Top-10 Startup Success Stories: May

Written by Solvita Mazeikaite on . Posted in All Focus Areas, News.

In the month of May, innovative tech startups have been making waves and achieving significant milestones. From leadership transitions to product launches and strategic partnerships, these startups are demonstrating their commitment to growth and innovation. Read the newest top 10 startup success stories from May and get inspired by their remarkable achievements.

1. BBBLS

After Founder & former CEO Anton Paardekooper suddenly passed away in December 2022, which had a significant impact on the BBBLS team, they are now pleased to announce that Matthijs Plas is taking over the Chief Executive Officer position.

2. Beesage

Last week the founder of Beesage attended the Deep Tech Momentum event, where he pitched in front of the audience and took 3rd place out of 52 companies. Find more information here.

3. Carice Cars

On the 10th of May, Carice Cars released its newest product – TC2 – an electric convertible that weighs 630 kg and has a mile range of 300 km. You can find more information about the car in this TOP GEAR article or on their website. Also, you can watch an Interesting interview with De Ondernemer in this Dutch podcast here.

4. Denoize

Denoize, in collaboration with Schiphol, has created a test house to demonstrate active soundproofing technology for windows. This technology is capable of recognising, filtering, and mitigating ambient noise. In this video, you can find out more information. The test lab will be open to visitors in September this year. You can even sign up to spend a night in the house and try it out. Detailed information can be found in this press release.

5. Loop Biotech

Loop Biotech – initiator and builder of the world’s first ‘living’ coffin that enriches the earth – presents an improved, more organic version of the Loop Living CocoonTM. The new products were launched at an event with Andre Kuipers and Shawn Harris on May 22nd. The startup is also launching the first fully biodegradable “EarthRise” urn and “ForestBed” funeral carrier to answer the demand for more eco-conscious funeral product options. With the Loop Living Cocoon, a burial can have a positive footprint. Their slogan is: “Are you waste or are you compost?” More info can be found HERE.

6. Micro-Cosmos

Micro-Cosmos is happy to share that two brand new Micro-Cosmos bed caps are permanently installed at the Isala Hospital in the Department of Neurology. Especially the brain care department was very enthusiastic about the peace and security that Micro-Cosmos offers. More can be found in this post.

7. Sensible Healthcare Systems

Sensible Healthcare Systems announced their pre-seed funding round financed by a group of expert investors, including Glass Frog Ventures and Graduate Entrepreneur. They will use the funds to develop further and market its minimally invasive continuous biosensing platform, initially focusing on the diabetes care market with a Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM) sensor. We celebrated this positive news with a champagne alarm in the YES!Delft incubator together with the investors.

8. Supersola

Supersola raised an investment of 1 million euros under the leadership of ROM InWest to scale up the production of solar panels with socket plugs. More information can be found HERE.

9. Nurtio

Nurtio has a new partnership with Vodafone Business. This partnership will enable Nurtio to leverage its extensive network infrastructure, cutting-edge technologies, and expertise in the IoT industry. From now on, every gateway will be equipped with a Vodafone SIM card providing seamless connectivity that transcends geographical boundaries. The Global Data Service Platform (GDSP) is Vodafone’s dedicated IoT-managed service engine, enabling devices and assets with a global SIM to communicate securely with the Nurtio back-end system. More information can be found here.

10. Momo Medical

Momo Medical has already raised 1,2 million euros via the NPEX platform. Up to €1.75 million can still be subscribed to the current issue. More information about it can be found HERE.

Anything Connected: lowering the barrier for measuring nitrogen

Written by Tessa van Breeden on . Posted in All Focus Areas, News.

Nitrogen (Stikstof) is a pressing concern in the Netherlands, drawing significant attention in the media. The extensive industrial activities of Dutch companies contribute to high nitrogen emissions, damaging biodiversity and ecosystems. Therefore, measuring nitrogen to assess its impact accurately and implementing effective mitigation strategies for sustainable environmental management is crucial. Together with their partner TiQiT, Anything Connected has found a way to lower the barrier for measuring nitrogen emissions with its innovative sensor.

