Top 100 programme. 

This year’s Innovation Top 100 programme will spotlight companies excelling in five crucial categories: Labour Market and Society, Circular Economy, Energy Transition, Health and Care, and Food, Water, and Infrastructure. From each category, the top three companies will be honoured, resulting in a total of 15 winners.

The winners will be announced on Saturday, 16 November, at the KVK Innovation Top 100 Event in Rotterdam Ahoy. Until then, let’s get to know the 13 Utrecht-based companies competing for this year’s honours. 

Axual

Founded in 2015 by Jeroen van Disseldorp, Axual has emerged as a leader in real-time event streaming solutions, with a particular focus on the energy sector. Axual’s collaboration with Digital4Grids gave rise to Kafka4Power, a cutting-edge platform designed to optimise grid operations through real-time data management.

Axual’s suite of products also includes its core Axual Platform for Apache Kafka, a tool designed to simplify and enhance real-time data streaming for businesses across various sectors. 

Axual’s continued success, bolstered by funding from Holland Capital, ensures it remains a key player in transforming the energy sector through innovative data solutions.

Bright Green Corporation

Bright Green Corporation, founded in 2019 by Lynn Stockwell and Groovy Singh, is a key player in the production of plant-based drugs and active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), including legal cannabis products. 

The company focuses on researching and producing Schedule I and II drugs, offering cannabis extracts for medical use. Bright Green aims to lead the way in legal cannabis production, serving as an ethical and sustainable alternative in the growing pharmaceutical industry.

Publicly traded under the ticker BGXX, Bright Green’s valuation has positioned it for future growth. With an ambitious plan to raise $500 million through an EB-5 program, the company is set to expand its operations, furthering its mission to bring plant-based medicines to the mainstream pharmaceutical market. 

Cây Circular Kitchens

Founded in 2022 by Rik Mulder and Len Blom, Cây Circular Kitchens is revolutionising the kitchen design industry with its modular, sustainable solutions. The company prioritises the circular economy by using reusable, high-quality materials in its kitchen systems. By eliminating the need for glue and screws, each component of a Cây kitchen is easily disassembled and repurposed.

Their Modular Kitchen Systems, which won the Best Sustainable Starter at the Duurzaam Wonen Awards 2023, are made from strong birch plywood and sheet materials composed of at least 95 percent recycled content. Cây’s kitchens are designed to last for generations, combining functionality with a timeless aesthetic, ensuring that sustainability and style go hand-in-hand.

Deepler

Deepler, founded in 2020 by Stijn van der Vat, is an innovative platform focused on improving employee retention and performance through data-driven insights. By providing organisations with modular tools to analyse workplace satisfaction and optimise workloads, Deepler aims to create a more engaged and productive workforce. 

Its key products—Deepler Insights, Deepler Connect, and Deepler Engage—allow businesses to enhance customer interactions, improve operational efficiency, and make better-informed decisions based on data.

Currently in its expansion phase, Deepler is targeting additional European markets, including Germany.

DuurzameBouwkeet

Founded by Brian Rodriguez and Rutger de Keijzer in 2022, DuurzameBouwkeet offers eco-friendly construction solutions with a focus on minimising the environmental impact of building sites.

DuurzameBouwkeet’s sustainable building facilities and portable construction units are designed to support environmentally conscious projects in the construction industry. 

The startup’s construction cabin promises lower energy consumption, zero carbon emissions, and minimum noise. Construction companies can use the construction cabin at any place, whether in an area connected to the main power grid or not. 

E-Lions H2

Founded in 2017 by Léon Jansen, E-Lions H2 is at the forefront of hydrogen energy technology, developing systems that harness hydrogen for clean energy applications. Its flagship products, E-LIONS ROCK FCEV and E-LIONS CREATOR FCEV, represent hydrogen fuel cell solutions that power converted VW vehicles. 

By promoting the adoption of hydrogen as a viable alternative to fossil fuels, E-Lions H2 is contributing to the global shift toward sustainable energy solutions.

Eddy Grid

Founded in 2023 by Sam Rohn, Renno Welberg, Emma Wolthuizen, Maxim Sprey, and Jasper Cramwinckel, Eddy Grid focuses on optimising grid operations and energy efficiency through innovative software solutions. 

By raising €1.5 million in a pre-seed round led by prominent investors, Eddy Grid is well-positioned to address grid congestion and improve energy distribution in the Netherlands. 

HackShield

Founded in 2023 by Tim Murck and Emily Jacometti, HackShield is on a mission to educate the youth about online safety and cybersecurity. The company trains young people, which it refers to as “Cyber Agents,” to recognise and defend against online dangers. 

Through its interactive platform, HackShield offers gamified experiences where children can engage in activities and solve puzzles while learning essential cybersecurity concepts.  

Even though it is currently unfunded, HackShield is paving the way for a more secure future by empowering young minds to navigate the online world responsibly.

Jixbee

Founded in 2022 by Gijs Lubberdink, Jixbee is revolutionising the way employees access their earned wages. The company offers an on-demand payroll solution that enables workers to access up to 50% of their gross earnings before traditional payroll dates. 

By enhancing financial well-being and flexibility, Jixbee aims to improve productivity and retention rates within companies. Its primary product is an app that seamlessly integrates with existing payroll systems, allowing for real-time wage access without requiring employer intervention. 

Jixbee is currently unfunded.

Kendro-Stijl

Founded in 2017 by Ineke Marsman and Anton Tolboom, Kendro-Stijl specialises in crafting custom furniture and interior design solutions that prioritise high-quality craftsmanship and personalised designs. 

Their popular Bib ‘Stand Up Chair’ assists people with mobility challenges by promoting independence through its ergonomic design. By focusing on tailored solutions for diverse needs, Kendro-Stijl is making a significant impact in the furniture industry. Funding information is currently unavailable.

SNX

Founded in 2022 by Semira van Hees, SNX is dedicated to transforming public perceptions around snacking by creating healthier alternatives. The company’s mission is to shift habits from unhealthy snacks to more responsible, health-conscious choices. 

SNX produces a range of popular items, including burgers, croquettes, and bitterballen, but with significantly reduced sugar, salt, fat, and carbohydrates. 

