The nominated companies for the Drenthe Startup 2018 are known. During the finals on Thursday, June 7, 2018, at the Atlas Theater in Emmen, Cleverdesk, Arvick and Storage Share will compete for the title and the accompanying prize of 2,500 euros.
The nominated companies for the Drenthe Startup 2018 are known. During the finals on Thursday, June 7, 2018, at the Atlas Theater in Emmen, Cleverdesk, Arvick and Storage Share will compete for the title and the accompanying prize of 2,500 euros.
The award is an initiative of the Young Business Award Foundation and is being organized for the second time this year in cooperation with (the 25 under 25 of) Sprout. With the Drenthe Startup, the organizers want to bring more attention and awareness to the entrepreneurial climate in Drenthe and promote entrepreneurship in the province. According to founder and team captain Niels Palmers, this is necessary. 'Drents are often very modest. It is difficult to get them on a stage. Which is unfair, because there are some very successful startups coming out of Drenthe. The three finalists were selected from 39 applications. They are wonderful and high-quality companies with a lot of potential.'
Pitch presentations
The Drenthe Startup is part of the VIP program of the Young Business Award. The nominees get one minute to pitch their business plan to an exclusive business network, after which they are critically assessed by a professional jury for 8 minutes. The company with the most growth potential wins the title.
Cleverdesk, from Assen
Cleverdesk is a smart online platform for companies working with people and equipment. The company focuses mainly on customers in the oil and gas or energy market who need a lot of time to prepare, monitor and handle their projects. Personnel and assets are scheduled across projects. The maintenance and certification module ensures safe work with excellent equipment. Employees can view and track materials and documents while working via smartphone or tablet. And book hours directly on projects.
Arvick, from Hoogeveen
Arvick specializes in high-precision securing of critical connections in offshore wind turbines, among other things. The company emerged from Xenergy, a services company focused primarily on the conventional energy sector. 'We have developed existing techniques into a new method with which we can not only tighten bolts and nuts, but also measure very precisely how much force is in the bolts. This allows you to work very accurately, even in difficult locations such as offshore wind turbines,' said founder Henk van den Berg. Meanwhile, the company is looking with interest at the installation of new high-voltage power lines as a possible new growth market. Arvick was founded in 2015, is making a profit and has managed to secure a place in the national MBK innovation top 100.
Storage Share, from Hoogeveen (and Amsterdam)
Storage Share started out as an Airbnb for storage space, a platform where initially mostly individuals could rent out their garage, storage room and attic to other individuals for storage. But commercial real estate rentals took off to such an extent that Storage Share now focuses primarily on renting out vacant office buildings. Storage Share has been around for a year and a half, rents throughout the Netherlands and is turning serious sales. Storage Share co-founder Julian Doorten is eager to grow even further. 'The Drenthe Startup is good for our brand awareness. Of course we hope that more real estate parties with vacant offices will register with us. Whether we win is up to the jury. We tell what we have built up in a year and a half, and that is what we are working on 24 hours a day.'
Program
Arjen Banach presents the program and delegate Henk Brink announces the winner at 19:00. This company will win the prize pool of 2,500 euros and the title: 'Drenthe Startup of the Year 2018'.
Jury
The jury for this year's Drenthe Startup consists of:
Ronald Klarus, jury chairman (Yspeert Lawyers)
Roland Welles, Rabobank Emmen-Coevorden
Alice Hummel, EY
Arjen Koops, Watter
NOM and Flinc are partners of the Drenthe Startup.