Guus Balkema

From Moats to Ecosystems. The traditional strategy of 'moats'—defensive barriers designed to protect market share—is rapidly being replaced by dynamic, collaborative business ecosystems. 🎥 In a compelling video, our Co-founder, Paul Oudenhoven, explains why ecosystems are becoming the strategy of choice for driving sustainable growth and innovation. 🌐 Connect with us at Zynergio to see how our ecosystem solutions can take your business to the next level. #Zynergio #BusinessEcosystem #Innovation #Ecosystem

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Sustainable entrepreneurship is all about building connections that last. 🌱 When you partner with others who share your mission, you don’t just expand your network—you expand your impact. Think about it: collaborating with suppliers who prioritize ethical practices, joining forces with local communities to drive change, or simply supporting other founders who believe in a better future. Every relationship is a step toward something bigger than ourselves. #FounderWisdom #ImpactTogether #SustainableFuture #CommunityFirst

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Do you want to know the ecological footprint of your media plan? Join us for an introduction by Wim Vermeulen followed by a demo lesson with Stephanie Radochitzki to learn how the Media Carbon Calculator can help you measure the environmental impact of your media activities. Host Ilse Baele. More info: https://lnkd.in/e_zbD4Ni #onlineclass #empoweringmediapeople

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Curious about innovative business models? Using dozens of social sector examples, Michel Gelobter walks you through the process of using the Lean Startup method with non-profits and social enterprises. The standard approach wastes time and money, but the lean startup will help your organization vastly increase the good it does. We created a reading guide to enhance your reading, start discussion, and inspire you to put your knowledge into action. Download it here: https://lnkd.in/eFf8aE79

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Innovation Industries Raises €500 Million For Investments In Deeptech. Dutch venture capital fund Innovation Industries has raised €500 million for its third fund, which focuses on financing deeptech companies in the Benelux and Germany. The fundraise was oversubscribed. Earlier this year, Innovation Industries also raised €100 million for another fund, the Strategic Partners Fund, which invests in scale-ups from the existing portfolio. This brings the total raised capital for this year to €600 million. Investors in the third fund include PME pensioenfonds and Pensioenfonds Metaal en Techniek ( PMT ). These pension funds have also invested in Innovation Industries' earlier funds. The fund also includes pension funds PME pensioenfonds, Pensioenfonds Metaal en Techniek ( PMT ), bpfBOUW, Pensioenfonds ABP, Pensioenfonds KPN, and Pensioenfonds TNO. Additionally, investors in the fund include ABN AMRO Bank N.V., Athora Netherlands, Rabobank, Oost NL, Brabantse Ontwikkelings Maatschappij (BOM), Invest-NL, InnovationQuarter, European Investment Fund (EIF), KfW Capital , and Wachstumsfonds. "Investing in deeptech is very attractive from various perspectives. Nevertheless, deeptech companies still face significant challenges in raising capital," says Nard Sintenie, partner at Innovation Industries. "With our third fund, combined with the Strategic Partners Fund, we are taking an important step in addressing this issue for Dutch deeptech companies." Harm de Vries, partner at Innovation Industries, stated, "We are very pleased that in addition to pension funds PME and PMT, other pension funds are now also participating in our fund. We share a long-term vision with these pension funds, combining good financial returns with a contribution to the future resilience of the Dutch deeptech ecosystem. With currently around €900 million in capital under management, we will serve as a magnet for groundbreaking technologies in Europe." "Our team currently operates from offices in Amsterdam and Eindhoven. Soon, we will add an office in Munich," explains Chris Sonnenberg, partner and co-founder of Innovation Industries. "With a solid European presence, we can identify the best technology companies and thereby strengthen the competitive position of the Netherlands," he adds. Innovation Industries has been active since 2017 and has investments in more than 30 deeptech companies. An example is Nearfield Instruments , a spin-off of TNO that develops advanced measuring machines for the semiconductor industry. Companies in the portfolio have als obeen sold, such as Luxexcel - 3D printed lenses, which was acquired by Meta (the company behind Facebook) in 2021. INGEN HOUSZ (Loes Mensink) advised Innovation Industries setting up the fund.