In addition to promoting better eating habits among consumers, SnackFracture is also committed to sustainable production by shortening its chain. It works with regional partners to strengthen the local economy. 

Sustainer

Founded in 2014 by Gert van Vugt, Jacintha Baas, Sol van Kempen, and Wolf Bierens, Sustainer is at the forefront of sustainable construction, developing modular housing solutions with minimal environmental impact. The company focuses on circular construction practices and aims to create carbon-neutral homes. 

Sustainer Homes employs innovative technology and clever design to significantly reduce CO2 emissions during the construction process. Their modular wooden homes and buildings exemplify energy efficiency and sustainability, making them a model for the future of housing. 

Sustainer Homes raised €596,000 through equity crowdfunding in February 2018.

Verne Health

Founded in 2023 by Jelle Heisen, Verne Health is addressing critical issues in the healthcare sector, such as chronic staff shortages and inefficient data management. By leveraging cutting-edge technologies, Verne Health aims to enhance the quality and accessibility of care through user-centric solutions. 

Its flagship product—a new electronic patient data (EPD) platform—includes an AI-driven chatbot named Verne that automates routine tasks, enabling healthcare professionals to focus more on patient care. 

The Verne App further facilitates patient engagement and data management, streamlining administrative tasks and improving communication. Funding details for Verne Health are currently unavailable.

Can social enterprises impact our lives the same way that tech startups do? The Dutch New Narrative Lab (DNNL) is on a mission to help social enterprises become economically sustainable with its launchpad mission.

While tech startups hog all the limelight in the Dutch startup ecosystem, there is now renewed focus on innovative impact startups and social enterprises who are pushing to make the world more equitable and sustainable on their way to solving 21st-century challenges.

To help social enterprises and social entrepreneurs, DNNL joined hands with Social Enterprise NL and Google.org to announce DNNL x Social Enterprise NL Launchpad Track 2024 in March 2024.

The programme aims to nurture social innovation and turn the Dutch tech ecosystem into a hub for socially scalable enterprises as well as support innovative and ambitious organisations that back entrepreneurs with a migrant background.

The application for the programme opened between March 20 and April 20, 2024 and a panel of independent judges selected the eleven startups a few days later. The kickoff for the programme began on April 26 and included expert days, hybrid masterclasses, and founder & funders dinner.

With the social enterprises selected for the programme set for their demo day being held at the Amazon office on July 5, where the social entrepreneurs will showcase their product and pitch their businesses to investors.

The demo day will be opened by Mpanzu Bamenga, Member of the Dutch Parliament for D66 and Human Rights Man of the Year 2021 and moderated by Arosha Brouwer, co-Founder & CEO of Quan and lead mentor of DNNL x Social Enterprise Launchpad NL.

They will be joined by a distinguished panel of experts including Carol Tarr, Sustainable Finance and Impact Investment Expert at Phenix Capital Group, Farshida Zafar, Director of the Erasmus Centre for Entrepreneurship, Davide Iannuzzi, Chief Impact Officer at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (VU Amsterdam), Jeffrey Williams, Senior Investment Manager at ROM Utrecht Region, and Kayode Alao, Supply Chain and Procurement Lead at Amazon.

Let’s take a look at the eleven social enterprises selected for DNNL x Social Enterprise NL Track 2024 Launchpad and their critical ask at Demo Day 2024 made possible by Amazon Netherlands.

BlockVerse Institute

Founder(s): Gaurav Gupta

Founded in: 2022

Hiring: Yes, check job opportunities here

Critical Ask: BlockVerse Institute is seeking €1.25M in funding which the social startup will use to create a scalable Select – Skill – Match platform over the next 18 months. It is also looking for companies interested in participating in its NL pilot and recruiting from its diverse skilled cohort by the end of Q4 2024.

BlockVerse Institute is a Dutch startup that aims to formalise digital technology skill development. The company collaborates with governments to enhance existing workforce skills and assist new talents in satisfying digital talent demand.

The BlockVerse platform offers various courses, including machine learning operations, cybersecurity, coding, and more. Users are also provided career counselling sessions and a hub to connect with hiring teams for job opportunities. The Dutch startup works with world-class clients. It has initiated digital skills training projects in Africa and India to empower women and underprivileged people.

CupXchange

Founder(s): Chong Hu

Founded in: 2023

Hiring: No

Critical Ask: CupXchange is looking to connect with organisations willing to switch to its social and sustainable subscription and also connect with social impact investors willing to support its mission.

CupXchange is a complete “cups-as-a-service” solution that collects, delivers, and washes coffee cups. The startup picks up coffee cups, cleans them at local cleaning facilities, and delivers them with zero-emission transport, minimising the impact on the environment. The solution from CupXchange makes enjoying coffee possible in a sustainable and reusable manner. The Dutch startup also hires underrepresented people and those with a distance from the labour market, especially neurodiverse and autistic talent.

Insight – People & Culture

Founder(s): Farzan Najmeddin and Kasper Bouwens

Founded in: 2022

Hiring: No

Critical Ask: Insight is looking for design partners or organisations that recognise the urgency of the problem the Dutch startup is solving. It is specifically looking for 5 organisations with over 200 employees who can help Insight further develop its product in collaboration with its users.

Insight – People & Culture is a platform dedicated to help every organisation become a human-first organisation, where millennials and Gen-Z employees can develop together. It deploys AI to create “human-first organisations visions of a future where the functions of HR and L&D in a company are not isolated from each other but integrated seamlessly into employees’ daily workflow. The platform provides real-time insights based on a team’s culture and engagement to help the clients grow.”

Are you interested in knowing more about these social enterprises? Click here to know more about them and their DNNL x Social Enterprise NL Launchpad Track 2024 journey.

Life of Gini & TravelBuddies

Founder(s): Virginia Scheele

Founded in: 2023

Hiring: No

Critical Ask: Life of Gini & TravelBuddies is seeking at least 5 corporates that want to sponsor €10k each so they get to send 5 queer employees on an inclusive social impact trip.

Life of Gini & TravelBuddies is a Utrecht-based startup that assists solo travellers with unique one-stop-shop inclusive and sustainable travelling experiences aimed at hi-tier solo travellers, couples, and employee teams.

