Image credits: TNW
The eagerly awaited The Next Web (TNW) event is back in Amsterdam, and the excitement is building among tech enthusiasts, entrepreneurs, and innovators globally.
Known for its innovative tech content and vibrant networking opportunities, TNW has become one of the most prominent tech conferences globally, and its return to the Dutch capital promises to be nothing short of extraordinary.
![](https://siliconcanals.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/TNW-Function-1-1024x536.jpg)
TNW Conference serves as a hub for knowledge sharing, collaboration, and inspiration, providing a platform for participants to explore emerging technologies, discuss trends, and exchange ideas.
Additionally, TNW offers an opportunity for attendees to gain insights from visionary speakers, participate in interactive workshops, and engage in thought-provoking panel discussions.
Amsterdam, with its vibrant tech scene and entrepreneurial spirit, serves as the perfect backdrop for TNW.
With a lineup of renowned speakers and experts, attendees can expect to gain valuable insights into the latest trends shaping the tech landscape. They can also uncover the secrets to success in an ever-evolving digital world.
As TNW’s return draws near, anticipation is mounting, and ticket sales are soaring.
Here are 12 Amsterdam startups that will represent the City of Amsterdam at TNW Amsterdam on June 15 and 16.
Pal
Founder/s: Nara Moripen & Azi Doost
Based out of Amsterdam, Pal is a digital care solution that enables timely and affordable at-home palliative care for anyone with a life-limiting illness and complex care needs.
The startup is currently in open testing with family caregivers and care providers, ahead of its public launch later this year.
What it seeks
Motivation behind participating in this event, according to the startup
“Firstly, we are proud to be the first and only digital palliative care company, born out of the great startup ecosystem right here in Amsterdam. What makes Pal truly unique is our use of technology to provide better at-home palliative care for anyone. By leveraging digital tools, we can offer personalised, compassionate care to patients facing serious illnesses.”
“We believe that everyone deserves comfort and dignity at the end of their lives, and we are committed to making that a reality. We have been named the best pitch at several events, and we are eager to bring our unique perspective to the 2023 edition of TNW.”
Syntho
Founders: Marijn Vonk and Simon Brouwer
Syntho has developed advanced synthetic data software that enables organisations to speed up innovation and comply with data privacy principles and regulations.
The Amsterdam-based company’s software enables large and mid-sized companies, startups, scale-ups, and public entities to optimise their use of data in a fully GDPR-compliant manner.
Motivation behind participating in this event, according to the startup
“Syntho is an innovative startup that leverages generative AI techniques for good, specifically to solve data privacy challenges. Relevance: The TNW event is likely to discuss topics like generative AI (chat GPT), and Syntho’s focus on synthetic data fits within this theme. By choosing Syntho, the City of Amsterdam demonstrates its relevance in this space and highlights its commitment to promoting ethical and responsible AI.”
“Syntho’s solution has the potential to make a significant impact in the data privacy and security space. The City of Amsterdam can showcase Syntho’s impact and position itself as a city that promotes socially responsible tech solutions. By partnering with Syntho, they can demonstrate their commitment to promoting innovation and technology for the greater good.”
Taaly
Founder/s: Shadi Alhakimi
Taaly is a 1-on-1 training platform that connects new Dutch learners with Dutch native speakers.
The learner can practise the Dutch language using video chat with a native speaker to eventually be able to communicate with everyone and find their place in society.
What it seeks
Motivation behind participating in this event, according to the startup
“I am myself a displaced migrant. I was born and raised in Sanaa, Yemen’s capital city. I completed my studies in computer science and accounting and was honoured to receive the national innovation prize for inventing a self-learning algorithm that searches video files.”
“To earn money, my company began providing computer security services, and it eventually grew to employ nine people. Unfortunately, the war in 2014 disrupted everything when it invaded my office. It is devastating to learn from the United Nations that the war in Yemen has claimed the lives of at least 377,000 people.”
“During the conflict, I managed to escape to Saudi Arabia by crossing the desert. Finally, in 2015, I was able to reach the Netherlands. After obtaining my residence permit, I decided to start a new business with a partner.
“Together, we set up Elanza, an internet platform that healthcare institutions can use to manage temporary recruitment. However, the enormous frustration caused by language difficulties, coupled with late-night working days and unprocessed emotions on the run, eventually led to a personal situation that pushed me to leave Elanza.
“Today, looking back, I realise that language is everything. To that end, I learned Dutch, completed a master’s degree at the University of Amsterdam, and developed my language app idea for Taaly. I find Dutch efficient, and their language is concise, but it takes effort to learn.”
“Since its launch in October, several dozen students have already signed up for Taaly’s first Android version. Shortly afterwards, the app was one of the nominees for an award from the refugee student organisation UAF, and the winner of the social startup award Ignite 2022.”
“What I hope to achieve in TNW is to rebuild part of my professional network that I lost when I left Yemen as a war refugee. Therefore, every event helps, and every support matters.”
