At the starting session of the 2024 LEVEL UP event, today at the Eindhoven Evoluon, Prince Constantijn’s words served as both a reminder and a challenge to startups and entrepreneurs. His key messages: failure is not something to fear but rather a marker of effort and ambition, understand the customer problem deeply, pivot when necessary, and build with resilience. “Success comes to those who persevere, adapt, and remain open to new possibilities, all while contributing to a robust entrepreneurial ecosystem.”
Prince Constantijn van Oranje, special envoy at Techleap and key advocate for the Dutch startup ecosystem, used his LEVEL UP session to share insights on failure, scaling, and the importance of startup validation.
Hardt Hyperloop
“A failure is a hard concept to grasp,” Constantijn said, adding, “If you can’t come up with a failure, then you probably haven’t tried hard enough to build something big.” He clarified that actual failure happens only when one hasn’t ventured into building anything significant. Instead, what people often consider failures are lessons that contribute to eventual success.
One example he cited is Hardt Hyperloop, a company navigating the uncharted territory of building a new mode of transport. Despite needing to secure considerable regulatory and capital support, they have persevered and continue to innovate. “With frugality, humbleness, and smart operating, you can get quite far,” Prince Constantijn explained, emphasizing the value of a strong vision and determination.
When asked about common mistakes startups make, he pointed to the validation phase as a critical area where entrepreneurs often rush. “It’s super relevant to really understand your customer—who they are and what they need—before you start scaling,” he stressed. This is particularly crucial for deep tech and hardware startups, where building advanced technology often precedes identifying the core customer problem.
Prince Constantijn shared a real-life case highlighting the importance of pivoting and customer validation. A company initially focused on creating a computer-brain interface for ALS patients had to pivot when they found a more commercially viable application for the technology in diagnosing hearing problems in children. “It’s very hard if you come from this space wanting to solve a specific problem,” he noted, “and then find that the commercial application might be in a completely different space.”
Is the problem big enough?
Understanding who is willing to pay for the solution is essential for success. “Is the problem big enough?” he asked, underscoring that an entrepreneur’s journey requires constant evaluation of market fit.
Addressing the challenges in scaling startups, Prince Constantijn noted that while some entrepreneurs find starting more difficult, others struggle with focusing on one proposition. “For me, starting is much more difficult than scaling. It’s crucial as an entrepreneur that you know what you’re good at and not good at,” he advised. Building a complementary team and aligning with investors is key, especially to avoid misaligned milestones that could derail a company.
In his capacity at TechLeap, an organization supporting the Dutch tech ecosystem, Prince Constantijn highlighted various programs designed to aid startups at different stages of growth. The “Rise” program, for example, focuses on scaling challenges, offering peer-to-peer learning with experienced entrepreneurs. TechLeap offers a pre-revenue program called “Pole Position” for deep-tech companies to address early-stage obstacles. Additionally, they run the “Academic Startup Competition,” a support program that helps startups in their formative years.
Maximizing event participation
When asked about how startups can make the most out of events like LEVEL UP, Prince Constantijn emphasized preparation and openness. “Know what you come here for,” he advised while also encouraging attendees to embrace serendipity. “Don’t stand around at the coffee table with just the people you know. Reach out to others; there might be a piece of the puzzle you’re missing.”
