Anyone trying to draw the picture of the hundreds of startups in Eindhoven, is confronted with a problem: there is so much movement in this sector, that no one knows exactly how many there are or even where they all are located exactly. Of course, we find them in large concentrations on High Tech Campus Eindhoven, the university campus and in the district Strijp-S, but that picture is far from complete. Even the newly appointed City Startup Officer Victoria Martinez is still surprised on a daily basis by all the new initiatives. There was a reason why Fortune gave Eindhoven a spot in the top 10 of 'Best new global cities for startups’.
Within the region there are several public and private initiatives to boost startups in their growth. This is done in the area of housing, acceleration programs with their networks (for example BrightMove, High Tech XL, StartUp Weekend, Next OEM) and funding programs (BrightMove, BOM Investment Fund).
Where most startups with garage-like conditions are trying to make ends meet, building your startup at the High Tech Campus has its advantages. High TechXL Plaza you can benefit from the experience and expertise of the companies on the campus and just because of the location you get a nice ‘business card’ for visitors and investors. Smart Robotics, an employment agency for robots, is one of them. Founder Heico Sandee is happy with the place on campus. "Ideal. When we moved here, from day one everything was perfectly arranged: things like internet and phones, the use labs and other facilities on the campus."
Sandee praises the campus because of the inspiring surroundings. "We only have to walk outside and everywhere we meet people who work in the same field." Which automatically results in a large network. "Every couple of days I am introduced to someone who is useful for our company. On one of our first days someone came down from Canada, who, like me, was working in robotics. Then the team at High Tech Campus arranges a meeting. That would never have happened if we had not been based here. "
There are about 60 startups on campus. Especially for these companies there is office space in the Beta and Mu buildings. There are startups like Smart Robotics who have hired their own pawn. And then there is a special category of startups: the ones that become a member in the High Tech XL Accelerator program. In a few months time your startup is prepped for investors. Participating in the program is very popular: twice a year ten startups re invited, out of more than 2,000 applying.
Founder Guus Frericks puts a lot of emphasis on the business side of the program. "It’s all about startups in high-tech hardware. For such products, you need a long breath. We therefore not only focus on technology, but also on the business side. There's a need." For example, Frericks helps his teams to practice negotiating with investors. "To explain what your business plan is, what the qualities of your team are about and how you are going to make money." Frericks spends at least five or six sessions to show how “the other side of the table" operates.
Victoria Martinez is the uncrowned queen of the Eindhoven startups. In two years time she built Eindhoven Startups Foundation to a platform of about 500 members. It organizes workshops, and lectures Martinez is an advisor to Neelie Kroes's Startup Delta, and since early 2016 she also is the city’s first official Startup Officer. Last year she organized the first EHV Summit; on October 6, 2016 the second edition will be held.
Another significant startup hub is Founded by All, seated on the fifth floor of the Klokhuis Building at Strijp-S. This collection of 32 startups is all about combining tech and design. There is a strong social aspect within Founded by All: customer orders are mutually shifted among each other and knowledge is fully shared. It could hardly be otherwise in the large open space where the 32 startups have their office.
Just across the raliway tracks is BounceSpace where, again, technology and design are the basis of all activity. The university campus, a few hundred meters further, offers space for startups, usually linked to the scientific activities of the university itself. Spinoffs of research projects or student-teams-gone-business have set the scene, for example in the popular Innovation Lab.
The municipality is trying to support the ecosystem with facilities. The goal is to ensure that there is dynamism, economic growth and yes, new jobs. This support is “exported” as well. The municipality keeps looking for useful new contacts around the world. Through the Brainport International Program new international acquisitions have been made. And with the inspiring examples of Eindhoven’s partner cities Waterloo (Communitech) and Toronto (Mars) in mind, the city is working on the realization of a place in town where startups, corporates and investors can meet in an accessible, highly urban environment. Just to make sure that today's startups have every reason for an extended stay in Eindhoven.
