This was LEVEL UP 2023: highlights of the leading startup event
On Monday 25 September, around 700 startups, investors and other professionals from the startup ecosystem gathered at a sold-out Evoluon for LEVEL UP, the event for the national and international startup community.
We look back on an inspiring day filled with shared experiences, knowledge exchange and networking. With a wide range of topics and many standout moments, here are some of the highlights.
A unique collaboration
LEVEL UP is a joint initiative by BOM, The Gate, Brainport Eindhoven and Braventure, supported by many Brabant-based partners, including REWIN, BIM, AgriFood Capital, Midpoint Brabant, Rabobank and the Municipality of Eindhoven.
Never before have so many partners joined forces for an event of this scale. This unique collaboration clearly paid off, and as co-organisers, we are proud of this successful joint effort.
Brabant as a powerhouse for founders
During the opening, Prince Constantijn of the Netherlands noted that, despite significant progress, Brabant is far from reaching its full potential.
He emphasised:
“Focus on what startup founders truly need and do not limit yourself to the local environment. By opening up your boundaries, Brabant can truly become a magnet for global talent.”
With around 1,500 startups currently active in the region, the ecosystem is growing rapidly, but there is still room to expand further.
Jeroen van Woerden, Managing Director of The Gate and co-organiser, reinforced this view:
“It is not just about Brabant. We look at the whole of the Netherlands and beyond. That is the only way to build the right value proposition, the best teams and secure proper funding. That is how you scale and create impact.”
Martijn van Gruijthuijsen, Deputy for Economy, Knowledge and Talent Development of the Province of North Brabant, highlighted the importance of startups:
“Startups can deliver solutions that other companies cannot. In Brabant, this is reflected not only in a strong maker culture, but also in a spirit of collaboration. As a government, we want to support both.”
Brigit van Dijk – van de Reijt, CEO of BOM, added:
“In essence, we roll out the red carpet for startups, offering what they truly need: knowledge, network and capital.”
Startups can deliver solutions that other companies cannot
Martijn van Gruijthuijsen, Deputy for Economy, Knowledge and Talent Development, Province of North Brabant
A stage for ambitious startups
Knowledge, network and capital were exactly what LEVEL UP delivered. Alongside this, the event provided a stage for dozens of ambitious startups.
Hans de Neve, CEO of Carbyon, shared insights on alternative business models for climate action during one of the 16 workshops. An investor café gave startups such as Autoscriber and Morphotonics the opportunity to pitch in front of a panel of investors.
The day concluded with the Brabant40 awards, highlighting the 40 most promising startups in the region.
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Inspiring keynotes
The keynote sessions brought together experienced founders and industry leaders. Speakers such as Kees Aarts (CEO of Protix), Camilla van den Boom (Founder of sturrm.) and Maxim Oei (CTO of Picnic Technologies) shared their insights with a highly engaged audience, leading to strong interaction and meaningful discussions.
Relement wins Brabant40
The event closed with the Brabant40 award ceremony, where Relement was named the winner by the jury, including Ellen de Brabander and Janneke Niessen.
Minister Micky Adriaansens (Economic Affairs and Climate Policy) presented the award to CEO Roger Blokland. Runners-up included AgroExact and VivArt-X, while Scy Dye received the audience award based on nearly 3,000 public votes.
The Brabant40 award was introduced to highlight the entrepreneurial and innovative spirit within the Brabant region and is organised by BOM, Braventure, AgriFood Capital, Brainport Development, Midpoint Brabant, REWIN, BIM and The Gate.
Startups as the engine of a strong economy
In closing, Minister Adriaansens emphasised the importance of startups for a modern economy:
“Our policy is based on four pillars: innovation, sustainability, strengthening the Netherlands within a resilient Europe and ensuring inclusive growth. Startups play a key role in all of these. In Brabant, this is especially visible in the deep tech sector.”
She added that events like LEVEL UP and initiatives such as the Brabant40 awards are essential for strengthening the startup ecosystem and showcasing the progress being made.
This article is inspired by content from Innovation Origins, media partner of LEVEL UP.