BeStart alumni
The following climate tech start-ups have taken part in the BeStart accelerator programme in previous years. Take a look at the start-ups of this year’s programme.
Startups 2022
Nature’s Principles
Founders: Jan Pieter van Tilburg and Jules Rombouts
Product: Nature’s Principles will provide lactic acid produced from a novel process based on mixed culture fermentation. By using sugar beet as the main feedstock, the process will upgrade the Life Cycle Analysis of this biochemical by decreasing up to 4 times the CO2 footprint and 20 times the water footprint, while being more available as it will be produced in Europe.
BeStart goal: Expand network in the North of the Netherlands and explore business possibilities.
Contact:
jpvantilburg@naturesprinciples.eu
06 26479080
www.naturesprinciples.eu
Happy Cups
Founder: Lenze Leunge
Product: Happy Cups are 100% fossil free cups, produced in the North of the Netherlands. These cups are reusable, biodegradable and recyclable. The cups are made from PHA, a bioplastic made from organic material. As a result, the cups are natural products and are completely biodegradable in the soil and soluble in the sea. In addition to the biological qualities of the Happy Cups, the cups function just like traditional plastic, can be simply washed and last extremely long.
BeStart goal: To accelerate the greening and sustainability of catering regarding the use of cups at festivals and events, both nationally and within Europe. In order to realize this we need to scale up in product range and available volumes of our Happy Cups products.
Contact
info@happycups.nl
0516 851 160
www.happycups.nl
Hexem
Founders: Michael Siegert and Miroslava Varnicic
Product: Hexem’s technology extracts biogas from industrial wastewater in order to incentivize treatment. Our reactor systems work best with very high strength wastewater from the food and beverage industry, such as dairies, breweries and wineries. Compared with existing technology, we reach previously inaccessible markets at a much lower aerial footprint combined with increased flexibility and mobility.
BeStart goals:
Learn how to:
- incorporate & run an equity funded company in NL (strategy & legal);
- taxes, hiring, payroll and social insurances in NL;
- possible government subsidies for incorporation, pilots, hiring etc.
Contact
michael.siegert@hexem.ch
+41 792894356
https://hexem.ch/
HULO
Founders: Robbert Lodewijks and Frank van der Hulst
Product: HULO’s algorithms provide water utilities with know-how about their water network. Together, we detect, localize and quantify leaks in the very early stages. By tailored solutions the knowledge stays at the client’s side.
BeStart goals: We would like to get in touch with companies that are in the same stages so that we can learn with each other from the coaches of BeStart. In addition, we would like to use one of the BeStart pilots to further develop our product. But, most importantly, we want to use the positive energy from BeStart to achieve HULO’s goal of 10 quadrillion gallons of water savings.
Contact
https://hulo.ai/
Robbert Lodewijks
robbert@hulo.ai
06 11500396
FieldFactors
Founders: Wilrik Kok & Karina Peña
Product: Our solution Bluebloqs is an integrated nature-based circular water system for urban areas. It not only prevents urban flooding, but also guarantees freshwater availability. While BlueBloqs ensures that water becomes a fundamental element for climate resilience cities, at the same time it enhances the spatial quality of our living environment by being a green & beautiful system. The natural treatment ensures water of high quality, safe for reuse. BlueBloqs can be implemented at every street, square, or park.
BeStart goals: FieldFactors is transitioning from being a startup to becoming a scale-up. With the BeStart program, we hope to receive some help with the structuring of our organisation. For example, one of the goals is to have a solid sales and marketing plan, and we would like to work together with the Water Campus on water quality standards for rainwater reuse.
Contact
UVOX
Founder: Barbara Berson
Product: UVOX Redox® – sustainable water purification without any chemical additives. UVOX Redox® technology combines the oxidizing effect of ozone with the disinfecting effect of ultraviolet light and initiates meanwhile a highly effective advanced oxidation process (AOP) in one single system with a special UVOX-Lamp.