Easy data-gathering in the construction industry

Co-founders Frederik Westerouen van Meeteren, Jochem Janssen, and Pieter Ernst developed a sensor that can stick to the outside of machines to gather asset data of construction equipment for maintenance. However, many companies don’t have the time to inspect each machine physically. That is why Anything Connected originally only provided datasets about the performance status of machinery collected by the sensors. Next, in-house data analysts use that data for better overall equipment efficiency. Together with TiQiT, they  have now identified another application for their sensor: the efficient measurement of nitrogen.

In the construction industry in the Netherlands, it will soon become mandatory to keep track of nitrogen emissions. In a few cases, a nitrogen measurement can be done by a consultant However, this is expensive and costs a lot of time. Instead, the Anything Connected sensor is simply glued on the outside of the machines without the need to replace or modify existing equipment. Data can be viewed on platforms such as provided by TiQiT.

“We are now delivering the first sets of sensors to customers wanting to measure their nitrogen emissions. The current stock is already completely sold out, which is very cool. I’m looking forward to the first results.” – Frederik Westerouen van Meeteren, co-founder and Managing Director of Anything Connected.

The mindset of an entrepreneur

When Frederik and Pieter started six years ago, they followed the YES!Delft validation lab and Accelerator program. The programs helped to develop their product, business cases, and propositions. It is also where they learned the much-needed startup mindset when things don’t go as planned, and a business encounters hardships.

“I’m a huge fan of the YES!Delft incubator, and I knew I wanted to follow their programs when I started Anything Connected. For me, it was like an MBA. I learned everything I now know about business. Also, I’m very grateful for the network of other entrepreneurs, customers, partners, and companies they linked us to.” – Frederik Westerouen van Meeteren, co-founder and Managing Director of anyThing Connected.

Like many companies, Anything Connected has had many ups and downs. For instance, back in 2020, they needed to physically be present to install the sensor to collect data. Because of that, Covid-19 had a profound impact on the business. When it became clear that a lockdown was imminent, they decided to close up until further notice, reducing the burn rate to just a couple of hundred euros per month. It was a good example of a setback that turned out to enable the startup to survive.

Then, when they finally started again, they put their money and energy into a vast potential deal. Unfortunately, it fell through at the last minute because of an unexpected failed merger on the client company’s side. Another massive setback. At the same time, this made them take a step back and realize the opportunity, in measuring nitrogen emissions in the construction industry. 

A new path

At the end of February 2023, Anything Connected and TiQiT presented their nitrogen solution at the Mobile World Conference in Barcelona, Spain. They sold their current stock and are currently working on reliably running their customer support. Also, they are looking into gathering more insights about the needs of the construction industry and ordering their next batch of nitrogen sensors soon. Their innovative way of measuring nitrogen could be an excellent opportunity for many companies looking to gain insight into their emissions, so if you are interested, contact them!

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Your dream can become a reality too. As long as you want to make a change, don’t miss the opportunity to boost your start-up by joining the YES!Delft Validation Lab or Accelerator Program. However, if working for a start-up resonates more with your ambition, we got you! Check out the vacancies on our YES!Talents page!

BE PART OF THE CHANGE, AS CHANGE STARTS WITH YOU…

Noria Sustainable Innovators: Combatting Plastic Pollution

Written by Tessa van Breeden on . Posted in All Focus Areas, News.

Every year, tons of plastic waste find their way into waterways, posing a grave threat to aquatic life and ecosystems. Rivers are crucial conduits, transporting plastic from inland areas to the open sea. In this light, Noria Sustainable Innovators is a startup that develops methods and techniques to deal with plastic waste close to the source of pollution. They believe that by catching the plastic as early as possible, they stop plastic from ending up in the sea, thereby having less chance of harming animals, the environment, and our health.

A steady start

Co-founders Rinze de Vries and Arnoud van der Vaart met at their full-time job. They connected and had many conversations during the weekly Friday afternoon drinks. After a year, they asked their employer to work part-time, so they could attribute the other half of the week, their evenings and weekends, to validating their idea, with the help of the YES!Delft Validation program. During that period, they immediately found some customers, which soon enabled them to work full-time in their startup. 

“During my studies, I wanted to find an impactful job to improve the world. So when I met Rinze and his idea to clean domestic waterways, I deeply felt that this was a cause I fully wanted to commit to.” – Arnoud van der Vaart, co-founder of Noria Sustainable Innovators.

