Start to scale. Startup and Scale-up Founder Stories.

By Start to ScaleBusiness Entrepreneurship

Start to scale. Startup and Scale-up Founder Stories. episodes

January 18, 2022Graciella van Vliet, CEO and co-founder of Closure, on growing a startup in death-tech.
She co-founded death tech company - yes you heard that right - Closure with Chantal van der Velde in 2017. They won the Philips Innovation Award and made it to top 3 in Sprout’s Dutch startup of the year.
Graciella has a Master in Econometrics from Erasmus University Rotterdam, and she was awarded Rotterdam Business Woman of the year.

In this episode, we'll cover the following topics:
Death and tech;
Funding your growth;
The things Graciëlla does when she’s not working on Closure.

Links mentioned:
People: Graciella van Vliet, Chantal van der Velde, Bart Verhaegh, Daniel Salimian, Janneke Niessen, Neelie Kroes, Elon Musk, Kees Jan Rietveld, Lex Geerdes, Hans Scheffer, Julian Jagtenberg
Companies: Closure, EUR, DUO, Aon, Rabobank, Somnox, PHIA
Media: Techleap report "Thinking Bigger: how ambitious is the Dutch entrepreneur?", Cover Blof - Hier with vocals by Closure's CTO Bart Verhaegh
Other: Delfshaven, Rotterdamse Zakenvrouw van het Jaar, Globaliser Program, Closure Vacancies
50 min
November 30, 2021Nalden, founder of WeTransfer and Adelee, on surrounding yourself with the right people and keeping a beginner's mindset.
Fast company described him as “A hybrid of the serial entrepreneur Sean Parker and Jason Kottke, the web designer and blogger". But we like his own twitter description better: “Father of two; a husband to one, founder and angel investor of some.”
Nalden gained his online reputation through his blog, which he started at the age of 16. In 2009, he founded file-sharing service WeTransfer, which he exited in 2019. He is now building a new startup - Adelee - to foster connection for families & friends.

In this episode, we'll cover the following topics:
founding ánd leaving WeTransfer;
surrounding yourself with the right people;
and… keeping a beginner's mindset;

Links mentioned:
People: Nalden, Mark Zuckerberg, Kevin Kalle, Sanne Koemeester, Edwin Hans, Erik Anspach
Companies: WeTransfer, Facebook, Adelee
Media: Nalden at The Wereld Draait Door, Nalden's personal website
Other: download Adelee in the AppStore, Blog on why Lars Crama deleted Whatsapp
Song: James Blake - Say What You Will
54 min
November 16, 2021Founder and CEO of Nearfield Instruments, Hamed Sadeghian, about scaling up in a highly capital intensive industry.
In 2016, Hamed Sadeghian co-founded Nearfield Instruments together with Roland van Vliet as a spin out from TNO. Nearfield has since then become a leader in semiconductor metrology solutions, with offices in Eindhoven and Rotterdam, employing over a 100 people.
Hamed received his PhD cum laude in 2010 from Delft University of Technology in nano-mechatronics systems design. He holds more than 60 patents, has authored over 100 papers and co-authored a number of books. Hamed also holds an MBA from Vlerick Business School in Leuven.

In this episode, we'll cover the following topics:
Scaling up in a highly capital intensive industry;
Building a strong leadership team;
Preparing the road to IPO;

Links mentioned:
People: Hamed Sadeghian, Roland van Vliet, Roelof Veldhuizen, Gillian Soeteman
Companies: Nearfield Instruments, TNO, TU Delft, Vlerick Business School, TSMC, Invest-NL
Publications: Publications Hamed Sadeghian
Media: ASML's Architects
Other: Moore's Law
45 min
November 01, 2021Julian Jagtenberg, founder and CEO of Somnox, about sleep, sales and building a dream team.
Julian is the founder and CEO of Somnox, which he started with fellow students at the Technical University of Delft in 2015. Two years ago they introduced the world’s first sleep robot to the market. Somnox patented technology received various awards: Philips Innovation Award, Rabobank Sustainable Innovation Award and the #1 most innovative business of the Netherlands. But most importantly, the Somnox sleeprobot is used by tens of thousands people around the world to improve their sleep.
Julian is also a brilliant speaker and presenter. In March this year, 1,5 million viewers saw Julians pitch at the Dragons Den on Dutch National Television.