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“How uncertain this world is? How many crises can we face? How can we, as humans, respond to those crises? How should we be adapting to change? We can always take inspiration from nature. If we study complex living systems they give us clues as to how we can adapt in the face of change and danger”, these are just a few questions Prof. Wayne Visser posed at the opening of his speech at SUSTENLANDIA CEO Forum. Questions that feel more relevant today than ever before. The answers are neither simple nor straightforward. As Prof. Wayne highlighted “We don’t leave anything behind - we build on the layers that already exist”. Companies, like ecosystems, are at different stages of maturity, and their resilience levels can vary. Yet, they share a common pathway: a transition from a breakdown of degradation to a breakthrough of restoration. At the heart of this transition lies responsibility - not as an abstract value, but as a guiding principle for rethinking systems, realigning with partners, and renewing organizational purpose. Prof. Wayne emphasized that regeneration comes from stepping forward with responsibility and resilience -- but also with innovation. Why do some markets rise while others fall? The answer lies in cycles of evolution. New technologies like solar energy, AI, and biomaterials emerge while older systems decline, weighed down by inefficiencies. He also shared with us a powerful formula for change: dissatisfaction with the status quo, combined with a compelling vision and a clear first step, must outweigh resistance. Leaders play a key role in this equation. They must identify signals of change, and maintain clarity of purpose amid the chaos. In closing, Prof. Wayne Visser offered us one of the most profound and beautiful metaphors about hope:  “Hope may be a scarce resource, but it’s a renewable resource.” Sustainability is often embedded in subtle ways. Navigating today’s complexities requires leaders to think in systems, innovate with intention, and foster inclusivity. Embracing uncertainty isn’t just about survival – it’s about thriving in an ever-evolving world. It’s about aligning purpose, leadership, and innovation to illuminate a clear path forward, even in the midst of chaos. Discover more about Prof. Wayne Visser’s insights from the SUSTENLANDIA CEO Forum in the video teaser below: https://lnkd.in/gTJKrTHM

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💫 𝐎𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝟏𝟎 𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬 𝐥𝐞𝐟𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐓𝐨𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐬 𝐙𝐞𝐫𝐨 𝐖𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞 𝐀𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫! Are you ready to take your waste-reduction solution to the next level? Looking for the right network and funding to grow your impact? This is your 𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 to join the Towards Zero Waste Accelerator and receive expert guidance. Don’t miss out on: 🔮 𝟭-𝗼𝗻-𝟭 𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 from top industry experts 🔮 𝗘𝘅𝗰𝗹𝘂𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝘀𝗵𝗼𝗽𝘀 to help you refine your strategy 🔮 𝗡𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 with investors and potential partners 🔮 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗲𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝘂𝗽 𝘁𝗼 €𝟱,𝟱𝟬𝟬 to expand your circular solution! 👉 Take advantage of this opportunity—only 6 hours left to join and make a lasting difference in waste management in Vietnam! ⏰ 𝐃𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞: 𝟏𝟏:𝟓𝟗 𝐏𝐌 𝐓𝐎𝐃𝐀𝐘! ⏰  🔗 𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐲 𝗡𝗢𝗪: https://lnkd.in/g8YebSbn _____ The program Towards Zero Waste Accelerator is funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and supported by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, organized by Schoolab Asia & BambuUP.com – as part of the global program “Go Circular”. -------------------------------------------- 🚀 BambuUP - Connect to Innovate To make Innovation easy to access for every business everywhere #GoCircular #SustainableDevelopment #GIZ #BambuUP #CircularEconomy #WasteReduction #Innovation #Sustainability #StartupAccelerator #Vietnam

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This week in the Certificate Course on Entrepreneurship in Solid Waste Management, we resolved another query from a curious participant. We believe that, strengthening the said areas are crucial for amplifying the impact and gaining the recognition that the organizations deserve. . What are your thoughts on this question? Share your answers in the comments below! . #startups #documentation #communication #certificate #onlinecourse #WasteManagement #SolidWasteManagement #SWM #PlasticWasteManagement #India #ICWMR #TERISAS #IPCA #sustainability #solidwaste #recycle #environment #eco #gogreen #sustainableliving #reuse Ashish Jain Dr. Radha Goyal Dr. Reena Chadha Anugya Singh Garima Kaushik Atul Kumar TERI School of Advanced Studies IPCA Centre for Waste Management and Research, TERI SAS Arun Kansal Divya Soman

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Innovation Industries is paving the way for deep-tech startups and scale-ups in the Benelux and Germany with a new fund launch! 💡🚀 The fund — Innovation Industries Fund III, has a size of €500M. As part of the Dutch Future Fund II programme, it will receive a €10M contribution from Invest-NL and €74M from the European Investment Fund (EIF). Additionally, pension funds PME pensioenfonds and Pensioenfonds Metaal en Techniek ( PMT ) are also investors in this fund. Know more here: https://lnkd.in/dabHmYQA #InnovationIndustries #TechStartups #ScaleUps #Innovation

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Do you know what is the current development stage of your project and what funding type(s) is most suitable for it? We've created the whitepaper 'Circular economy funding explained' which identifies the most appropriate financing strategy for your circular economy project or initiative. Interested? Read more here: https://lnkd.in/g3SfQFtE #CircularEconomy #GreenInnovation #Sustainable #funding