Monitoring and cleaning waterways

Noria Sustainable Innovators is an environmental service that helps clean water and nature from plastic. They work for the governmental institutions: Rijkswaterstaat, water authorities, municipalities, and provinces. Noria’s unique approach is to clean up the water as close to the source of the pollution as possible. They believe it is the most cost-effective and scalable way to remove plastic from the water. At the same time, they provide insight into where plastic enters the water and how it transports. Noria installs cameras, then uses AI to analyze that data, which gives great insight into the origin of the pollution. That is important because the problem can be dealt with quickly.

“We don’t think of other companies as competitors. Rather, the plastic in the water is our competitor. It’s quite an idealistic aspiration, and we all have the same goal. However, Noria has a unique approach we believe is most effective.”  – Arnoud van der Vaart, co-founder of Noria Sustainable Innovators.

Business operations and future steps

During the validation lab, co-founders Rinze and Arnoud learned to focus on the problem first to determine how to optimize their solution. They did so by speaking to many potential customers so that they could come up with the needed techniques. After the validation lab, co-founders Rinze and Arnoud continued with the Accelerator program, where they learned how to lead a business. They also had an office in the YES!Delft building for 1,5 years, which was valuable for their network and business.

Because Noria Sustainable Innovators found customers quite early in their journey, thanks to the outcome of the YES!Delft Validation lab, they started without any financing. However, though their complete solution is affordable, they use hardware to monitor the waterways. That means an initial investment is needed to get started. So, to provide the hardware, they got funded by the Water Innovation Fund. So, to provide the hardware, they got funded by the Water Innovation Fund, which is a fund that Hoogheemraadschap Hollands Noorderkwartier finances.

Noria Sustainable Innovators is ready to scale up. They have six proven techniques in both monitoring and removal of plastic litter. In the Netherlands, they aim to monitor the entire Wadden coast and then want to expand to the Danish and German Wadden shores. They are also working on two big European projects as one of the partners, where they can use their monitoring techniques. Meanwhile, they are exploring opportunities to expand to more countries. In conclusion, Noria Sustainable Innovators takes steps daily to clean up our waterways and improve the world for humans and animals.

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Your dream can become a reality too. As long as you want to make a change, don’t miss the opportunity to boost your start-up by joining the YES!Delft Validation Lab or Accelerator Program. However, if working for a start-up resonates more with your ambition, we got you! Check out the vacancies on our YES!Talents page!

BE PART OF THE CHANGE, AS CHANGE STARTS WITH YOU…

YES!Delft Behind the Scenes – A Change of Leadership

Written by Tessa van Breeden on . Posted in All Focus Areas, News.

For the past six years, YES!Delft has grown exponentially and is currently the biggest tech incubator in Europe. The team was led by Evert Jaap Lugt, enabling a thriving environment for startups to be their best. Now, it’s time for Evert Jaap Lugt to pursue new adventures. So, Ras Lalmy will take over the Managing Director role at YES!Delft. We have interviewed them to get more insight into the incubator from Delft and its leadership.

From Delft to Rotterdam and The Hague

Originally, Managing Director Evert Jaap Lugt was an engineer trained at TU Eindhoven. However, he is a passionate entrepreneur and founded multiple companies. This experience was of tremendous value the past six years as Managing Director of YES!Delft.

“I learned a lot as an entrepreneur and wanted to give back, which I could do at YES!Delft. I strongly believe that you must have experience in startups. For example, if you are leading a team that runs programs for startups,” says Evert Jaap Lugt. “I have a huge passion for entrepreneurship, so it has been very nice to be involved in many startups and be able to help them. I came across many different innovative ideas at YES!Delft, too. It’s fascinating to work with so many startups; products and services range from quantum to photonics to robotics.”

Six years ago, Evert Jaap came to Delft with high ambitions for the YES!Delft incubator. He wanted to expand its reach beyond the city walls of Delft and create more opportunities for startups to grow. That hasn’t always been easy, as YES!Delft was originally a not-for-profit public entity without a business model. That also posed the question of how to expand the incubator regionally.

“I had to be creative and use my entrepreneurial mindset to create the regional expansion to Rotterdam and The Hague,” says Evert Jaap. “First, it was important to convince stakeholders. Second, we needed to find a way to create more money to finance a growing YES!Delft Team, as well as multiple locations. We created a commercial proposition that worked and enabled us to help even more startups, and I’m very proud of that.”

