We were invited to the launch event of Rotterdam Capital Days. The launching event was filled with investors, startups, and entrepreneurs, all sharing one common goal; demystifying the world of capital! The launching event was kicked off and hosted by moderator Katja Berkhout, director international, Techleap.nl at the de Doelen in Rotterdam.
Our first visit to the event was last year but it was called the Rotterdam Capital Tours instead. Indicating that the event revolved around the participants touring the city on bikes visiting a VC office to another.
This time is different, Alderman Barbara Kathmann, Vice-mayor Economy, Districts and Small Localities, City of Rotterdam opened the Rotterdam Capital Days during the launch event. The purpose of the launch event is to demystify the world of capital. Speakers revealed more on the secrets they encountered and steps they overcame in the growth stages of their company life cycle.
Thw program:
- 15:00 Walk in
- 16:00 Mysterious opening
- 16:10 Opening
By moderator Katja Berkhout, director international, Techleap NL - 16:15 Welcome & Launching Action program for startups & scale-ups
By Barbara Kathmann, Vice-mayor Economy, Districts and Small Localities, City of Rotterdam and Constantijn van Oranje, Special Envoy Techleap.NL (StartupDelta) - 16:30 Unravel the mystery! Part 1 – First growth
With Wesley dos Santos, founder of Diversité Footwear/ iKapitein & investor Annelies van der vorm, social entrepreneur and investor, director Plantwijck B.V.
16:50 UNIIQ – Funding announcement - 16:55 Unravel the mystery! Part 2 – Scaling up
With Peter Paul van Voorst tot Voorst, founder and CEO of Skoon Energy & investor Kees Koolen, Chairman & CEO of Koolen Industries / super B. Former CEO of booking.com
- 17:15 Mysterious intermezzo
With Steve Carlin, illusionist - 17:35 Unravel the mystery! Part 3 – Exit strategy
With entrepreneur Bart Lubbers, co-founder of Fastned and Maurice van Tilburg, CEO Euronext Amsterdam.
Closing words by Dean Bowen, stadsdichter Rotterdam. - 17:55 Round up
- 18:00 Drinks & bites
The event was beautiful and well organized. The hall was beautiful and the food was delicious. We had fun and met interesting people and made connections and had wonderful conversation. We can’t wait for next year.
P.S. Pictures are taken by verkijk and you can see all the pictures here.