Auke Ferwerda

🏑 From Polkadots to Penalty Shots (and Planes)! 🏑 We’re not just spreading risk across Spain, the Netherlands, and Dubai – we’re also spreading cheer as proud sponsors of the Fletiomare Girls U12 hockey team (rocking their polka-dotted socks 🧦) and the Kampong Gents 1st Team (no polka dots, just goals!). 🎯 Oh, and if you spot the company logo on the Kampong shirts, that’s one of our very own concepts – part of the group! 🙌 You’ll see it in action starting this Sunday as Kampong faces off against Klein Zwitserland. 🏑 Currently cheering from Dubai (with sand between our toes), but catch us tomorrow flying off to Spain. 🌍✈️ Who says spreading risk and managing real estate can’t be a globe-trotting adventure? Our website? Still a “work-in-progress” (kinda like our jetlag recovery 😴), but between closing deals, boarding planes, and cheering from the sidelines, we’ll get there. Eventually. Until then, whether it’s real estate, risk management, or really good hockey, we’ve got you covered. And if you spot us at the games, come say hi – we’ll be the ones juggling phones, laptops, and pom-poms. 🖥️🎉 📢 By the way, Spain and Dubai are full of exciting opportunities right now – whether you’re investing in real estate or looking to minimize risk, there’s never been a better time to talk! #HockeySponsors #RealEstateAndRisk #PolkadotsAndPenaltyShots #DubaiToSpain #TooBusyWinning #OpportunitiesInSpain #OpportunitiesInDubai #Kampong

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Dutch Startup Roboat Lands €550K for AI-Powered Waterways System 🚤🤖 Roboat, a Dutch startup revolutionizing urban transport with AI-powered waterways systems, has raised €550K from LUMO Labs, which has previously backed Whispp and SHIFT Invest. This follows earlier funding from Delft Enterprises. The funds will help Roboat establish a strong position in autonomous city logistics and inland waterways shipping while expanding their team to achieve company goals. 🌊 AI-Powered Waterways System Founded in 2023, Roboat is a spin-out from MIT and the Amsterdam Institute for Advanced Metropolitan Solutions (AMS). The company aims to transform inland waterway transportation with advanced autonomous navigation systems, enabling ships to autonomously perceive, navigate, and perform complex tasks. 🚢 Sustainable Urban Transport Roboat’s technology excels in complex urban and inland waterways, which are often congested. Their system can be applied to both new builds and retrofitted to existing commercial vessels for various applications, including passenger transport, goods delivery, and waste collection, significantly reducing the carbon footprint of city logistics. 💼 Investment and Growth Andy Lürling, Founding Partner of LUMO Labs, stated: “Cities worldwide are struggling with transporting people and goods over their congested roads. Waterborne transportation is a good alternative to cars and trucks, but shortage of personnel and relatively high OpEx is currently posing a bottleneck. Roboat’s technology offers a solution based on autonomous navigation. This market is expected to grow tremendously, since we need to rethink our transportation systems, making it more versatile and more sustainable.”Quint van Honk, SHIFT Invest, added: “We are impressed by what Roboat has accomplished so far. Roboat’s autonomous shipping technology stimulates sustainable waterborne transport by addressing key issues in the sector and enables more fuel-efficient sailing. Therefore, we are proud to be on board.” 🌍 Future Impact Roboat’s AI-powered system aims to revolutionize inland waterway transportation, reduce urban traffic congestion, and lower carbon emissions. The recent funding will help the startup solidify its position in autonomous city logistics and continue to innovate in sustainable transportation. 🔗 Learn More About Roboat’s Innovations https://shorturl.at/syQxU #TechInvestments #AutonomousShipping #Roboat #AITransportation #UrbanMobility #SustainableTech

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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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The first ESG platform in the Netherlands with an ISAE report! I am extremely proud of this achievement by our Salacia Solutions team! I strongly believe that financial and sustainability reporting should be on equal footing. That's why I co-founded Salacia. To achieve this, ESG data should be just as reliable as financial data. The ISAE report demonstrates that we have the right processes in place to produce reliable ESG data that fully complies with Europe’s #CSRD sustainability report requirements. Reliable data is not just for reporting purposes—it makes it much easier to improve sustainability in business operations. The ultimate goal of the CSRD is to create a more sustainable world, not just to generate reports. #CSRD #BakerTillyvindthetookeengoedidee #jouwaccountantvindthetookeengoedidee

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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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Founders: want to know what your company is worth? 📢 ➡️ Tomorrow torq.partners is giving a Valuation 101 workshop at Crossroads 2024 by Startup Utrecht Region at Dotslash Utrecht. At 13.00 at the Frontspace stage we will be giving founders (and other interested parties) a quick run through of how investors and acquirers value companies. So: 𝐀𝐫𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐚 𝐟𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐝: 💰 Planning a fund raising round? 🤝 Thinking about your exit roadmap and curious what your company would be worth? 📈 Wanting to offer key personnel shares and in need of a market valuation for your business? We will provide you with a very practical "how to" and easy-to-apply valuation methods. So you can ensure that you will approach your fund raising round or exit well-informed and with confidence. Yori May Mitch Karsten torq.partners | Benelux #startup #fundraising #valuation #entrepreneurship #founders #venturecapital #capitalraise #exit #mergersandacquisitions