In this episode, we'll cover the following topics:
Sleep as a superpower;
Shifting from distributors to direct to consumer;
Building a strong team to support the growth;

Links mentioned:
People: Julian Jagtenberg, Reid Hoffman
Books: The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle, A guide to the good life by Wiliam B Irvine
Companies: Somnox, TU Delft, PHIA, Rabobank, Coolblue, VanMoof, Auping, Health Investment Partners
Media: Dragons Den Somnox, CES 2018 We went to bed with Somnox the sleep robot, Somnox Youtube channel, hackyourcareer.com (Somnox is hiring!), Founder Book Club
Other: Trustpilot reviews, bootstrapping, Baba o’ Riley - The Who
47 min
July 13, 2021Jarell Habets, CEO of Shypple, on shaking up traditional industries and the 'quantified self'.
In 2016, Jarell founded Shypple - the "booking.com for intercontinental sea freight that connects more than 3000 companies worldwide."
In 2020, Shypple was voted Sprout Startup of the year. In april 2021, they raised a 7 Million Euro Series A, bringing the total funding to 9,5 Million and gearing up for more to facilitate acquisitions. Jarell earned his bachelor degree in Tilburg and his Masters in Rotterdam and turns out to be quite competitive.

In this episode, we'll cover the following topics:
Shaking up a traditional industry that is used to fax and e-mail;
Finding balance between organic growth and acquisitions;
Staying healthy through quantified self.
Links mentioned:
People: Jarell Habets, Ruben Wieman, Pieter Sleeboom
Companies: Shypple, DHL, Kuehne Nagel, Clear Health, Antler, Oneteam, Graduate Entrepreneur
Media: Interview with Jarell in AD
Other: Vacancies at Shypple
Keep an eye on our LinkedIn channel for upcoming guests!
46 min
June 29, 2021EJ Lugt, founder of Nimbuzz and MD at YES!Delft, on dream exits, entrepreneurial ecosystems and sports.
EJ sold his first business @Media to the Dutch Broadcasting Service in 2001. In 2006, he founded Nimbuzz, which he sold for 137 Million Euros to New Call Telecom in 2014. He then went on to found NGTI, until he dedicated himself to take up a role as the Managing Director of YES!Delft - voted #2 best university incubator in the world.
EJ is also a guest speaker at Nyenrode on innovation and transformation, an expert member for the European Commission and… a force to be reckoned with when it comes to padel.
In this episode, we cover the following topics:
Dream exits;
Building strong entrepreneurial ecosystems and;
The link between business and sports.
Links mentioned:
People: Evert Jaap Lugt, Elon Musk, Jan Koum, Constantijn van Oranje, Hans Scheffer
Companies: Nimbuzz, YES!Delft, Erasmus Enterprise, Nyenrode, Whatsapp, Yahoo Messanger, KPN, Techleap, Gemeente Lansingerland, CIC, CES, Gladiatoren aan de Maas
Media: Podcast Jan van de Tempel, Podcast Cinzia Silvestri, Liselore Lugt at Gladiatoren aan de Maas, AD Article about the Dutch Mark Zuckerberg
Other:
Nimbuzz Finder, Padel
Keep an eye on our LinkedIn channel for upcoming guests!
43 min
June 15, 2021Magnet.me founder Vincent Karremans on combining entrepreneurship with politics.
Vincent is the founder and Managing Director of Magnet.me - the online network that helps young professionals find a job they love.
In his spare time, Vincent represents the VVD, the liberal party at the City Council of Rotterdam. So you can see him on Dutch television every now and then. He has also been one of the driving forces behind the scale-up program in Rotterdam.
In this episode, we cover the following topics:
How do you compete in a crowded market like recruitment;
The opportunities in career coaching for students;
Combining entrepreneurship with a role in the City Council.
Links mentioned:
People: Vincent Karremans, Harald Swinkels, Laurens van Nues, Freek Schouten, Roos Vermeij, Sabine Biesheuvel, Bas van Kooperen
Companies: Magnet.me, LaatBloeien, Het IndustrieGebouw, LinkedIn, Eton, Rabobank, NLE, VVD, BlueCity
Media: Campaign Video - I’m on a horse
Other: jobs.uprotterdam.com, Careers at magnet.me
Song: We built this city by Starship
Keep an eye on our LinkedIn channel for upcoming guests!
48 min
June 01, 2021Han Kleppe, founder of Leadinfo, about beating the odds as a bootstrapped single founder.
Han is the founder of LeadInfo, category leader in B2B website visitor analytics. Before founding LeadInfo, Han worked for Telecom 360 for almost eight years, where he learned all about growing conference call services in multiple countries. Han featured on Dutch News Radio BNR twice in 2018 and 2019 and his interview at SaasBazen was the most downloaded episode.