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We bring to you a new series - The Entrepreneurs Bookshelf! This week, we present to you 3 books, each geared towards helping you scale your startups using different tools! "How Big Things Get Done" by Prof. Bent Flyvbjerg and Dan Gardner: A deep dive into why some projects fail and others succeed, drawing on real-life examples like the Sydney Opera House and providing principles to manage projects effectively, no matter their size or scope. While this book delves into project management, its principles are essential for entrepreneurs who are looking to scale their projects or ventures efficiently. "Material World" by Ed Conway: Exploring the journey of raw materials like sand, salt, and lithium to the products we use daily, this book takes you through the hidden worlds of manufacturing and commerce, emphasizing the importance of these substances in the context of climate change and clean energy​. "The Coming Wave" by Mustafa Suleyman with Michael Bhaskar: Focused on the future of AI, this book offers a practical roadmap for navigating a world increasingly run by AI, making it crucial for policymakers and business leaders to understand and prepare for the containment problem​—a must-read for tech entrepreneurs and those integrating AI into their business models​. Which book are you most excited to read? Let us know in the comments below!  (All three from 13 of the best business books in 2023 (theceomagazine.com) #novels #business #entrepreneur #startup #founder

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🌎 B Corp news! Amsterdam’s fast-charging company Fastned has officially been B Corp certified by non-profit organisation B-Lab. 🔋What does the B Corp certification process look like? The certification process to become a B Corp is rigorous yet rewarding – it involves meeting high standards of social and environmental performance, accountability, and transparency. ⚡ But who are Fastned? Fastned provides fast-charging stations for electric vehicles across Europe and are on a mission to accelerate the transition to electric mobility – with Amsterdam having one of the most extensive EV charging points in Europe, Fastned’s fast chargers make a huge contribution to the city. 🤝 Fastned joins other B Corps who call Amsterdam their home such as Fairphone whose focus is making environmentally friendly gadgets and MUD Jeans – the circular fashion brand that produces sustainable jeans through a leasing model and recycling initiatives. 🔗Find out more about Fastned and their B Corp journey here: https://lnkd.in/dMQKHumS #BCorpNewsAms #BCorpsForClimate #BCorpCommunity #BetterBusiness

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'Without a model for Excel, the perspective for the investor remains far too vague' Elisa Achterberg and her colleagues from Circular Finance Lab argue that the the development of financial tools that allow financial experts to assess the risks and rewards of circular business models will be essential for the #circular #transition. From working with #circular #startups, we have learnt that most current financing forms tend to put the majority of business risks on the weakest link in the chain: the startup. That makes the circular chain an idee-fixe to start with. Would it be possible to evenly #share risks and rewards across the #chain, to allow circular chains to work? And how could that work for #Capital #Investments? Could that be a solution for #circular #plastics? How would that work in Excel? Hugo Delissen Lucie Wenmakers Christine Ruf Xandra Weinbeck Read the full interview with Elisa on https://lnkd.in/ehDhXuPm Or join the workshop by Elisa Achterberg and Sanne Mylonas during #ImpactFest next month!

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For our upcoming ImpacttoCollective session, we still want to focus on supporting our fellow ImpacttoCollective members this year; many are entering the scale-up stage. As startups scale their stage, they also scale up their operational process, so it becomes essential for them to keep up their operations as their product/service becomes more reachable to many potential users. Formulating and streamlining operational standards, especially in the supply chain process, becomes important. Join us for this session as we invite Ryan Manafe, CEO & Co-founder of Dagangan. As Dagangan focuses on connecting rural commerce with national suppliers and strategic partners to help them scale up their businesses, we believe the expertise that Ryan has in shaping the operations of Dagangan can make this ImpacttoCollective session become enriching to our ImpacttoCollective members, especially for them who currently needs practical solutions in their operational process. Thus, we will also discuss and understand supply chain optimization, automation, transparent supply chain, and SLA maintenance to enhance operations on scale-up during the session. Your active participation and contributions will help make this ImpacttoCollective session a collaborative space for mutual improvement! Don't miss out on this session, scheduled for: 📅 Thursday, June 27th, 2024 🕧 16:30 WIB - 18:00 WIB Please note that this session is exclusively for our ImpacttoCollective startup founders. We look forward to sharing this knowledge-packed evening with you! #Impactto #ImpacttoCollective #earlystagestartup #productmarketfit #operations #supplychain #optimization #mindset #startup

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#WeekendReading | “For us impact investors, this is an important milestone. It is now much easier for social entrepreneurs to raise money from both charities and investment funds. We can now also invest more easily together with charities.” - Jamy Goewie (Shaping Impact Group) on the introduction of a new framework: https://lnkd.in/ekNtr5XA Impact-Investor.com

