Steven Nelemans (Amber, right), prince Constantijn (left) and Hans Meeske at the Hannover Messe
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Prince Constantijn will be our special guest at the opening of Brabant Startup Awards, on 25 September in Tilburg. Besides being a member of the Royal Family, Constantijn is best known as the foreman of StartupDelta, the organisation that wants to promote the Dutch startup climate. In that role, he is the successor of Neelie Kroes. The organisation of the Brabant Startup Awards is in the hands of Innovation Origins (IO) and BOM Brabant Ventures.

Where interesting startups present themselves, you can also find Constantijn, both in the Netherlands and abroad. Especially at major events, such as the CES in Las Vegas, the Hannover Messe (see main photo, together with Hans Meeske of Holland Innovative and Steven Nelemans of Amber) or Next Web, he will be talked about. “For us, it is a very good signal that he will also be present at this event”, says Frans van Beveren on behalf of Innovation Origins.

Woertman Constantijn
Prince Constantijn and Bert-Jan Woertman also previously stood together on a stage: photo Hannover Messe 2017

The presentation of the Brabant Startup Awards is in the hands of Bert-Jan Woertman, commercial director of Brainport Industries Campus. “Because he is also the regular presenter of Innovation Origin’s annual startups-to-watch, with the presentation of the Gerard & Anton Awards, this was a logical choice for us”, says Van Beveren. “Visitors to our previous events know he’s doing a great job. Besides the announcement of the winners, this is an extra reason to visit the event.”

The election of the five winners will take place in two steps: until 14 September, anyone who wishes to do so can nominate candidates. These startups are complemented by the favourites of the most important innovation hubs in the province: the Brabant campuses and the regional development companies. An independent jury of successful start-up entrepreneurs then passes the final judgement. On 25 September, in the Oude Wagenmakerij in the Spoorzone in Tilburg, we hear and see the result, framed in a programme that clarifies why no province in the Netherlands is as innovative and enterprising as Noord-Brabant.

Tickets for the event are – as long as they last – free, but must be ordered in advance. This can be done here. Candidates can be nominated for the awards until Friday 14 September. Please send an e-mail to [email protected]. Next week more about the composition of the jury. More information? Go to Brabantstartupawards.nl.

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