Cardiomo
Founder/s: Ksenia Belkina and Roman Belkin
Cardiomo is an AI-based solution for cardiac patient monitoring. This wearable device and analytical system remotely monitors patient vitals using biosensors and AI to detect cardiac events with 99.63 per cent accuracy.
The miniature wearable patch records ECG, respiration, Skin Temperature, and Body Movement. The mobile app registers vitals, and the data is then analysed by an AI engine in a HIPAA-compliant cloud to detect CVD symptoms.
Motivation behind participating in this event, according to the startup
“I’m an entrepreneur with a passion for digital health startups, scale-ups, innovation, technology, and sustainable results. I came up with the idea of Cardiomo from personal experience and started the company out of the need to help people with cardiovascular risks around the world.”
“Our goal is to improve the health and well-being of millions of people through launching into the market our innovation. Participating and showcasing at TNW2023 is a great opportunity for our company to gain market insights. It will enable us to network with potential partners and investors, other businesses, access government resources, and increase brand visibility.
uPledge
Co-founder/CEO: Andrew Chong
uPledge simplifies impact investing for non-investors through Gamification and Artificial Intelligence.
Recent milestone achieved
The company is raising €1.7M in a seed round after raising €370K last year. The platform is in beta with users supporting 6 startups across Europe and Asia.
The startup has also been cleared to receive its first AFM regulatory licence in June.
Motivation behind participating in this event, according to the startup
“Private equity has always had low penetration (less than 5%) for the non-elite, the non-professionals, and the financially illiterate. We’ve seen the power of retail markets in public equity markets (ie. Game Stop) to revive entire economies and industries. uPledge aims to drive a generational movement to bring investment inclusion and empowerment for impact.”
“Since our incorporation, we’ve launched MVPs in 3 regions, obtained pre-seed investment and grants, won numerous awards and were featured in international news outlets like Business Insider and DNAsia. At TNW, we will announce our upcoming LIVE launch and regulatory licence!!”
Treety
Co-founder/CEO: Hatim Baheranwala
Treety is an impact measurement platform for impact-focused funders and founders.
The company’s software tool, impact expertise, and supporting data sets, combine to offer impact measurement, tracking, and communication, with an ability to visualise impact goals as per any impact metric that is needed.
What it seeks:
Motivation behind participating in this event, according to the startup
“We believe impact reporting should be as ubiquitous for businesses, as financial reporting is currently. By presenting our work at TNW, we’re hoping to showcase the depth of the Impact startup ecosystem in Amsterdam. We also hope to contribute to building a world where business success is measured in terms of positive social & environmental impact – and not just financial performance.”
Renoon
Founder/s: Gabriele Trapani, Iris Skrami, Nicolò Tresoldi, and Piero Puttini
Renoon is a SaaS company that empowers companies to measure and communicate their environmental and social sustainability impact to the final consumer in an objective and quantifiable way that avoids greenwashing, and is compliant with the new legislative requirements from the EU and member states.
The startup enables brands to take charge of their sustainability journey with a dashboard that centralises and processes data points through a pre-built framework and a trained ML algorithm.
These are constantly updated in light of changing requirements and pressures from consumers and governments due to future regulations from the EU, UK, and New York.
Motivation behind participating in this event, according to the startup
“TNW Amsterdam is THE place to be. As an impact startup that is providing an answer to new regulatory demands on digital product passports and anti-greenwashing, we feel this is a unique avenue to connect with governments, clients, and investors at the same time.”
Work X
Founder/CEO: Rik Rapmund
Work X is building the Internet of Jobs; a decentralised job economy without commercial fees. Currently, the company is running a closed Beta test and is now open to registration.
Motivation behind participating in this event, according to the startup
“Work X should be selected as we’re solving an issue both employers as well as employees benefit from. We are the founders of the Internet of Jobs (that’s who we are), matching verified talent to employers (that’s the audience we serve) without charging commercial fees (that’s how we are going to help them).”
“GIG platforms charge commissions up to 30% for tasks like billing & payroll – raising hiring costs. Work X is a zero-marginal cost platform – helping you hire talent at a lower price while offering higher pay! Next to that, employees can get the skills and work experience they present verified, making their profile more trustworthy for hiring managers.”
Roboat
Founder/s: Ynse Hendrik Deinema, Rens Doornbusch, Jonathan Klein Schiphorst, Joshua Jordan
Roboat is a research project and collaboration between the Amsterdam Institute for Advanced Metropolitan Solutions (AMS Institute) and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
It allows for creating dynamic infrastructures (floating bridges and stages), transportation of goods and people, and environmental sensing on Amsterdam’s canals.
Roboat units are autonomous, electric, and modular boats that can alleviate pressure from Amsterdam’s inner city in numerous ways.
Recent milestone achieved
In December 2022, Roboat, Holland Shipyards Group, and Sequana Développement won the national call for autonomous passenger boat projects initiated by the French inland waterway authority, Voies Navigables de France.