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#fundingalert 💼Company: Refreshworks 💰Funding: €750k ⚡Round: New Round 👥Investors: Eleven angel investors Refreshworks, the AI business transformation partner. Their goal is to use artificial intelligence (AI) as the catalyst to make the Netherlands a co-explorer in the fourth industrial revolution. They support cost-cutting and business growth. With the support of this finance, the business is dedicated to expanding and achieving its goal of making the Dutch business community a leader in the fourth industrial revolution. Simon Neefjes, Ebel Slijp, Diederik Klever, Koen Snieder   Read more - https://lnkd.in/g829Bcnt To share your startup story write us on - [email protected] #Refreshworks #businesstransformation #finance #revolution #business #funding #fundingnews #news #startup #startupnews #startuprise

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What do Egypt, Vietnam and the Netherlands share? Beyond saline arable land, they’re home to innovators tackling this global challenge. 🎙️💧 Hear their uplifting stories in our Waterproof podcast episode, The Salty Intruder, launching 5 December. In the sneak peek video below you can see how Tracy Metz is exploring the game which will be highlighted in the podcast. From salt-loving potatoes to sweet coconut sugar and salty sea vegetables: in 'The Salty Intruder' episode, you’ll journey into the world of saline agriculture. Discover the stories of farmers and experts pioneering innovative solutions to adapt to increasingly saline soils, and gain fresh perspectives on advancing sustainable water management. Together with host Tracy Metz, and Katarzyna (Kate) Negacz from Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Peter Prins Salta-cluster, Dutch farmer Hans Elenbaas, Egyptian farmer @Tariq el Arini and Vietnamese farmer Ngai Pham - CEO of Sokfarm Waterproof is the 6-part podcast from Partners for Water, exploring how today's water challenges are being tackled with smart ideas, local knowledge and international partnerships. 💡 You can listen to the Waterproof podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and our website: https://lnkd.in/e3JnRhaE #PartnersforWater #WaterproofPodcast #Podcast #Biodiversity #WaterBiodiversityFood #WaterSecurity #Nature-based Solutions #NBS #ClimateResilience #WaterInfrastructure #Salinization #BNR #GreeningFinance #LocallyLedDevelopment #SDG6 #WaterActionAgenda Partners for Water, Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO) | Partner in Sustainable Development Liliane Geerling Rijksdienst voor Ondernemend Nederland (RVO) PINO

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Founders Masterminds Amsterdam 🔥 Founders GROW Faster Together Join Amsterdam’s community of business founders and entrepreneurs to overcome challenges and grow faster. 📍 In-Person in Amsterdam We believe in the power of face-to-face connections. That’s why our monthly Founders Mastermind is an in-person event, every first Thursday evening of the month. 🤝 High-Quality Connections Our Masterminds are designed to create valuable connections. Each month, you’ll complete an intake form, and we’ll match you with founders who align with your current business situation and challenge. 🤔 Want to know more? Do you want to grow your business faster within a supportive community of founders? Comment #foundersmastermind to receive an invitation!

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𝗟𝗼𝗼𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝗦𝗲𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗙𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗖𝗹𝗶𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗧𝗲𝗰𝗵 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗽? 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝘆 𝗡𝗼𝘄! At Climate Founders, we empower Europe’s most ambitious ClimateTech startups to secure funding and scale their solutions. If you’re tackling the challenges of our time with innovative technology and a clear vision, our Accelerator is the perfect next step. 𝘞𝘩𝘰 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘧𝘰𝘭𝘪𝘰 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘢𝘯𝘪𝘦𝘴? Take Hula Earth, our latest investment, as an example. Co-founded by Florian Geiser and David Schmider, their mission—leveraging BioT sensors and satellite data to revolutionize biodiversity monitoring—perfectly aligns with the urgency of addressing biodiversity loss. Through our Pre-Accelerator and Accelerator programs, we worked closely with the team to articulate their vision and build momentum. The result? A €1.6M pre-seed round led by top VC Point Nine, with the support of well-known angel investors. We’re now seeking the next generation of game-changing ClimateTech teams to join us and experience our hands-on approach through the Pre-Accelerator, our low-commitment test phase. 𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘸𝘦 𝘰𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘳 𝘪𝘯 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘗𝘳𝘦-𝘈𝘤𝘤𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘰𝘳: - An 8-week, low-commitment program requiring max. 1 hour per week alongside your daily operations - A chance to test the fit with us as investors and sparring partners - Exclusive access to pitch opportunities with top investors from our network - Completely free - no costs, no strings attached 🕒 𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐜𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐅𝐫𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐲, 𝟐𝟐.𝟏𝟏.𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒 📩 Apply now: https://lnkd.in/dHwVgK2Y

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