An exciting startup-week lies ahead! Here’s your weekly update on Dutch startup news.
StartupJuncture will report from StartupFest Europe all week. We will be present at a lot of (the over 30) events throughout The Netherlands, including the opening on Tuesday and The Future of HighTech in Twente. Stay up to date on the latest via our recap reports each day. Questions, cool photos or suggestions? Just Tweet to @StartupJuncture.
The grand opening event on May 24 in Amsterdam includes key note speeches from Tim Cook (Apple), Nathan Blecharczyk (Airbnb), Travis Kalanick (Uber), Gillian Tans (Booking.com), Pieter van der Does (Adyen), Andrus Ansip (Vice-president of the European Commission), Reshma Sohoni (Seedcamp) and Prime Minister of the Netherlands Mark Rutte. Check the full programme here
Also, a new special envoy for startups will be announced, who will take over form Neelie Kroes? Perhaps prince Constantijn? Or someone from The Hague? Stay tuned…
News & updates
A report (Dutch) from ABN Amro suggests a lot has changed for the good in the Dutch startup climate, but new challenges have risen as well. The devaluation of US unicorns has a direct effect on the Dutch tech sector, the bank says. US investors are less willing to take risks, leading to less investments.
Another report from a Dutch bank, Rabobank, says innovation and entrepreneurship are of increasing importance for the ability of our economy to stay profitable. Startups play a crucial role in this, the bank says referring to two (Dutch) studies. The first is about the earning power of the Dutch economy as a whole: to stay future proof and accelerate, Dutch companies need to focus on international innovation and collaboration.
The second study focuses on the increasing importance of startups as drivers of this innovation. Rabobank counts a growing amount of 400 new (tech) startups a year.
Amsterdam-based ‘Fitbit for cows’ Connecterra got a 1.8 million dollar (1.6 million euro) seed investment from a diverse group of investors led by UK incubator Breed Reply.
Last week Amsterdam incubator ACE Venture Lab prepared for a new batch of science & high tech startups. Ten startups worked all week to pitch their business – eight companies survived the cut.
Monday reads
A Map Of How Emotions Influence Our Lives, Commissioned By The Dalai Lama. When the Dalai Lama teams up with a top psychologist, who teams up a top data viz firm, you get the Atlas of Emotions.
The Next Global Tech Hotspot? Amsterdam Stakes Its Claim, Bloomberg says!