BeStart goal: Wapure International GmbH has performed R&D to prove the efficiency of the UVOX Redox technology. We have been focussing (too much) on the technique, which is rather difficult to explain to a end customer. In order to launch the UVOX Redox technology successfully in the target market(s) we should focus on the buyers additional value added.
Contact
www.uvox.com
b.berson@uvox.com
+49 (0)151 17217993
IMPACD Boats
Founders: Jorgen de Jong and Marieke de Boer
Product: IMPACD Boats makes sustainable 3D printed boats from recycled materials. The boats are finished in a sustainable way, for example with a spray hood of PET bottles, a floor of flexiteek and electrically powered with in- and outboard engines from Propel. The models are designed by Martin Bekebrede. The sustainability of the boats has been scientifically underpinned in cooperation with TU Delft. Winner Start Up of the Year 2021 in the election Boat of the Year at the Hiswa te Water.
BeStart goals:
- From start-up to scale up
- Developing the brand identity
- Research & Network circularity
Contact
info@impacdboats.com
https://impacdboats.com/
06 23539806
Neutral
Founders: Jeroen Dijkstra, Nejat Osman, Jesse Dolstra and Hendrik van Houten
Product: Neutral makes the sale and trade of CO2 credits transparent and comprehensible by means of blockchain technology so that companies and individuals can offset their CO2 emissions in a reliable manner.
BeStart goals: Validating our proposition, finding launching customers and investors, connecting with other parties with similar principles and sustainable goals.
Contact
info@neutral.eco
www.neutral.eco (coming soon)
06 14495664
Aerocount
Founders: Beate Stevens
Product: AeroCount is a spin-off of the Radboud University with the mission to create healthy air for everyone. Our first step is to provide insight into the air quality, by measuring indoor and outdoor particulate matter with our detector, so that unhealthy exposure can be prevented.
BeStart goals: Becoming more connected to the North-Netherlands ecosystem, by expanding partners, network and (potential) customers. Expanding the current system in order to increase the offer and be more attractive.
Contact
info@aerocount.nl
https://aerocount.nl
06 25520457
OurKilO
Founders: Rodolfo Groenewoud van Vliet, Bastiaan de Nennie and Lija Groenewoud van Vliet
Product: OurkilO creates local micro-factories, where used plastic streams are captured, recycled and produced into new design products. In this way we contribute to a more sustainable Netherlands and Europe and we are part of a new wave of industrial innovation. We minimize transport and CO2 emissions, preserve materials and bring back traditional production. OurkilO does this by closing local, plastic mono-current loops for business customers who have the ambition to become circular. In doing so, we offer companies the opportunity to realize their sustainable innovation ambitions.
BeStart goal: Our vision is to be able to open micro-factories in regions and cities where we are close to the material loops we work with. In the BeStart program we want to work on preparing, developing specific business propositions and finding partners/potential customers in the Northern Netherlands with the ultimate goal of being able to realize the second micro-factory and first regional factory in the Northern Netherlands.
Contact
info@ourkilo.eu
06 83981339
www.ourkilo.eu
Startups 2021 – 2022
CIRC
Founders: André van Leeuwen, René Schers and Spencer Schols (left to right)
Product: CIRC has developed an innovative anaerobic biodigester to convert biomass (green waste) as a residual product from households and (large) kitchens locally into new green gas that can be exploited locally. This local, affordable and scalable power plant replaces full natural gas with a sustainable alternative and closes the biomass cycle.
BeStart goals:
- Accelerate CIRC’s circular ambitions
- Support with our introduction to the market (investors, clients, development, et cetera)
- Expanding our network to be able to scale up
- Support in business development
Contact:
r.schers@circ.energy
06 17172152
www.circ.energy
FlexMeasures
Cofounders: Nicolas Höning en Felix Claessen
Product: In a world with renewable energy, flexibility is crucial and valuable. For example, being able to shift demand to a later time. Our FlexMeasures platform can optimise this with forecasting and scheduling. We create transparent win-win relationships through an open source approach.