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A Great Step for Urban Transformation The introduction of this dashboard by Argaleo is an important development for the future of our cities. By consolidating data from diverse urban domains, this dashboard provides an integrated view of performance and progress—essential for tackling the complex challenges of urban transformation effectively. 🌍 Why is this important? Gaining insight into the interplay between themes such as Housing, Mobility, Energy, and Health empowers cities not only to steer their sustainability ambitions but also to shape a future-proof living environment. A comprehensive overview like this enables policymakers and cities to make informed decisions that support smart and ecologically balanced urban growth. 👥 Meet them at the Smart City Expo Curious about the impact of this dashboard? Visit them at the Smart City Expo in Barcelona in Hall 3 - Stand D-21 to discover how this tool contributes to a sustainable urban future. At EQYRE, we believe in solutions that reinforce the bigger picture. This dashboard is a great example. Big shout out to all involved! #SustainableCities #UrbanTransformation #DataDriven #UrbanTransitions #SmartCity

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Revolutionizing Workplace Dynamics: Spotlight on Sentemeter In our journey as a sector and industry agnostic firm, we've encountered countless innovations. But today, we're excited to highlight a tool that's transforming workplaces across all sectors and industries: Sentemeter. Founded with a vision to create better work environments, Sentemeter addresses a universal challenge: how to measure and improve human behavior, trust, and emotional intelligence within organizations. Since its 2018 launch, Sentemeter has: • Surpassed 5 million in app feedbacks • Won industry-recognized awards • Achieved up to 90% reduction in sub-optimum behaviors and 90%+ in monthly participation with clients • Helped organizations obtain Great Place to Work certification Their success demonstrates the impact of addressing universal workplace challenges. Learn more about their approach at https://sentemeter.com/ At Simmonds Lamont, we believe innovations like Sentemeter represent the future of work - transcending sector and industry boundaries to focus on the human element crucial to every organization's success. #WorkplaceInnovation #EmployeeEngagement #SectorandIndustryAgnosticSolutions #Sentemeter

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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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🚀 #Now in the Growth Stage: How to accelerate startup development with these 3 key steps, shared by Sharon Klaver , Founder & MD of Builders: 👾Data Gathering: Gather as much data as possible to inform your decisions and strategies. ⭐Validation: Ensure both your product and team are thoroughly validated through testing and feedback loops. ✨Intuition Matters: Trust your instincts and listen to your gut feelings when navigating the startup journey. #EUSS24 #Entrepreneurship #BuildingSuccess

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🚀 Exciting News: Unveiling Matrix Groundbreaking New Facility at VU! We are thrilled to announce that Matrix Innovation Centers - office and laboratory space for deep tech entrepreneurs in Amsterdam will open its newest building on the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (VU Amsterdam) Campus in mid-2027, marking a significant milestone for the city’s entrepreneurial and scientific community. Located at the corner of De Boelelaan and Korte Mahlerlaan, this state-of-the-art Innovation Centre will be a hub for start-ups, scale-ups, and external companies specializing in Life Sciences, Medtech, and AI. At Amsterdam Chemistry Network, we are especially proud to see this consolidation, as Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (VU Amsterdam), one of our board members, continues to foster collaboration between universities and industry through cutting-edge facilities like this. The Demonstrator Lab VU will also have a prominent space in this new building, further driving research and innovation. Matrix Innovation Centers - office and laboratory space for deep tech entrepreneurs in Amsterdam currently operates 7 Innovation Centres at the Amsterdam Science Park, hosting over 100 companies. With this new addition, the goal is to continue boosting entrepreneurship, valorization, and cooperation between academia and industry, supporting the growth of start-up and scale-up communities in Amsterdam. 👏 A huge congratulations to Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (VU Amsterdam), Amsterdam UMC, and the City of Amsterdam for their vision in promoting growth and innovation. We can't wait to see the impact this will have on the region’s landscape! #Innovation #Entrepreneurship #LifeSciences #Medtech #AI #Collaboration #Amsterdam #MatrixIC #VUAmsterdam #ACN https://lnkd.in/dnicjvpj

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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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🪦 Web3, NFT's, crypto, ... didn't it all die and ascend to heaven where everyone preaches AI? 🔥 Hell, no! Bitcoin reaching all time highs at the same time that BAM Marketing Congress x WEB32 brings you this stellar line-up is no coincidence! Like any new technology, Web3 is maturing beyond the hype into real-world applications and use cases. Discover: 🚀 How brands can leverage Web3 for the better with Diego Borgo ᵍᵐ 🎬 How you can bring your creative vision alive fueled by your community with Miguel Faus 👨‍🎤 What digital identity is and what it means for your customers with Ann Claes ❤️ And how to build brand communities and foster emotional loyalty with Thomas Lambert

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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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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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Ever wondered how top CEOs balance profit with sustainability? 🌍💼 Our latest podcast with Melanie van de Velde covers this important topic. Learn how new ideas and practical steps can improve your business strategies for lasting growth and environmental impact. 🔄✨ #Sustainability #BusinessGrowth #Leadership #ProfitAndPurpose #Innovate #SustainableBusiness #CEOs #Podcast #BusinessStrategy #EnvironmentalImpact

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In just over a week, we’ll arrive at the final physical deep dive for Cohort 15! But we’re not waiting until June 17th to start sharpening their story. As we speak, Erik Luijts from The Floor is Yours is teaching the startups plenty of new techniques during his ‘Presenting with Impact’ workshop. This will skyrocket their storytelling abilities to new heights. They're not only learning new techniques but are also being challenged to explain their story in a concise way. 👉 Can you pitch your startup in under two minutes? It's crucial to present their stories in a way that really resonates, inspires, and makes sense - not just a stereotypical salesy or overly business-like pitch. By preparing for the online sessions, receiving feedback, and having time to implement it, Cohort 15 is set to amaze us with their pitches on demo day. 👋 If you'd like to join our demo day on June 20th at 6pm, reach out! 📩 [email protected]. #storytelling #pitch #founders #tech #AgeTech AxonJay.ai, eargym, fabel, Good Life Sorted, Hyperfox, Lipefi (Techstars '23), Marple, navel robotics GmbH, Pal | Digital Palliative Care, Steadiwear Inc., Tenbeo

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