YES!Delft now has three locations: Delft, Rotterdam, and The Hague. Ras Lalmy was in charge of opening the office in The Hague. He will take over from Evert Jaap Lugt as Managing Director on May 1st.

Next steps

Ras has been active in the tech startup scene for ten years as a co-founder of multiple startups. That way, he came into contact with YES!Delft and was immediately excited about its programs and community. 

“Over coffee, Evert Jaap asked me if I wanted to set up an office in The Hague. Coming from Amsterdam region, I didn’t know The Hague well, so I thought it was a good learning opportunity,” shares Ras. “Working with YES!Delft, I became even more enthusiastic.

 I knew Evert Jaap was thinking about pursuing other opportunities. So, after some soul-searching, I decided to go for the role of Managing Director.”

Giving back is very important to Ras Lalmy. It brings him a lot of fun and pleasure to help passionate founders succeed.

“I love sharing knowledge and experience with aspiring entrepreneurs. Things I wish I had known in my first years as an entrepreneur. If I had followed some of our programs it definitely would have saved me some blood, sweat and tears.”

What are the plans for the future?

“The past years, YES!Delft has made great progress. However, there are still many opportunities to strengthen and improve. From inspiring future entrepreneurs to guiding high quality tech startups on their road to success. And in close cooperation with great partners like TU Delft, Erasmus University and Erasmus Medical Center we can become a real powerhouse for tech entrepreurship”  says Ras Lalmy. 

Evert Jaap Lugt smiles as he says: “I will keep on working, even past my retirement. I will certainly remain active in the YES!Delft ecosystem; I am an entrepreneur in heart and soul, like many here. Building a new company is not easy, and everyone should have much respect for people who start their businesses.”

Any famous last words?

“I am happy that Ras has accepted the role of Managing Director. He knows YES!Delft very well and has done a great job with opening our office in The Hague. He also is a serial entrepreneur, like me. Ras, I hope you enjoy it as much as I have. Good luck!” says Evert Jaap Lugt.

Ras Lalmy adds: “I’d like to thank you, Evert Jaap, for your accomplishments over the past six years. You established growth using your entrepreneurial mindset and created a solid foundation from which I can work.”

With the change of leadership set to take place on May 1st, Ras Lalmy and Evert Jaap Lugt are looking forward to this new chapter for YES!Delft, the team, and the startups that are under their wings.

UbiOps: Platform for AI and ML models

Written by Tessa van Breeden on . Posted in All Focus Areas, News.

Many scientists are great at writing code for Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) models, even though it’s not easy. However, another big challenge is to create a custom application to run those models in the cloud. Usually, this takes much time to build. To make this easier, UbiOps offers data scientists and engineers a platform that helps them run, manage and scale their models, saving them the trouble of building and maintaining such infrastructure themselves.

The road to UbiOps

Yannick Maltha met Victor Pereboom during his chairman year at YES!Delft students. They became friends and often talked about entrepreneurship. Then, seven years ago, helping BAM with some important data challenges, they decided to take the leap and start their first business: Dutch Analytics. One year later, Jorick Naber also joined as co-founder. Over the years, their activities evolved from helping customers build AI and ML models to a platform to deploy those models efficiently. That is why they began to turn Dutch Analytics into UbiOps three years ago.

“ When building AI and ML models for customers such as Prorail, Siemens, BAM, and FrieslandCampina, we learned many things about the requirements for turning models into scalable cloud applications. With this experience, we started building the UbiOps platform.” – Yannick Maltha, co-founder and CEO of UbiOps.

Making a difference

The target market of UbiOps consists of companies that want to productize their data science: building digital products from code and scaling them. The users of their platform are usually data scientists or engineers. They can use UbiOps to manage their code in the cloud without building a custom environment, and the platform also allows running multiple models simultaneously.

UbiOps offers its platform to multinationals as well as startups. Their services provide special discounts for early-stage and later-stage startups to support them in applying innovative ideas and scaling up faster. They do so because UbiOps believes in helping startups to spread their innovative ideas. They help both early-stage and later-stage startups. For example, they work with DuckDuckGoose, which specializes in deep fake detection.

“We have a customer creating AI models for creating more effective immunotherapy to treat cancer. They use UbiOps to run their models. It is rewarding to see customers with these kinds of products advance using our platform.” – Yannick Maltha, co-founder and CEO of UbiOps.