Solo travellers can join the carefully curated tour and inclusive community. It will provide safety, entertainment, and travellers with knowledge of respecting local cultures. The trips will be off-season with diverse destinations and activities to support local communities, aligning with the sustainability and authenticity values of the startup.

Mamamoon

Founder(s): Kasia Pokrop

Founded in: 2023

Hiring: No

Critical Ask: Mamamoon is looking for companies that care about the well-being of their employees and would be willing to join their pilot of the complete Mamamoon program (including webinars & events for all 3Ms: menstruation, motherhood, menopause).

Mamamoon created the Mamamoon app to provide interactive pregnancy and postpartum coaching. With tailored tips and guides on exercise, nutrition, mental health, etc., mothers can overcome the challenges of pregnancy, birth, and postpartum recovery.

In addition, the online classes and guidance are reserved for the mothers and their partners. Partners’ roles are often overlooked, but Mamamoon offers assistance to maximise support for mothers’ and babies’ care.

MeetMeals

Founder(s): Sobhan Mahmoudi

Founded in: 2023

Hiring: No

Critical Ask: MeetMeals is looking for €150k in investment and five partners to whom it can deliver homemade food for their staff’s lunchtime.

MeetMeals is on a mission to bring homemade dishes and meals from different cultures to your table. The Airbnb for homemade meals is building a platform for people who love discovering new tastes from other cultures to come together and enjoy healthier homemade dishes.

NxtGen+

Founder(s): Ming-Faraz Khan

Founded in: 2020

Hiring: Yes, check job opportunities here

Critical Ask: To secure a robust network and funding to scale its tech education programmes. The startup is seeking strategic educational partnerships and access to subsidies, grants or other types of funding that will enable it to make tech education fun and accessible for more children.

NxtGen+ is a digital education platform focusing on primary and secondary school students. It supports schools in implementing digital literacy and computer science education by facilitating policy changes, comprehensive modular learning, and digital upskilling programs for teachers.

The company aims to improve digital literacy with culturally diverse role models and interactive teaching materials. Young students can have more fun with the modules offered, mainly in the form of games.

SHEXON

Founder(s): Navid Mohamamadi

Founded in: 2024

Hiring: No

Critical Ask: SHEXON is looking to initiate its pilot program after the summer break with the plan to organise events where international employees can share their experiences with students from the same discipline and cultural background. It is also seeking strategic collaboration with companies interested in hiring international talent and willing to encourage their international employees to participate in SHEXON’s events. Its goal is to foster collaboration with companies and their international employees without charging any fees.

SHEXON is an innovative platform that connects prospective students with current students and alumni. Through the SHEXON community, prospective students can gain insights about choosing that will help them make an educated decision concerning their next university investments in time, money, and energy.

It also helps international and local students in the Netherlands overcome university challenges. Current students and alumni will be paid as Insighters to give unbiased opinions and share personal experiences.

Society College

Founder(s): Hugo Goedhart and Alfred van der Klis

Founded in: 2022

Hiring: Yes, check job opportunities here

Critical Ask: Society College is looking for funding for growing its sales capacity and improving its cash flow to boost growth.

Society College is a training institute where students are prepared for their next step into the labour market through various programs. The programs are conducted hybrid using online platforms and classic teamwork/leadership activities.

It emphasises that the labour market should align with contemporary society’s and younger generations’ values. Moreover, it views Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) as more than just branding, promoting hands-on involvement of companies within its community for timely assistance when required.

Subul Impact Outsourcing

Founder(s): Khaled Shaaban

Founded in: 2019

Hiring: Yes, check job opportunities here

Critical Ask: Subul is looking to establish a board of wise individuals who can guide the startup to the next level, bringing invaluable insight and strategic direction.

Subul Impact Outsourcing is a tech company that hires impact workers. Impact hiring involves recruiting refugees and disadvantaged communities, which can increase a company’s talent pool and positively impact inclusion and community growth.

Founded in The Hague, Subul aims to bridge the gap between the unique talents of refugees and marginalised ties with the tech industry’s needs. Until now, over 800 people in the talent pool and over 50 satisfied clients trusted Subul for the impact hiring process.

Zeefier

Founder(s): Nienke Hoogvliet and Anne Boermans

Founded in: 2020

Hiring: No

Critical Ask: Zeefier is looking to connect with a foundation, family fund, or angel investor interested in sustainability and delivering the European Green Deal.

Zeefier is a company producing natural dyes from local Dutch seaweed. The company envisions replacing harmful synthetic dyes used in the textile industry with sustainable dyes.

Its production includes bio-based and environmentally friendly pigment extraction from seaweed waste streams. The dyes can be applied to natural textiles with a wide range of colours.

Are you interested in knowing more about these social enterprises? Click here to know more about them and their DNNL x Social Enterprise NL Launchpad Track 2024 journey.

PRNEWS.IO is excited to announce its participation in Money20/20 Europe, the leading event in the financial industry. The conference will take place from June 4 to 6, 2024, in Amsterdam, bringing together key players and innovators from the world of money and fintech. This year’s event is expected to draw over 8,500 attendees, with more than 300 speakers and 2,300 companies from 100+ countries.

Money20/20 is where major financial institutions such as J.P. Morgan, Stripe, Airwallex, HSBC, Deutsche Bank and others converge to explore the future of finance. As a prominent digital content marketing platform, PRNEWS.IO will join these industry giants, showcasing its innovative solutions in digital PR communications and media visibility.

“We’re thrilled to be exhibiting at Money20/20 in Amsterdam for the second year. Our previous participation proved to be a successful venture, offering us valuable connections and insights”, says Alexander Storozhuk, founder of PRNEWS.IO. “This event provides a unique opportunity to connect with industry leaders and demonstrate how our platform can enhance digital PR strategies for businesses worldwide”.

Showcasing Global Digital PR Solutions

At the conference, PRNEWS.IO will highlight its extensive global network that links brands with media outlets across the globe. In 2023, the company facilitated $2.8 million in payments to media outlets for brand-related content, underscoring the growing demand for effective digital PR communications in regions including Europe, Asia, and the Middle East.