BeStart goal: We work with a few interesting pilot customers, and through BeStart we hope to find some more. Also, it is time to increase focus on the product (find the best feature set from the pilots and learn how to communicate them) and our strategy (SaaS pricing, vision for the next 5 years).
Contact
nicolas@seita.nl
www.seita.nl
Mobiele Stroom
Founder: Leen Schipper
Product: Mobile energy units using bio gas as fuel and turbines to vert fuel into energy. The used gasses can be of a great variety in quality without causing troubles to the turbines. We can use digester gas but also pure methane.
BeStart goal: Expanding of the possibilities and products by gaining investors.
Contact
info@mobielestroombv.eu
06-42741721
www.mobielestroombv.eu
Paques Biomaterials
Managing directors: René Rozendal en Joost Paques
Product: Paques Biomaterials produces biodegradable plastic from organic waste streams (such as wastewater) using naturally occurring microorganisms. This solves multipe problems (challenges):
1. The treatment of organic waste and industrial wastewater is still a cost centre. Our technology also treats the waste, but at the same time produces a valuable polymer which can be sold.
2. Reduction of CO2 emissions both during production and when used (mitigate climate change).
3. Reduction of the world plastic problem! PHA is a biodegradable plastic that will be “eaten” by bacteria if spilled in nature.
BeStart goals: We aim at keeping focus while speeding up the market introduction of our technology.
Contact
info@paquesbiomaterials.nl
Pottle
Founders: Jeroen Dijkstra, Robin Alkema and Remco Krol
Product: Pottle is an innovative start-up from Friesland with a well-known mission: “to improve the world”. How? By creating value from waste. Pottle will upcycle empty wine bottles into an alternative to disposable plastic containers in the form of a jar. Pottle has plenty of ideas, but in the start-up phase, the focus is on the Pottle Jar: the first circular pot in the Netherlands.
BeStart goal: We want to bring our prototype to the market, reach customers and scale so that we can achieve more sustainable and social impact.
Contact
info@pottle.nl
06-14495664 (Jeroen Dijkstra)
www.pottle.nl
ReefSystems
Founders: Max Dijkstra and Jesse de Bont
Product: ReefSystems provides innovative solutions to stimulate biodiversity. The Modular Sealife System or MOSES is a modular building system to create functional maritime objects such as scour protection, submerged breakwaters and anchoring for aquaculture. All of the objects will function as an artificial reef that stimulates local biodiversity.
BeStart goals: We’re looking to expand our network and collaboration partners in the ecosystem in the Northern part of the Netherlands. We want to refine our business model and reduce our carbon footprint by experimenting with bio-based alternative materials for the production of our products. Furthermore we want to validate the strength of our maritime constructions for the application of MOSES in different areas.
Contact
Max Dijkstra
06-38312765
Jesse de Bont
06-17270293
info@reefsystems.org
www.reefsystems.org
Tapp.online
Founders: Niels Postma en Fabian Hijlkema
Product: Increasing digitization has a downside: e-waste. Electronic waste is one of the biggest challenges of the coming decades. What if we can add intelligence to sustainable materials? That is what we do. We make smart paper from agricultural waste by adding chips, sensors and printed circuits. In our cloud software platform Cnnct.cloud, we analyze and present the data in customizable dashboards.
BeStart goal: We are currently validating our products in the market. But data only becomes relevant when it is available to a significant extent! So, we are looking for organizations that want to scale up with us. And we love to work with real challenges. What would be a better starting point than this accelerator?
Contact
085 06 005 60
np@tapp.online
http://tapp.online
Volta Energy
Founder: Roel Bleumer
Product: Volta Energy wants to enable reliable and clean energy in mobile locations. We believe that clean energy can become the heart of energy demand in locations with a power need. We do this by combining existing techniques in a smart way with optimization software and IoT modules (Internet of things). By combining energy generation from solarpower with energy storage in batteries, we create a sustainable and clean self-sufficient system that recharges itself.