 

The Journey of UbiOps

UbiOps followed the validation program of YES!Delft. They significantly benefit from the network they have gained through the incubator. There are startups within YES!Delft using UbiOps, which has helped to validate the product. So far, they have been funded by BAM, the Rabobank, and Global Founders Capital.

Currently, they are in the scaleup phase. The platform is mature, helps dozens of customers, and has over a thousand users. They are active in multiple countries, with employees in the UK and USA. The aim is to expand the team, and they work together with YES!Talents to recruit new employees.  

One of the critical keys is to scale while keeping in mind data privacy. Many European customers using UbiOps are building fundamental AI and have strict regulations concerning storing their data in the cloud. The other important factor is sustainability: the calculation power of the GPUs used generates CO2 waste and heat. UbiOps is already working with parties to ensure residual heat is used as district heating. 

In the upcoming year, UbiOps wants to scale using partners in the ecosystem, both with consultants and cloud providers. To grow, they want to expand their marketing and sales internationally. For example, they are at the World AI Summit in Montréal, Canada, in April 2023. In short, they are ready to tell the world about their platform and UbiOps, so they can help accelerate AI and ML technology.

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Your dream can become a reality too. As long as you want to make a change, don’t miss the opportunity to boost your start-up by joining the YES!Delft Validation Lab or Accelerator Program. However, if working for a start-up resonates more with your ambition, we got you! Check out the vacancies on our YES!Talents page!

BE PART OF THE CHANGE, AS CHANGE STARTS WITH YOU…

Top-10 Startup Success Stories: April

Written by Solvita Mazeikaite on . Posted in All Focus Areas, News.

As we move into the second quarter of the year, April continues to bring exciting news and developments from the startup world. From advancements in space travel to digital well-being, this month has seen impressive accomplishments from a diverse range of startups. Don’t miss out on these top 10 success stories from April that showcase the innovation and potential of the YES!Delft startup community.

1. Dawn aerospace

Dawn Aerospace completed the first rocket-powered flight campaign of its Mk-|| Aurora spaceplane. They have completed 3 test flights in 3 days! This marks a significant milestone in Dawn’s Aerospace mission to redefine how we sustainably access and utilise space. More information can be found in this PRESS RELEASE.

2. Maeve Aerospace

On Thursday, April 13th, Maeve presented its design at the public event of its Maeve 01 fully electric aircraft. Also, Lucy – Europe’s first all-electric airliner and Maeve Aerospace signed the first intentional pre-order for the Maeve 01! More information can be found HERE.

3. Momo Medical

Momo Medical has some great news to share! Besides becoming a winner of the National Zorginnovatie.nl audience award, now everyone can invest in a startup via the NPEX platform. Currently, more than 6,600 nursing home residents already use the Momo BedSense. In order to be able to support even more care workers in their work, a new investment round via NPEX is needed. Find out HERE how you can contribute to their mission!

4. Nature’s Principles

Nature’s Principles is proud to share that last month startup produced its first product sample that will be tested with one of its partners. Their organic acid blend uses fewer resources in the feedstock process and production, making it more sustainable. More about it can be found HERE.

5. Nurtio Technologies

Nurtio announced its new partnership with NextGen Living Walls. NextGen Living Walls provides the easiest and most efficient plant vertical systems. Clients can order sensors from Nurtio to help maintain the green walls. Nurtio is active in 9 countries, and this new cooperation will allow them to push the horizon further. More information HERE.

6. Sense Glove

Sense Glove raised  €3.25 million in a Series A funding round led by the Lumaux Tech Fund. This funding will accelerate startup growth, allowing them to innovate even more, develop new hand-haptic products, and expand its global reach. Find the full announcement post HERE.

7. Smart-Ship

Smart-ship received the formal approval of Bureau Veritas Group regarding its haptic control levers. In the upcoming weeks, they will start installing its technology on short sea vessels, a research vessel, electric ferries and a yacht!

8. Soundcell

Soundcell received a pre-seed investment from a graduate entrepreneur! Soundcel is developing a new diagnostic device capable of antibiotic resistance testing within hours rather than days. With this pre-seed investment, they will continue to fight against antibiotic resistance and hopefully become clinically relevant startups! More can be found HERE.

9. STIL

Stil has received €4.6 million of funding from the EIC Accelerator. The startup will use the investment to make STIL Orthosis – and their company – ready for scaling up internationally. The company’s mission remains unchanged: providing stability to over 30 million people worldwide with involuntary shakes in the hands. Read more HERE.