The PRNEWS.IO platform simplifies media engagement through an on-demand service content marketplace, eliminating the need for hiring processes or long-term commitments. Attendees at Money20/20 Europe can expect valuable insights and practical tips on enhancing media coverage and digital PR strategies.

About PRNEWS.IO

Established in Estonia by Ukrainians in 2018, PRNEWS.IO has emerged as a significant force in digital PR. The platform leverages big data to facilitate brand communication, connecting clients with over 100,000 media outlets in 198 countries. Recognized with awards in the Marketing & PR and Newswire categories at the Go Global Awards by the International Trade Council, PRNEWS.IO continues to drive innovation in the industry.

For further details on Money20/20 Europe, visit europe.money2020.com/.

There was a rather significant event in the world of innovative technologies – the European CEO Awards 2024. Only the best CEOs of companies that expand the boundaries of business and generally contribute to the development of scientific and technological progress are nominated for this award.

In the FinTech industry, the title of CEO of the year was awarded to Sergey Astafjev, CEO and Co-Founder of Wallester AS, an Estonian financial service provider that empowers businesses to establish their own customised card programs and payment infrastructure. What this company is and for what merits its creator awarded such an honorary award, we will now try to understand.

Features and prospects for the development of the industry

The European CEO Awards 2024, by europeanceo.com, were presented with 6 nominations, but we paid attention to the Fintech Industry nomination. It is an industry that is rapidly developing and affects all spheres of human activity. Sergey Astafjev’s company is the European market leader in providing integrated solutions for card issuing.

The prospects of this sphere are practically limitless. According to modest calculations of experts, the world market of cards by 2025 will reach a volume of over 65 billion U.S. dollars. That is explained by the growing interest of consumers in card products. In payment cards they are attracted by the increased level of payment security and convenience of use. If only banking institutions were previously responsible for issuing cards, today, thanks to companies such as Wallester, any organisation can market its card product.

The changes that have taken place in the field of card issuance are tremendous. Previously, to create your card program, it was necessary to collect a huge number of documents, meet all the requirements of the payment system Visa, MasterCard, UnionPay or another service chosen by the company, as well as to spend huge amounts of money on the development of software and infrastructure to maintain its vitality. To realise such a project, it was necessary to have sufficient experience going through certain processes and complying with the rules of payment systems.

Wallester’s solutions allow you to significantly reduce the time it takes to bring your card project to market. With their help, a business in any field can launch its card program in the shortest possible time with minimal costs and without finding additional highly qualified staff.

Wallester – a complete solution for your business

Wallester has created a platform and a complete solution for startups and corporations. It is a multifunctional platform that is easily scalable and customisable for business needs. Its main task is to provide the client with an opportunity to issue payment cards and manage the card program independently, without using the services of banks and other financial institutions.

“In an increasingly competitive financial technology environment, the difference between success and failure often depends on one crucial element: the quality of customer service.” (с) Sergey Astafjev, CEO and Co-Founder of Wallester

Cooperating with Wallester, the client receives maximum support at all stages of card product development. He is provided with all the necessary tools and support to launch an individual payment card program. The company undertakes all issues of administration, communication with the payment system, payment security, modernisation and maintenance of the platform.

With the Wallester platform, clients can independently issue cards for any purpose. They can be physical and virtual, debit, credit and prepaid. White Label solution allows to creation of cards with individual designs. Corporate symbols on payment means and in the mobile application help to make the brand more recognisable and significantly increase its status among competitors.

Wallester’s innovative platform gives client companies full control over their card programs. They can independently set card limits, activate and block cards, and reissue and replace them.

Wallester offers ready-made niche solutions for a wide range of industries. The company has customised products for credit, travel, banking and insurance businesses. It also offers options for companies involved in e-commerce, P2P lending, and other currently popular businesses. Niche solutions are tailored to a specific industry, but that doesn’t mean Wallester’s platform has a limited scope of use. On the contrary, thanks to its REST API, it can be easily integrated into any existing system and is suitable for use in any industry.

Cards issued through the Wallester platform can be tokenized. It allows them to be linked to digital wallets and significantly increases payment security. Additional security measures are observed thanks to the use of the modern 3D Secure protocol. It involves requesting an additional verification step during each transaction.

Wallester solutions are available throughout the European Economic Area, UK and Switzerland. It is a universal product for a wide range of entrepreneurs, constantly being developed and upgraded to meet customers’ needs best.

CEO of the year in FinTech 

European CEO is a renowned print and online publication headquartered in London. Senior executives in 28 European countries subscribe to the publication and receive quarterly in-depth analyses, strategies and recommendations to help them make qualified business decisions. The publisher has a full editorial team consisting of many distinguished authors. They cover the most topical topics that attract the interest of industry professionals and general readers.

European CEO Publishing has established the annual European CEO Awards to recognise the leading players in various sectors. Readers of the publication can nominate, at their discretion, business representatives who follow the standards set by the award and are worthy of the honour. In turn, the judges of the European CEO Awards select the winner who truly pushes business boundaries and implements progressive ideas.

In 2024, the European CEO Awards 2024 was presented in 6 categories. The maximum excitement was in the FinTech Industry category. Sergey Astafjev, CEO and co-founder of Wallester won the award with a huge margin of votes. When making the decision, the judges took into account all the previous merits of the nominee, and there are indeed many of them.

Sergey Astafjev was one of those who established Wallester in Tallinn in 2016. Under his keen guidance, the small startup became one of the market leaders with rapidly growing ambitions. The sphere of influence of this project increased every year, so in addition to the office in Estonia, a division was opened in Valbonne (France).

Under the leadership of Mr. Astafjev, Wallester became an official partner and principal member of the Visa payment system in 2018 and, in 2023, was ranked among the top 3 best financial institutions in Estonia. Another well-deserved award for Wallester was the victory at the Fintech Breakthrough Awards in the category “Best Management Platform”.

According to the European CEO Awards jury, no candidate for this award in the Fintech Industry category could compete with such achievements as Mr. Astafjev’s. He explains his success by putting not his ambitions but the needs of his clients first.

A quote from Mr. Astafjev from a recent interview: “In an increasingly competitive financial technology environment, the difference between success and failure often depends on one crucial element: the quality of customer service.”