Roboat, in partnership with Holland Shipyards Group, will build an autonomous electric, 3D-printed ferry with a dimension of 9 by 3.90m, making it a largest printed autonomous ferry ever.
The ferry will sail during the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.
Beyond Amsterdam, the Roboat has the potential to improve infrastructure in other water-based cities.
Motivation behind participating in this event, according to the startup
“We want to show the world how autonomous Roboats are a sustainable answer to transporting people and goods in cities worldwide. Waterways are largely underutilised. At the same time there is a demand for waterborne transportation.”
“Autonomous boats will play a key role in enabling small boats to become economically viable. This will result in a more versatile, more sustainable and overall better transportation system.”
geoFluxus
Co-founder/CEO: Arnout Sabbe
geoFluxus aims to make the Circular Economy actionable.
Based out of Amsterdam, geoFluxus is a B2B SaaS startup that helps companies find the closest, sustainable and cheapest solutions to their waste.
Recent milestone achieved
“geoFluxus has entered a unique public private partnership with the City of Amsterdam and the Port of Amsterdam, allowing every company in the Metropolitan Region of Amsterdam to make use of its platform for free for one year. This boosts the City’s ambitions with regards to the circular economy significantly, while showing the Port of Amsterdam how it can attract all kinds of new companies in the light of which (waste)material streams are important to keep local,” says Arnout Sabbe, Co-founder & CEO, geoFluxus
Motivation behind participating in this event, according to the startup
“Thanks to a partnership between the City of Amsterdam, Port of Amsterdam and geoFluxus, every company based in the Amsterdam Metropolitan Area can make use of our platform for free for one year. At TNW, we’re excited to showcase how the City, Port and ourselves set up this unique public-private collaboration, to serve as an example for many other urban regions throughout Europe, leveraging waste as a driver for the regional economy while reaching sustainability targets.”
Swell Electric
Founder: Terence Carter
Oostzaan, the Netherlands-based Mego Mobility, a multimodal B2B micro-mobility fleet operator developed Swell Electric, a wireless and contactless charging system for light electric vehicles.
Terence Carter, the founder of Mego Mobility, developed the Swell Electric charging solution during the 2021 Mobility Lab startup programme. This was done in collaboration with electrical engineers at T.U. Delft.
The charging system can charge vehicles wirelessly and contactlessly, up to 10 cm, once the user parks the vehicle above the charger. The company claims the energy requirement is 1 Kilowatt.
Swell Electric solutions can charge light electric vehicles (LEVs) with different power requirements, from cargo bikes to mopeds.
Recent milestone achieved
Together with its sister company Mego Mobility, Swell has received a subsidy from the Municipality of Rotterdam to start a pilot in the city of Rotterdam. The Subsidy is a LabZES (Zero Emission Stadslogistiek) subsidy.
Starting this September, the company’s objective is to open four micro hubs where initially shared mopeds can be rented for last-mile purposes. This can simply be by daily commuters, but Mego focuses mainly on people that need to transport/bring certain items to do their work.
Mego’s zero emission LEVs contribute to Rotterdam’s objectives to lower the local CO2 emissions. Swell’s wireless charger will also result in fewer required displacements to swap the Moped’s batteries and as a result lower the operational costs, claims the company.
“This pilot will be Swell’s first real-world validation pilot! We will start with different mopeds that can be charged wirelessly using our interoperable charger. The pilot will last for one year and our main focus will be on collecting data. We will start relatively compact but are planning to scale over the next year concerning fleet size and number of hubs,” says Terence Carter, Founder of Mego Mobility & Swell Electric.
Tradesnest
Founder/s: Nancy Shenouda, Pierre Ouellette
Amsterdam-based Tradesnest helps companies expand internationally by putting them in contact with the right business partners in their target market.
Through its B2B platform, brands can present their products to retailers and distributors, and make direct sales to expand and increase their sales. This is without a huge investment of time and money.
Recent milestone achieved
Recently, Tradesnest launched its AI/machine learning system to revolutionise the consumer electronics industry. The new system helps consumer electronics brands with innovative products identify a potential partner with a click of a button.
The new system helps consumer electronics brands with innovative products identify a potential partner with a click of a button.
By leveraging extensive data from internal and external sources, Tradesnest’s state-of-the-art technology empowers brands to rapidly scale their international presence without the need for costly agencies to uncover new markets and target partners.
With this new system, brands can identify the most suitable distribution partners in different regions, significantly reducing the time and costs involved in finding the right partner.
Motivation behind participating in this event, according to the startup
“This is an exciting time for Tradesnest. We are thrilled to launch this new system, which will help consumer electronics brands grow their businesses globally faster and more efficiently. Our team has worked tirelessly to develop a product that we believe will change the way brands enter new markets.”
See you at TNW, Booth 44! Catch the Startup Pitch Hour at the Amsterdam Pavilion on both days from 14:00 to 15:00.