10. Unpluq

Unpluq, a digital well-being startup that helps people reduce their mobile screen time and improve their mental health, announced the release of its first-ever iPhone app. The Unpluq app was developed to address the growing concern around the negative impact of mobile screen time on mental health, particularly among young people. Find more HERE.

Praxa Sense: Innovating Healthcare with Remote Monitoring

Written by Tessa van Breeden on . Posted in All Focus Areas, News.

Monitoring vital health functions like heart rate is critical in healthcare. It helps to detect possible heart diseases. Innovative technology can make this easier, for example, with an easy-to-use device with cutting-edge sensors. Leonard Moonen and Liselotte Stolk founded Praxa Sense to develop such a tool. Yet, while perfecting their device, they discovered a surprising alternative market fit for their device: that of post-operative monitoring of patients at home.

From heart monitoring to post-operative monitoring

In 2017, co-founder Leonard Moonen graduated with a small remote health monitoring device for his graduation project, built for the Dutch heart foundation (Hartstichting) and Philips. The device is called Afi and can detect cardiac arrhythmias in the early stages: an appliance with four sensors to monitor patients’ health. Afi can monitor a person’s heart rhythm for up to 30 days. Current monitoring equipment are usually utilized for 24 to 48 hours, because of their low comfort.

Afi uses four sensors to measure the patient’s ECG, heart rate, oxygen saturation, respiratory rate, movement, and temperature. Machine learning algorithms process the data to check for signs of infection or heart disorders. Then, the cardiologist can read an automatically generated report to review and discuss with the patient.

Praxa Sense discovered by talking to doctors and hospitals that Afi is also interesting for post-operative monitoring. Usually, patients stay in hospitals for observation to ensure they heal well. Otherwise, infections may complicate recovery. Letting patients stay overnight costs a lot and poses a high staff workload. But, sending patients home too soon may result in an untreated infection found too late. Therefore, it is imperative to find such symptoms early so people heal as fast as possible. Using Afi, patients can be reliably monitored at home.

“We want to make a difference in healthcare for people with chronic diseases and present a solution for the staff shortages. The healthcare sector has many rules and regulations, which is a big challenge. Much innovation is still possible, and it’s a nice challenge to try and make an impact there”, Liselotte Stolk – co-founder and COO of Praxa Sense.

Working on the business and in the business

Praxa Sense joined the Accelerator program of YES!Delft, after completing the EIT health validation program in Dublin. The YES!Delft program helped them to get their foundations right: they learned how to build a good business case and create a profitable company. To accelerate even more, they have joined Techleap’s Pole Position program. 

Praxa Sense also believes it is essential to work on soft skills. It is taking care to keep developing themselves as leaders and great team members. For example, by participating actively in workshops of YES!Delft around leadership. They also have an office in the YES!Delft building which enables them to stay close to fellow startups and exchange ideas at the coffee machine.

“I’m following workshops of YES!Delft around leadership and soft skills: we now have a team, which comes with great responsibility. We want to be a good employer.” – Liselotte Stolk, co-founder and COO of Praxa Sense.

Next steps for the upcoming 6-12 months

Praxa Sense is almost ready to release its product to the market. Currently, they are running the first clinical trial with the Reinier de Graaf hospital in the cardiac emergency department, where they monitor hospital patients to check their algorithms’ accuracy. The next step is to get certified for heart rhythm monitoring, after which the certification will be expanded to post-operative monitoring at home.

Up to now, Praxa Sense has secured over 2 million euros in funding. They got early-stage financing and subsidies from the NWO. In addition, they’ve had angel investors and convertible loans. Furthermore, they recently got the Eurostars subsidy to develop another revolutionary sensor to tackle any inaccuracy due to motion sensitivity: a big innovative project. Now they are busy with a new funding round: Praxa Sense aims to raise 2,5 million euros. They are looking into large-scale manufacturing to prepare their product for the market, expand the team, set up multiple clinical trials, and expand CE certification. Their path is mapped out for the coming year to make Afi a success.

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Your dream can become a reality too. As long as you want to make a change, don’t miss the opportunity to boost your start-up by joining the YES!Delft Validation Lab or Accelerator Program. However, if working for a start-up resonates more with your ambition, we got you! Check out the vacancies on our YES!Talents page!