This increased focus on customer satisfaction became the lever that helped Wallester to take a leading position in the fintech industry, and Astafjev himself to receive a well-deserved award. We are confident that by following such principles in its work in the future, Wallester will be able to receive many more important awards.

Up!Rotterdam and over 50 partners are hosting the fifth edition of Upstream Festival on May 28th and 29th, 2024, in Rotterdam, the Netherlands.

The event will host startup and scale-up founders, investors, corporates, innovative SMEs, and policymakers from key startup hubs around Europe. Upstream is focused on innovations that contribute to a digital, sustainable, circular, and inclusive economy.

Led by Up!Rotterdam, Upstream is a community-driven initiative with over 50 public and private partners from the Netherlands. Main partners of Upstream 2024 are the province of South-Holland, the city of Rotterdam, the city of Delft and Rabobank. 

As main partners of Upstream, they contribute to connecting founders, investors and innovators from all over the Netherlands and abroad, to convene in the Greater Rotterdam area. Together with the other public and private partners, they are dedicated to supporting strong entrepreneurial ecosystems that accelerate innovation and create impact. 

Providing startups and scale-ups with everything they need for growth

The event offers startups and scale-ups a platform to connect and thrive, fostering companies that make a positive impact on the world. 

Since its launch in 2020, Upstream has brought together over 9000 startups, scale-ups, investors, corporate buyers, and changemakers to collaborate on meaningful innovations for sustainable growth and Upstream was the facilitator of over 1000 successful matches between founders and talent, investors and buyers. 

Rinke Zonneveld, CEO of Invest-NL, says, “InvestNL has attended Upstream as a partner since the start of the event and I look forward to the festival every year to meet many old friends and new interesting companies.” 

Lars Crama of Upstream Festival, says, “The anniversary edition of Upstream highlights our ongoing commitment to supporting startups and scale-ups to thrive. Sustainable value creation has been at the heart of the festival since day one, five years ago, and it feels more important than ever now. I’m excited to see how the entrepreneurial community around Upstream keeps getting stronger every year.”

Why you should attend the Upstream 2024 event?

Access valuable programme formats

The extensive two-day programme at Upstream allows attendees to get inspired and engage in sessions tailored for valuable connections and matches between startups, scale-ups, investors and corporates. The event features intimate event formats designed to facilitate meaningful interactions and the exchange of valuable knowledge. From expert roundtables and founder interviews to CEO dinners, investor tables and fireside chats. 

During the event week, attendees can explore over 30 engaging side events hosted by Upstream’s partners in Rotterdam, Delft, The Hague, and Zoetermeer. 

Whether attending Meet your Co-founder or engaging in Startup Roulette, these events offer networking opportunities, insights into innovative trends, and connections with investors and corporates, helping startups elevate their business.

One of the known side events, the Superconnectors networking event, pairs selected founders with connected networkers and facilitates essential connections for business growth. This format was introduced during Upstream’s second edition in 2021.

This environment fosters collaboration and knowledge sharing essential for business growth. 

Learn from successful founders 

Upstream will have an interesting lineup of speakers. 

Some of the key speakers include Geertje Zegers, the Country Director for Belgium at Too Good To Go; Hamed Sadeghian, founder and CEO of Nearfield Instruments; Sam Feldt, a music producer and founder; Andrew Smith, Brand Director at Vinted; Krijn de Nood, CEO and co-founder of Meatable; and, Liza Rubenstein-Malamud, co-founder and Chief Impact Officer at Carbon Equity. 

Each of these speakers brings a wealth of unique expertise and insights to the table, ensuring that Upstream will be a diverse and informative event.

Connect with like-minded individuals and immerse in a supportive entrepreneurial community

Upstream brings together a dynamic mix of startup founders, investors, corporates, and policymakers from across Europe’s key startup hubs. This event offers an opportunity to network with like-minded individuals who are driving innovation towards a digital, sustainable, and inclusive future. 

Upstream is a community committed to supporting startups and scale-ups that prioritise sustainable growth. Whether discussing mutual challenges or celebrating successes, the festival offers an environment where entrepreneurs can learn from each other and gain inspiration.

Being part of this community expands one’s professional network and provides invaluable encouragement and insights.

Meaningful investor-startup matchmaking

Upstream helps facilitate impactful matches between investors and startups that drive real-world progress. During the 2023 edition of Upstream, attending investors accounted for more than €12 billion in assets under management. Founders like Tim Houter from Hardt Hyperloop have leveraged the festival to forge relationships with influential figures like Peter Goedvolk, leading to strategic collaborations that accelerate business growth.

Tim Houter, co-founder of Hardt Hyperloop, says, “During Upstream, I got to know Peter Goedvolk, a renowned entrepreneur from Rotterdam and founder of investment firm First Dutch. We kept in contact ever since, and in our investment round last year, we partnered up with Peter and his investment firm to accelerate the hyperloop developments together.”

Attendees have direct access to a diverse range of innovators and potential collaborators, fostering new connections that drive businesses forward.

Get your tickets now to Upstream 2024! The event will be hosted at Annabel Poppodium. For more information visit the website here.

In a startling development, Rodeo Software, an Amsterdam-based tech company, finds itself embroiled in controversy as US-based growth equity firm PSG Equity has initiated legal action, seizing €67 million from the company’s founder, Pieter Vos, reports fd.nl.

The move comes amid allegations of fraudulent activities within the organisation, which led to Vos’s dismissal from his role as CEO.

Rodeo is a cloud-native project management software provider that focuses on creative services companies. In July 2022, the Dutch company raised strategic growth investment from PSG.

What went wrong 

According to fd.nl, on Tuesday morning, the Dutch company informed its shareholders about the financial irregularities and violations, which were led by its 57-year-old founder, Pieter Vos.

Forensic accountants are currently investigating the potential fraud at the Amsterdam-based software company.

Vos, who had been the CEO until March 28, was dismissed by the commissioners, who also launched the investigation into the company’s affairs.

According to sources close to the matter, Vos is nowhere to be found and is currently absconding. Silicon Canals has reached out to Rodeo Software for its comments on the ongoing investigation and the current situation. We will update this article as soon as we hear back from the company.

