In the midst of organizing our 2020 resolutions, Present Your Startup will take a look back on 2019 and the global and Dutch trends that influenced the past year. Join Valerie Vallenduuk, Mike Rijkers, Lennart Freud and Samed Sökmen as they discuss FinTech, Circular economy, Aerospace and more in the entrepreneurial landscape of the world and the Netherlands.
Solutions for a faster and long-term society
Most exciting 2019’s sector?
To gather all the beautiful sustainable efforts in one word, I would say CleanTech. I take hope in observing how the reason for today’s problem is also the key to tomorrow’s survival.
Rising 2019’s sector?
Still, within sustainable concepts, the circular economy has made great leaps forward. The Dutch government has been an active participant in the development of these solutions by financing means.
Present Your Startup itself looks forward to many entries in this field while Innovate Today has full hands helping green businesses make an impact through PIM.
Work in progress sector?
Cryptocurrency
In 2019, the Dutch Central Bank proposed a throughout version of the European guideline in which it is explained how supervision will be applied. Its complexity makes profitability and competitiveness difficult for young crypto companies.
What 2019’s accomplishment are you most proud of?
Present Your Startup track was part of the American concept Global Entrepreneurship Summit which was founded by Barack Obama.
Tech, tech and more TECH
Most exciting 2019’s sector?
FinTech.
2019 has seen many new financial services focused on a more user-centered approach. Personalization proved to be a competitive advantage, allowing products to reach new customers.
Rising 2019’s sector?
Home automation.
It was amazing to see all the solutions to make our lives in and around our houses smarter. In such a fast-paced lifestyle, I believe more and more people will transform their residence into an efficient, data-driven establishment.
Work in progress sector?
Circular economy. Many of the current solutions aren’t circular but just extensions of the (linear) lifespan.
What 2019’s accomplishment are you most proud of?
The expanding of Present Your Startup to Alkmaar.
Earth and Space
Most exciting 2019’s sector?
Food sector, specifically meat replacement.
The past year registered floods of companies that produce alternatives for meat consumption. The IPO and stock price of Beyond Meat, for example, was such a turbulent ordeal. In the longer term it remains interesting to look at this sector as lab grown meat might be coming to the market soon. There are also some Dutch startups that want to secure their place in this market.
Rising 2019’s sector?
Aerospace sector.
It is becoming cheaper and cheaper to shoot objects into orbit. Examples are Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos with respectively SpaceX and Blue Origins, but even smaller and younger companies have opportunities in this field too. Our own Delft has some interesting buzz, and the European Space Agency is now running its own incubators.
Work in progress sector?
Not a sector but I am still waiting for the proper take-off of chatbots: they are still irritating, I see them being used less and less as they often do not work properly.
What 2019’s accomplishment are you most proud of?
Running my first edition of Present Your Startup Netherlands as program manager.
The last century was about the physics, and this will be about biology
Most exciting 2019’s sector?
E-mobility
The past year has had many new players in the field focusing on electric scooters, bikes, and cars. Although the concept has been introduced for a long time, people have started adopting it more and more. If I were to mention names, Amber Mobility, Felyx and Lightyear are companies to keep watch of.
Rising 2019’s sector?
Genetics.
Within BioTech, this category is showing great results. We have gone extremely far in technology these past years, but can we say the exact same in making our lives longer and healthier?
I expect governments helping genetic engineering startups in regard to R&D costs. Big news in the organ printing will come soon as well.
Work in progress sector?
With technology becoming more and more effortless to work with, there has been a proliferation of different applications and products that make advertising easier. On one side, switching costs are practically non-existent. On the other hand, innovation is stale: format and features are copy and paste of each other with different branding.
What 2019’s accomplishment are you most proud of?
Playing a role in the culture and structure of Innovate Today, our empowering company.
Comment, like and share!
Do you agree with what has been said? We look forward to your take on how much the Dutch startup ecosystem developed in 2019. Find the next networking opportunity on our event page!
Written by Steven Pango
steven@innovate.today
Links:
https://www.sprout.nl/artikel/mosa-meat-strikt-topinvesteerder-chris-sacca-en-nutreco-als-partners-crime
http://www.esa.int/Applications/Telecommunications_Integrated_Applications/Business_Incubation/ESA_Business_Incubation_Centres12
https://berk.es/2020/01/10/dutch-government-killing-crypto-startups/