BE PART OF THE CHANGE, AS CHANGE STARTS WITH YOU…

Top-10 Startup Success Stories: March

Written by Solvita Mazeikaite on . Posted in All Focus Areas, News.

As the year’s first quarter comes to an end, March is a time of reflection, learning opportunities from others in the field and planning. Therefore our startup community is buzzing too! From drone mapping to VR therapy, rocket-powered flights to co-ownership opportunities! Dont miss out on these groundbreaking news in our top 10 startups’ success stories in this March edition.

1. Atmos

Atmos, a fast-growing drone manufacturer that develops high-end fixed-wing drones for mapping and surveying applications, is happy to share that its products from now on are also available in the USA market. Read more HERE.

2. CleVR

VR-CGT has been approved by the Nederlandse Zorgautoriteit (NZa) as an optional performance. Mental health institutions and health insurers can explore the benefits of CleVR’s innovative VR technology in psychological treatments. They can make mutual agreements for the surcharge on regular performance, which could lead to better mental health outcomes for patients.

3. Dawn Aerospace

Dawn aerospace received certification from the Civil Aviation Authority of New Zealand (CAA) for the imminent rocket-powered flight campaign. This will mark the first time a remotely piloted rocket-powered vehicle has been certified for the flight out of a civil airport. Read more HERE.

4. DuckDuckGoose

Parya Lotfi, a founder of DuckDuckGoose, has received an AI Entrepreneur award! More information about the nomination can be found HERE.

5. Micro-Cosmos

Micro-Cosmos started a trial period at the stroke care unit of the neurology department of Ziekenhuis Gelderse Vallei. Patients and nurses will gain experience with the benefits and working methods of the bed caps in the coming months. More information can be found HERE.

6. Nature’s Principles

Nature’s Principles are joining forces with Bio Base Europe Pilot Plant to produce the first batch of lactic acid-based products! The DEI+ subsidy from the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO) supports the project.

7. Respyre

Respyre is excited to share that together with Innovatiefonds Noord-Holland and NWO, they have established funding for a runway of around 12 to 18 months. With this funding, Respyre aims to launch its new commercial product in the fourth quarter and expand its moss-growing facilities. More information can be found HERE. 

8. Somnox

Somnox launched its crowdfunding campaign! You can invest in Somnox and become co-owner of their mission to help 100 million people sleep better before 2030! More information about the crowdfunding campaign can be found HERE.

9. Sense Glove

Sense Glove released their first version of the new Unreal Engine Plugin on UE Marketplace! You can check it out HERE.

10. Nurtio

Nurtio is happy to announce its newest partnership with a dutch company LEAF! The first joint installation is present at the newest La Place Restaurants in HEMA Hilversum! See THIS POST for more information.

Meet the Accelerator Batch Spring 2023

Written by Solvita Mazeikaite on . Posted in All Focus Areas, News.

We are thrilled to introduce the latest additions to our Accelerator program for this Spring! These startups are set to transform the world with their innovative ideas, aided by our team of experts, mentors, trainers, and one-on-one coaching sessions. Discover more about their ambitions, objectives, and cutting-edge technologies in this article.

 

Ivvest is on a mission to make the future of horticulture accessible through building a new ecosystem along with innovating smart, efficient, modular, profitable and affordable indoor farming solutions! Abdel R. Alzubaidi founded the startup.

 

 

 

Arkmon offers portfolio tracking and automation as a service and enables our users to create a diversified cryptocurrency portfolio with the click of a button. Maximilian Sachs and Tristan Nikolaas Mwinmaalo Somé founded a startup.

 

 

OASYS NOW provides security, transparency & data ownership to the patient, unlocking DNA and health data for usage beyond its primary use case in a privacy-forward manner. Nima Salami, Sara Okhuijsen and Viktor Koppenol founded the startup. 

 

 

Lobster – robotics developed a lightweight, low-cost, fast robot that makes high-quality, geo-referenced orthophotos for seabed explorers, researchers and users. Startup was founded by Stephan Rutten and Daan de Groot.

 

 

SoundCell developed a technology by which patients can be given the right antibiotic within one hour to reduce the time and severity of infections in patients and the cost of medical care. Aleksandre Japaridze and Irek Roslon founded the startup.