In this episode, we'll discuss:
How do you beat the odds as a bootstrapped single founder?
What is Han's strategy for winning new customers across Europe?
How do you manage work life balance as a founder raising three young children?
Links mentioned:
People: Han Kleppe, Marien den Besten, Filip Lauweres, Adriaan Mol, Hans Scheffer, Quirijn Kleppe, Marianne Kleppe
Companies: Leadinfo, BNR, Saasbazen, LaatBloeien, Exact, Feyenoord, Heineken, Amazon, Mollie, Helloprint, Adhoc Docent
Media: jobs.uprotterdam.com
Song: Mark Knopler - Skydiver
Keep an eye on our LinkedIn channel for upcoming guests!
52 min
May 18, 2021HousingAnywhere CEO Djordy Seelmann on acquisitions, dealing with investors, and fast decision-making.
Djordy is a tech entrepreneur who is passionate about real estate and building impactful ventures. With a Master in Law (Cum Laude) and a Master in Science, he joined HousingAnywhere in 2014. In 2018, Djordy took over as the CEO. He professionalised the company, led multiple funding rounds taking the total amount raised by the company to €35.5 million, accomplished four successful acquisitions within 12 months and navigated the business through the Covid-19 crisis.

In this episode, we discuss:
What is it like to step in as CEO when the founder steps out;
What are Djordy's learnings when it comes to M&A;
How do you structure your company for growth;
Links mentioned:
People: Djordy Seelmann, Niels van Deuren
Companies: Housing Anywhere, Rentmate, Studenten WG, Stanzazoo, Kamernet, Moonback, HenQ, Mendix, Vostok New Ventures, BlaBlaCar, Gett
Media: AD Article - Tinder for Rental Market
Other: Five55 Building, OKRs, vacancies at HousingAnywhere
Song: Eminem - Lose Yourself
Keep an eye on our LinkedIn channel for upcoming guests!
49 min
May 04, 2021Cinzia Silvestri, CEO of BI/OND, about building a business in the pioneering field of Organ-on-chips.
Cinzia Silvestri is the Founder and CEO of Bi/ond, the Dutch biotech company on a mission to enable personalized disease treatment. Originally from Italy, Cinzia holds a Master in Electronic Engineering from the University of Rome, and a PhD in Microelectronics from Delft University of Technology. She is a TEDx speaker and was selected InspiringFifty.

In this episode, we discuss:
What is it like to build a business in the pioneering field of Organ-on-chips?
How do you keep faith when your competitors receive 100M+ in funding?
What are Cinzia’s dreams for the future;
Links mentioned:
People: Cinzia Silvestri, Nikolas Gaio, William F. Quirós-Solano, Ronald Dekker
Companies: BI/OND, University of Rome, TU Delft, UNIIQ
Books: Crossing the Chasm
Other: TEDx talk: "Your Drugs Are Average", Philips Innovation Awards 2019, Accenture Innovation Awards 2018
Song: Roberto Vecchioni - Sogna Ragazzo Sogna
Keep an eye on our LinkedIn channel for upcoming guests!
43 min

About Start to scale. Startup and Scale-up Founder Stories.

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Showcasing the vibrant Dutch entrepreneurial ecosystem - and our journey to support the startup and scale-up founders responsible. Hosted by Lars Crama, edited by Lisette Braakenburg.