A spokesperson for Rodeo Software informed fd.nl that there are strong suspicions of intentional financial irregularities and violations. The spokesperson emphasised that Vos’s role in the alleged malpractices is a focal point of the ongoing forensic investigation.

Details regarding the extent of the financial discrepancies within Rodeo Software remain unclear, pending the outcome of the investigation. The company spokesperson refrained from disclosing specific operational details, such as turnover and customer metrics, citing their relevance to the ongoing forensic inquiry.

According to the spokesperson, the decision to dismiss Vos was prompted by his alleged failure to fulfil management obligations and contractual agreements, as outlined by the company’s supervisory board and shareholders.

Reportedly, Vos did not pay the salaries of fifty employees in March.

A Rodeo Software spokesperson tells Silicon Canals, “While we are assessing the situation, we can’t give more information until we have more insight into the situation.”

“In relation to the legal action, all Rodeo shareholders are minority shareholders. The assets were seized on behalf of all shareholders in the interests of all stakeholders,” adds the spokesperson.

PSG, a primary investor in Rodeo Software

Pieter Vos, who previously founded an accounting firm called Kop of Munt, started Rodeo Software in 2016, specialising in project management software like time registration.

fd.nl reports that in early 2022, Vos was seeking a major investor for the company’s growth. PSG Equity from Boston became that investor, acquiring a minority stake without disclosing details.

Another investment in Rodeo was made in 2020 by Dutch fund No Such Ventures and other investors, totalling €7.5M.

PSG Equity, representing all shareholders, has applied to seize a portion of Vos’s Amsterdam home, valued at €900,000 according to WOZ records, as part of efforts to recoup owed funds.

A spokesperson told fd.nl that the three supervisory directors, each representing a shareholder, dismissed Vos because he allegedly “failed to fulfill” various management agreements and other contractual obligations toward the supervisory board and shareholders.

Brief about PSG Equity

PSG Equity is a growth equity firm specialising in partnering with software and technology-enabled services companies to achieve growth and capitalise on strategic opportunities. 

Backing 140 companies and facilitating 500 add-on acquisitions, PSG offers expertise in software and technology, emphasising collaboration with management teams. 

Established in 2014, PSG operates from offices in Boston, Kansas City, London, Madrid, Paris, and Tel-Aviv.

At the Women in Tech Global Summit 2024, government, business, and civil society leaders worldwide will collaborate to enhance women’s participation in innovation.

The upcoming Women in Tech Global Summit’s third edition, granted High Patronage by President Emmanuel Macron, will gather many leaders from government, business, and civil society. The primary focus of the summit is to analyze the current state of women in the technology sector and to establish priorities for the coming year.

The upcoming event will bring together more than 400 delegates and over 70 speakers from 50 countries. These individuals are the Makers, Shakers, and Innovators of a new era, driven by the desire to change the current status quo.

Among them are Chiara Corazza, Private Sector Representative for France in the G20 EMPOWER Alliance; Clara Chappaz, Director at La French Tech; Elisabeth Moreno, Founder and President of LEIA, and former French Minister of Gender Equality, Diversity and Equal Opportunities, H.E. Atifete Jahjaga, Former President of Kosovo, Deemah AlYahya, Secretary-General of the Digital Cooperation Organization (DCO), and many others.

Topics Women in Tech Global Summit 2024

This year, the event will focus on a wide range of topics in the technology landscape.

•         AI
•         Web3
•         Immersive tech
•         Cybersecurity
•         Governance
•         Sustainability
•       Financial inclusion
•         Digital inclusion

“We are committed to advancing the cause of gender equality in the technology industry. While the summit celebrates and empowers women in tech, we firmly believe that achieving true equality requires the active participation and support of people from all backgrounds, cultures, and genders.”

“Our program is designed to be inclusive, diverse, and representative of the global tech community. We take pride in the fact that our summit programme is gender-balanced, with 50 per cent of our speakers being men who share our vision of a more equitable tech industry”, says Ayumi Moore Aoki, Founder and CEO of Women in Tech Global.

The event will be held in Paris on May 6-7, 2024. Visit the Women in Tech Summit website to learn more about the summit program and participation opportunities.

Collaboration has become key to every startup’s success in the digital-first world. While collaboration is often defined as one between in-house teams, startups increasingly look at external partners to collaborate and build their products and teams through outsourcing.

This collaborative nature of work can be prominently seen in product development and recruitment.

As startups in the European tech ecosystem gear up for an AI-fuelled transition in 2024 and try to stay ahead of the competition, they also turn to startups that help with recruitment and product development.

For founders at most startups, their time is the real wealth. In the current transitory phase, where scaleups are favoured over startups, every founder needs help to balance their time between activities like product development or recruitment and scaling their company.

Last year, when we spoke to experts at LevelUp Ventures, Tapptitude, Proshore, and Levi9 Technology Services, it became evident that focus and speed are two factors that founders or entrepreneurs get when they outsource their product development and recruitment.

Before we get to top outsourcing partners for recruitment and product development in Europe in 2024, here is a look at why you should outsource in the first place.

Freeing up focus time

For many startup founders and entrepreneurs, the biggest advantage of outsourcing stems from the ability to free up their time.

Leaders at the outsourcing as mentioned earlier startups see tech founders being able to focus on building and scaling their company, thus freeing up their time from being consumed by focusing on things like product development and recruitment.

This is a departure from times when founders had to handle recruitment themselves but have come to see these tasks as time-consuming.

This shift from in-house product development and recruitment to outsourcing also makes sense in light of the current funding environment where investors prioritise road to profitability over growth.

Another advantage that founders see with outsourcing is access to experts who holistically understand product development and recruitment.

“Specialist tech recruiters can predictably fill a pipeline with candidates, drive a proper selection process and ensure the right hires are made on time and according to the hiring plan,” explains Lebinh Luc, CEO and co-founder of LevelUp Ventures.

Outsourcing as support system

The above-mentioned outsourcing partners repeatedly mentioned how outsourcing partners are not only there to offload your work to others.

For most startup founders and entrepreneurs, an outsourcing partner, be it for recruitment or product development, can act as a support system.