BeStart goal: Getting more connected in the Northern ecosystem. Supplier, partnerships and potential buyers. In addition, we hope to learn a lot from the fellow participants, in knowledge and experience.
Contact
info@volta-energy.com
026-7853439
volta-energy.com
Startups 2020 – 2021
Dungse
Founders: Itika Gupta en Lindey Cafsia
Product: Dungse is a material design and innovation company that works with cow dung as its base raw material. The composites are not very different from their counterparts like concrete, wood and ceramics, but much lighter. They can be used for isolation, acoustics and hydrofobic applications.
BeStart goals: We’re looking at expanding our research and testing of the material, building a network of business that are eager to become more sustainable and refine our business model to help mainstream Dungse as a popular and sustainable building material.
Contact
lindeycafsia@gmail.com
06-15829833
itika@studiocarbon.in
+91 98860 41313
Vlog: Meet the Dungse team
Pitch DemoDay November 16th 2020
Pitch DemoDay November 16th 2020
Eatcup
Founder: Jelte Steur
Product: Eatcup is a solution to enjoy your own spoonable food, on the go. E.g. enjoying your own muesli while driving. With Eatcup, taking a bite is as easy as taking a sip of coffee.
Eatcup is easy to clean in the dishwasher and therefore fully reusable. This prevents the use of single use packaging of granola bars and drink yoghurts.
BeStart goals: From working prototype to a first launch in the market. With the knowledge and network of Bestart the speed as well as the chances of a successful launch will increase.
Contact
jelte@myeatcup.com
06-19324020
myeatcup.com
Artikel: Eatcup klaar voor marktvalidatie
Fertipaq
Operational manager: Elise van der Linde
Product: Biological sustainable sulfur solution as a fertilizer that helps farmers with obtaining a greater yield and a resilient and better tasting crop.
BeStart goal: Within a year my goal is to have two flourishing social media accounts to reach my target groups consisting of farmers and distributors.
Contact
e.vanderlinde@fertipaq.com
06-13262669
fertipaq.com
Pitch DemoDay November 16th 2020
Popken Mechatronica
Founder: Mathijs Popken
Product: Sensortechnology for horticulture and agriculture.
Website: popkenmechatronica.nl
Powerchainger
Founders: Yang Soo Kloosterhof and Allart Veentjer
Product: Tokenized platform for sharing local generated energy. We believe that this platform can change the energy transition in a way that more people can participate.
Contact
yangsoo@powerchainger.nl
06-18685957
amir@powerchainger.nl
06-45981365
Pitch DemoDay November 16th 2020
Pitch DemoDay November 16th 2020
Pyrolyze
Founders: Peter Klaren and Raymundo Hooten
Product: Mobile pyrolysis installation to extract low sulfur diesel, nafta and gas from waste plastics.
BeStart goal: The coming year we want to execute a number of demonstration projects and sell several pyrolysis plants.
Contact
peter.klaren@pyrolyze.com
085-3033505
pyrolyze.nl
Sensoty
Founders: Ruben Deddens, Erik Schoenmaker and Tom Pals
Product: Provides insight into the influence of the climate and the surroundings on the quality of the green open space to let it recover efficiently after public events.
Contact
erik@secinnovate.nl
06-14032246
ruben@secgroep.nl
06-29567825
sensoty.nl
Pitch DemoDay November 16th 2020
Pitch DemoDay November 16th 2020
Wasted
Cofounder: Elisha Weeber
Product: The WASTED app helps users who want to fight plastic pollution by rewarding plastic free actions with discounts on sustainable brands.
BeStart goals: our goal is to launch the WASTED app succesfully in the next year an to reach 10,000 users. Within 5 years we want to grow to a at least 810,000 users.
Contact
elisha@wastedlab.nl
06-15499815
wastedlab.nl
Startups 2019 – 2020
CE-Line
Founder: Wilco Dijkstra
CE-Line automates water- and nutrient management in the greenhouse and vertical farming sector.
Goals for the BeStart programme: I hope to get help with the question: How do I set up a start-up properly and thoroughly? What do I focus on, when? Where do I find the right investors and make the right deals/sales?