 

 

Coding the Curbs optimise the use of the curbside by transforming loading bays into multifunctional space. Their digital platform allows users, such as logistics, to book and access Smart Zones easily. Startup were founded by Iskandar Tange, Alwin Bakker and Martijn Pater.

 

 

 

SUPPLYZ is helping companies bring their physical assets into the digital realm, enabling companies to increase the value of their assets, reduce costs, and improve overall operational performance. Felix Wassmann, Fabian Oberndorfer and Isaac Kargar founded the startup.

 

 

NeoStove builds rocket-inspired cooking pans that capture heat efficiently from existing gas stoves and enables  Horeca kitchens to halve their cooking gas consumption and CO2 emissions. Surya Prakash Seshaiya Doraiswamy Chandrasekar founded a startup.

 

 

 

MEMSYS develops energy harvesting technology as a platform for autonomous IoT applications. Their first product is an onboard monitoring system for damages on the wheels of trains. Thijs Blad and Gerrit-Jan Mollink founded the startup.

 

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Scoozy: A safe mobility scooter

Written by Tessa van Breeden on . Posted in All Focus Areas, News.

Using a mobility scooter is a great way to get around if you are less mobile. However, they come in many shapes and sizes, so determining which type of mobility scooter suits your needs and is safe to use can be challenging. Luckily, Scoozy found a solution and has developed a safe and neatly designed mobility scooter. 

Driving a mobility scooter is not always as safe as you think. For example, the number of mobility scooter accidents per 100.000 users is 15 times higher than with bikes. Furthermore, 75% of these accidents are unilateral, meaning that the mobility scooter causes the accidents rather than other vehicles. These numbers, plus the fact that there is a particular image that driving a mobility scooter is not cool, inspired Scoozy to develop a new product. Job van de Kieft and Jan Willem van Gent, the founders of Scoozy, wanted to create a safe mobility scooter with an excellent design. Back in 2018, Scoozy was well underway with the development of such a mobility scooter. Fast forward to 2023: let’s see where they stand. Sneak peek: they have progressed a lot.

A rocky start – safety comes first!

When Scoozy created the prototype in 2017, the team was enthusiastic about testing it. Then, unfortunately, there was a work accident. It was an intense and tumultuous time; not only was a co-worker hurt, but it also raised many questions about safety in the workplace. It is why safety is the core focus of Scoozy and one of the core features of the scooter. Furthermore, their scooter is medically certified, and Scoozy is audited yearly.

“In a sense, I am grateful that we had the accident in the early beginning. We had to mature quickly as a business. It gave us a laser-focus on safety.” – Job van de Kieft, co-founder and CEO of Scoozy.

Scoozy for all

There are other features that customers like about Scoozy: the radius is around 100 KM, and the design is unlike any other scooter. Instead of an auxiliary appliance, they think of it as a gadget. It makes it possible to go to nature or other places outside our regular infrastructure, a significant added value for many people.

“Our current target audience is around 65 years old. We found they like to do online research first instead of going to the dealer directly.” – Job van de Kieft, co-founder and CEO of Scoozy.

Usually, the Scoozy mobility scooters are sold via distributors, but because the Scoozy is fundamentally different from other mobility scooters, they decided to do the marketing themselves. They target their audiences with a website per country in that language. They are also experimenting with Facebook and Google advertisements. This way, they can distribute their marketing leads to their dealers. Besides, requesting a test drive in nature is possible, which also works for people who are hesitant to go to a store.

From startup to scale-up

Since the beginning, they raised 4 million euros in funding and experienced a 50% growth in the Netherlands. There are currently 3 generations of Scoozy mobility scooters. Versions A and B sold successfully in 2019. During Covid, Scoozy focused entirely on creating the C-line and expanding internationally: Scoozy is currently active in 10 countries with 60 dealers. 

Scoozy started in the YES!Delft building in 2016. Since then, they’ve outgrown the building and now have their own office. Still, they work together with DotRobot, another YES!Delft startup. They are growing towards a scale-up and, in that sense, are also busy raising more funds for their ever-expanding plans. For example, they are trialing with Scoozy as a Service – a subscription model for using the mobility scooter. They also want to adapt their marketing to reach more international audiences. Product-wise, they are implementing a new, comfier chair while keeping the design nice and modern. Last but not least, they plan to create another version of the Scoozy with a regular steering wheel that can compete with more traditional mobility scooters.

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