This help can come through brainstorming sessions or discussing future roadmap and identifying key issues before the process begins.

Most outsourcing partners are startups and scale-ups with leaders who have walked the tough path of being a founder and building a startup from the ground up.

Their expertise, at times, can stretch far beyond the scope of work and tech entrepreneurs need that kind of soundboard to achieve their mission.

Let’s check out the top outsourcing partners helping tech founders and entrepreneurs to focus on building and scaling their companies.

LevelUp Ventures

Headquarters: Amsterdam, Noord-Holland, The Netherlands

No. of employees: 11-50

Contact: Laura Apostol

LevelUp Ventures frees leaders to build scale-ups that last, and supports them in their quest to make a dent in the world. They offer in-office and temporary tech recruitment services as well as executive search for fast-growing tech companies.

Founded in Amsterdam in 2015, they employ a team of 20 slightly obsessed talent experts and have been partnering with over 100 tech companies such as Dealroom, Temper, Ultimaker, and NextEnergy.

LevelUp loves to immerse itself in the culture of its clients, working side-by-side with founders, investors and internal recruiters.

With its unique blend of expertise, adaptability, and deep connection with the tech ecosystem, LevelUp utilises its extensive know-how and benchmarking to become a reliable partner in the industry.

LevelUp not only finds, attracts and hires your world-class tech professionals, but also shapes your recruitment processes, connects your mission to the motivation of talent and builds your hiring machine.

To meet the unique needs of start-ups and scale-ups at different stages of growth, they have developed tailored approaches.

From end-to-end outsourcing solutions to help you fill hard-to-find roles and build your recruitment operations, each solution is designed to seamlessly adapt to the different needs of startups and scaleups.

Tapptitude

Headquarters: Cluj-napoca, Cluj, Romania

No. of employees: 101-250

Contact: Tudor Cutus

Tapptitude is a product studio that works with funded startups and established brands to create interactive, mobile-first products that solve real needs and that people love to use.

Tapptitude works with clients as a product partner, actively supporting them throughout their journey from idea to product launch and scaling. Startups and brands work with them to define their product, design their prototype, develop their MVPs, and then build and scale a successful product.

Their processes are characterised by an early focus on value and close partnerships. Tapptitude works on each product to identify and create easy acquisition flows, create value early to retain users and build a solid infrastructure for scalability.

Tapptitude’s workflows are based on lean principles, rapid prototyping techniques, and agile development, making it very fast and flexible to iterate value for users.

The company’s headquarters and development centre are located in Cluj-Napoca, Romania, a young, vibrant city full of talented techies.

There’s also a business office in London, close to the hottest startup ecosystem in Europe, allowing them to focus on partnerships and investment initiatives. In 2019, they opened an office in New York, US and in 2021, one in Amsterdam.

Levi9 Technology Services

Headquarters: Amsterdam, Noord-Holland, The Netherlands

No. of employees: 501-1000

Contact: Mart van den Bosch

Levi9 Technology Services develops unique software and solutions, developed through co-creation methods in collaboration with their clients, helping them to make an impact in their markets.

Founded in 2005 by Menno de Jong and Bernhard van Oranje, Levi9 has a reputation in the Dutch market as a service company with highly satisfied customers and employees and has a unique company culture to deliver on this promise.

Levi9’s ambitions and promises are supported by exceptional results in the external benchmarks Giarte, customer satisfaction, and Effectory, employee satisfaction.

With more than 1,300 employees in Serbia, Romania, and Ukraine, Levi9 supports customers in their research and development process, defines software architectures, develops software, tests and maintains systems and applications with a focus on functionality and efficiency.

Ecosystem partners such as Microsoft, AWS and Google play an important role in the development of the unique software and solutions that Levi9’s customers use to achieve growth.

Levi9’s clients are predominantly Dutch, with headquarters in the Netherlands and an international presence. Their markets include retail, digital marketing and media, financial services and fintech, energy, and transport.

Proshore

Headquarters: Eindhoven, Noord-Brabant, The Netherlands

No. of employees: 51-100

Contact: Jeroen van der Horst

Proshore is a trusted partner to help you release cutting-edge features and build complex applications. Proshore is committed to assisting scale-ups realise their roadmaps at the speed of business demands.

By leveraging Agile methodologies and assigning dedicated Scrum Masters to each project, working with Proshore allows CTOs and Product Managers to focus on strategic matters while ensuring efficient team management & product development.

With a track record of supporting startups and scaleups for over 14 years, they bring a wealth of experience and a unique, proven fully self-managed team approach beyond just developers. With headquarters in Eindhoven, the Netherlands, and a development centre in Kathmandu, Nepal, they successfully service a global client base with access to over 3000 vetted developers.

Moreover, by opting for Proshore’s offshoring services, you support their core impact mission of empowering the young talent of Nepal with tech skills through ongoing technology bootcamps for a future proof generation.

Whether you are in need of a small team of three or a larger workforce, Proshore provides flexible contract periods of six, 12, or 24 months, with a two-month minimum trial period.

In an era where medtech startups face daunting fundraising challenges, especially due to substantial capital requirements, easee, a pioneer in digital eyecare testing, presents a compelling case study.

Since its inception in 2016, easee has innovated the traditional eyecare industry with its innovative online eye exam, achieving the significant distinction of being the first and only CE-certified online eye exam with refraction capabilities under the EU Medical Device Regulation. 

A global decline in venture capital funding in 2023, with total global VC funding falling to $221B from $381B the previous year, has had an impact on the broader funding landscape for medtech startups, particularly in Europe. This 42 per cent decrease reflects a more cautious investment approach, with a significant impact on seed-stage funding, which saw a decrease in the median funding round size to $2M.

Medtech startups are now required to demonstrate not just innovative solutions but also robust business models and clear paths to market success to attract investment. Amidst these challenges, easee’s journey represents an interesting blend of technological innovation and strategic adaptation to the evolving funding environment. 

Confronted with the rigors of securing funding in an increasingly cautious investment climate, easee’s Founder & CEO, Yves Prevoo, initially considered traditional equity rounds with venture capitalists and family offices. However, recognising the shift in investor behaviour towards more established business cases/more developed companies, Prevoo pivoted towards a more inclusive and strategic approach.