Website: www.celine.frl
BeStart vlog (dutch): Think werksessie 1
EV Biotech
Founder: Linda Dijkshoorn
EV Biotech creates bacteria which can produce high-quality fabrics on a large scale.
Goal during the BeStart programme: in the coming year we wish to make our first sale and create great flow within the company.
Website: www.evbio.tech
BeStart vlog: Think werksessie 4
Fryslân Fungies
Founders: Michiel de Groot en Wander Oele
Fryslân Fungies produces a mobile fungi farm which converts coffee grounds on site into oyster mushrooms.
Goal during the BeStart programme: To develop and scale up the Fungi farm.
Websites:
www.facebook.com/fryslanfungies
www.instagram.com/fryslan_fungies
BeStart vlog (dutch): Think bootcamp
Greatwaves
Founder: Wouter Zijlstra
Greatwaves makes WiFi transmitters with integrated sensors to make business premises safer, healthier and more sustainable.
Goal during the BeStart programme: I would like to find a launching customer to further develop the product together. We measure everything to do with indoor air quality, light quality, occupancy and comfort, but which information solves the biggest problem?
Website: www.greatwaves.nl
BeStart vlog (dutch): Think werksessie 2
Greencovery
Founder: Carlos Cabrera
Greencovery converts waste flows into sustainable products.
Goal during the BeStart programme: With the help of the BeStart programme, we hope to gain access to new customers and applications for our technology. In a year we want to start with pilots for one or two of our products.
More info:
Vlog: Think werksessie 3
SG Papertronics
Founder: Maciej Grajewski
SG Papertronics develops on-site tools for chemical analysis, thus it brings the lab to you.
Goal during the BeStart programme: enlarge my network and build worthwhile relationships with potential cooperation partners and clients. Further, I think that BeStart is the right address to learn from experienced people about how to start a business.
Website: sgpapertronics.com
Vlog: BeStart Check worksession 18 november 2019: Agile, scrum and loads of passion
ViviMag
Founder: Wokke Wijdeveld
ViviMag extracts phosphates and iron from sewage sludge whereby paramagnetic vivianite (iron phosphate) is extracted.
Goal during the BeStart programme: in the coming year we want to prove the feasibility of our technology and to find a launching customer. We also hope that BeStart can help us with our business development and we would like to make use of the BeStart network..
Website: www.vivimag.nl
Water knight
Founder: Rahul Dahule
Water knight supplies an advanced oxidation reactor which uses the power of the vortex and controlled cavitation.
Goal during the BeStart programme: to have quick access to the BeStart network to generate extra momentum for our company and to find funding opportunities. Also, I hope to make use of the (international) experience of the coaches and to enter new markets, both here and abroad.
Website: www.waterknight.com
Start-ups 2018 – 2019
Acquaint BV
Founder: Rudy Dijkstra
A smart monitoring system for sewer and water pipes to make maintenance easier.
Thanks to BeStart I went back to basics, got focused and then accelerated!
Website: www.acquaint.eu
Ecofalt
Founder: Charlotte Slotman
The sustainable alternative on asphalt.
BeStart gets me to look at Ecofalt from a different perspective. It forces you to think and helps you make good decisions and expand the network with interesting companies.
Website: www.ecofalt.nl
Interview (dutch): Less use of gas consumption and CO2 emissions due to the construction of Ecofalt in Groningen
Sustainable Eyes
Founder: Reuben Moore
Makes sustainable drinking water from the air.
Website: www.sustainable-eyes.com
EcoZuil
Founder:Hylke van de Kamp
A 3D-printing column that creates awareness about the plastic waste problem.
SusPhos
Founder: Marissa de Boer
Recovering phosphate from phosphate-rich waste streams.
Website: www.susphos.com
LocalWise
Founder: Fedde Jorritsma
A circular and stylish alternative to the Dixie toilets at festivals.
Website: www.localwise.nl
Loofy’s
Founder: Dorien Beijk
Supplies beauty products with a clear contribution to improving society and the environment.
Website: www.loofys.nl
Feedtuber
Living Foods
Founder: Timo ter Voort
Large-scale and functional valorisation of fish residual flows to valuable applications.
Website: www.livingfoods.nl
Startups 2017 – 2018
Hydrowashr
Founder: Jan Melein
Smart integration of hand washing and drying. The Hydrowashr uses no soap, no towels and uses only 10 ml of water for each handwash.
We found our business model through BeStart. Critical, a lot of focus, that was our question.
Website: www.hydrowashr.com
Waterfair
Founder: Dennis van der Herberg
WaterFair has more than 15 years of experience in wastewater and air purification techniques. We look for the most efficient way to treat water and air. The WF2 system is not only economically attractive but also good for the environment.
Website: www.waterfair.nl
KNN Cellulose
Founder: Erik Pijlman
Cellulose is an essential raw material in the circular economy. KNN Cellulose unlocks the potential.
“Helping young entrepreneurs develop faster. With a very wide network, especially in the north.”
Website: www.knncellulose.nl
Foamplant
Founder: Martin Tietema
Foamplant develops and produces biodegradable foam with technical functionality. Thanks to our own production technology and patented foam materials, we supply sustainable alternatives to the furniture, construction and clothing industries. In addition, our foam offers unique solutions in the horticultural industry thanks to its biodegradable properties.
BeStart provides focus and strategy. Essential ingredients for every starting and advanced entrepreneur. Thanks to the BeStart course, Foamplant has been able to work at and shape the development from tech start-up to fully-fledged production company. Recommended.
Website: www.foamplant.nl
Interview (dutch): Foamplant gets investment of 2 million Euros
EColoRO BV
Founder: Eric van Sonsbeek
EColoRO Watertreatment Solutions initiates innovative (waste) water purification solution. The main focus is to reuse the waste water stream to decrease the operational costs and decrease the environmental pollution.
BeStart is a very useful tool to share experiences with other start-ups from the region, but you can also make use of the relationships and the networks of large companies. Finally, the course forces you to think about and evaluate your own business. All in all, a very positive experience that can take every starter a step further in the development of his company.
Website: www.ecoloro.nl
Friesland boeit
Founder: Jeffrey Meijer
Friesland Boeit is an expert in achieving operating results through an escape room. With one mobile escape room, one fixed location and many educational escape rooms developed for interesting clients, it is the founder of the escape room as a training tool.
Website: www.frieslandboeit.nl
Afmitech
Specialist in decentral wastewater treatment.
Website: www.afmitech.nl
Newana
Energy in water.
Website: www.energyinwater.eu/newana-bv/
Metal Membranes
Metalmembranes has developed a revolutionary way of making membranes electrochemically from metal.
Website: www.metalmembranes.com
Startups 2016 – 2017
Tecned
Founder: Hans Buitenhuis
Technology (for) Energy Conversion The Netherlands or TECNED is a technology company specialized in energy conversion.
We facilitate a circle in innovation – the quickest link between lab and market. BeStart is an important step between knowledge and the cash register.
Website: www.tecned.com
Newmarble
Founder: Daan Levy
The BeStart programme has taught us that we have become a real team in the past year. And that we have really learned to focus.
Website: www.newmarble.nl
Sensileau Sensor Platform
Founder: Corina Carpentier
With the Sensileau Sensor Platform we offer a kind of comparison platform, but in the field of sensor products. On the website you can download important knowledge about water quality monitoring and sensors, and share it and compare many different complex products.
From knowledge to business models, that is actually the basis, and the starter can easily join.
Website: www.sensileau.app
Interview (dutch): Without BeStart I would have stayed a traditional consultant
Uniek netwerk in de circulaire economie
Binnen BeStart zijn de krachten gebundeld van vier belangrijke aanjagers van innovatie, startups en business development in de circulaire sector van Noord-Nederland. Verder worden we door een aantal partijen in de publieke en private sector gefinancierd.