This shift in strategy was also influenced by the broader market’s cautious response to easee, despite its accolades, including the Rabobank Duurzame Innovatieprijs 2023.

In a bold move, easee embarked on public fundraising and crowdfunding, a path less travelled in the MedTech sector. With an initial commitment of €425,000 from shareholders (including their existing VC Nimbus Investment Fund) and the management team, the company demonstrated skin-in-the-game and the confidence and support of its key stakeholders. This initial backing paved the way for opening investment opportunities to new investors.

This journey led easee to collaborate with crowdfunding platforms like OnePlanetCrowd, targeting impact investors, and Invesdor, focusing on MedTech investors. The campaign was a success, raising an additional €515,000, bringing the total to €940,000.

This funding is earmarked for the commercial rollout in the medical market and the development of a solution for monitoring child myopia.

Currently, easee is extending its investment round through SeedBlink, seeking to engage more European technology enthusiasts in its mission.

This extension represents not just a funding opportunity but an invitation to be part of a venture that stands at the intersection of technology and societal impact, aiming to address and offer a solution to the global child myopia crisis. 

About Easee

Easee is an emerging international leader in digital eyecare, specialising in telemonitoring and hybrid care pathways. Founded by a team of visionaries, doctors, and technology experts, Easee is committed to transforming the delivery of eye care worldwide.

Its online eye exam platform, now certified under the new MDR, exemplifies its innovative approach, combining medical expertise with cutting-edge technology to offer accessible and accurate eye measurements including full refraction.

The company collaborates with healthcare providers and governments to advance digital healthcare solutions.

It won’t be a surprise to anyone working in the tech industry that when it comes to the share of the venture capital (VC) funding pie, the U.S. takes most of the slices––and the cherry on top.

Most people are well aware also that funding has slowed down recently; a culmination of several factors including the fact that markets for initial public offerings and mergers and acquisitions have ground to a halt.

As a result, VC funding in the U.S. only reached $235 billion in 2022, a 35% drop from 2021 which has been considered as a bit of an outlier in terms of funding.

The slowdown isn’t just affecting the States. According to KPMG’s Pulse of Fintech report, it is a global issue, with total funding and the number of deals dropping from $63.2 billion across 2,885 deals in the second half of 2022, to $52.4 billion across 2,153 deals in the first half of this year.

This doesn’t mean the news for startups and scaleups is all doom and gloom. America is still a thriving ecosystem for startups and entrepreneurs, with particular cities and areas such as the Bay Area, New York City and Boston, performing the best.

London and Berlin lead

So what about Europe? According to Pitchbook’s Global VC Ecosystem Rankings, London and Berlin are the only two European cities which made it into its top developed ecosystems. 

London was the only European city to break into the top 10, in seventh place, and Berlin came in 16th place.

London’s dominance is well-established. According to John Hallsworth, client lead partner for banking and fintech at KPMG UK, “Despite a slowdown in UK fintech investment compared to last year, the UK remains at the centre of European fintech innovation with British fintechs attracting over half the funding of Europe.”

Berlin, too, performs well. The EY Startup-Barometer for Germany says that of the €9.9 billion Euro in venture capital that flowed into German startups this year, almost €4.9 billion went to startups in the city.

Many other EU locations

Well-established both cities may be, but there are plenty of other European locations nipping at their heels in terms of the startup ecosystems. 

Take Barcelona for example. Apartool, a leading B2B provider of corporate housing solutions which is based in the Spanish city, recently announced the closing of a Series A round, valued at €5.5 million.

In Lisbon, the most recent home of the Web Summit, tech companies landed $571m in funding in 2022, according to Dealroom. Interestingly, that made it one of only a few countries to out-perform its 2021 number, when it raised $356m. 

In Amsterdam, the capital boasts 45% of all Dutch-funded ventures, and according to the 2023 Global Startup Ecosystem Report, it is home to about 4,000 startups which employ 196,000 people.

European tech workers looking for a location change can also consider Stockholm, Tallinn, Paris, Madrid and Munich, all of which have thriving startup ecosystems––and jobs.

If you’re interested in checking out career opportunities in established companies and startups across Europe, then check out the Silicon Canals Job Board. It features thousands of job openings across the bloc, including the three below. 

AI Backend Software Engineer, Intel, Amsterdam

Intel is seeking an AI Backend Software Engineer to be a key player in developing artificial intelligence products, mainly the server, which is implemented in a microservice architecture. As a part of Intel’s scaling up-process, it needs help in developing and maintaining the server platform which enables many deep learning capabilities.

You’ll be designing and developing new features in the system, maintaining and ensuring the quality of the SDK and analysing code efficiency and performing code optimization.

To be eligible, you’ll need to be proficient in Go, Python, MongoDB, PostgreSQL, Git and Linux, with sufficient professional experience in software development on Python. See what else you’ll need here.

Software Developer, Visier Solutions Inc, Berlin

Visier, the leader in people analytics, is seeking a smart, passionate, and talented Software Developer to join its Berlin team to advance this technology, which is fundamentally changing the way enterprises manage their workforce.

You’ll build products that help businesses develop total rewards strategies and implement them, develop the technology core of truly innovative high-performing, cloud-based applications in the domain of total rewards and data analytics, and provide innovative ideas to improve features, product, technology, and/or process.

You’ll need excellent coding skills in at least one object oriented server programming language (Unix environment), as well as excellent knowledge of data structures and algorithms. See more about this role here. 

Senior Backend Engineer (Kotlin) – POS, SumUp, Paris

Global fintech player SumUp is looking for a Senior Backend Engineer (Kotlin) – POS to work on its SumUp POS. You will design and implement high-scale back-end services based on customer needs, use innovative techniques like Event Storming to design back-end services, maintain and evolve the POS ecosystem and participate in API design and implementation, among other tasks.

If you have delivered JVM-based services for at least five years and you are ready to work with Kotlin on a daily basis, have experience with distributed systems and event-driven architecture and experience with SQL and NoSQL databases, this could be a great fit. Find out more now.

Find your next role today on the Silicon Canals Job Board