These are Amsterdam’s powerhouse entrepreneurs to watch in 2024

In the vibrant city of Amsterdam, where history and innovation converge, a new generation of powerhouse entrepreneurs has emerged, poised to make waves in 2024.

The city, known for its rich culture, tulips, and canals, is experiencing a rapid transition as a breeding ground for startups and cutting-edge enterprises globally. 

The entrepreneurs here are not merely chasing profits; they are architecting the change, shaping a future where innovation and sustainability blend seamlessly. 

From building an autonomous sailing model to providing food supplements that help prevent food allergies in babies, these entrepreneurs are the driving force behind Amsterdam’s rise as a global business powerhouse.

We at Silicon Canals have created a list of Amsterdam-based entrepreneurs who are at the forefront of this movement, each with a unique background and a shared commitment to leave a mark on their respective industries. 

Micky and Linky Chen 

Co-founders of Minite Works

Micky and Linky Chen are the dynamic sister duo who co-founded Minite. 

Minite is an Amsterdam-based Students-as-a-Service (SaaS) provider that connects vetted top student freelancers with companies to perform CV-building work in digital marketing, sales, market research, data, IT, analytics, and (graphic) design. 

Besides, Micky is a Guest Lecturer at Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University, imparting knowledge on start-ups, growth, tech & innovation, and new business development.

Before Minite, Micky founded BOXY in Singapore, where they designed complete gift boxes and engaged in creative corporate gifting for SMEs. 

Micky’s professional journey also includes roles at Salesforce as an Account Executive, Team Leader for Business Development, and Sr. Business Development Consultant. 

Furthermore, she co-founded The New Fashion Society during their time at Erasmus University Rotterdam, where they organised various events and built partnerships with renowned brands. 

Micky holds an MSc in Information Systems from the University of Amsterdam and has a strong background in AI, innovation, design thinking, and software engineering. 

Her academic achievements include being a valedictorian at the University of Amsterdam and conducting research at UC Irvine, with a focus on collaboration and coordination in software engineering. 

She also participated in a BSc Exchange at National Chengchi University in Taipei, Taiwan, showcasing a global perspective in their education.

Completed her LLB Law at Leiden University and Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Linky Chen started her career as the 1st employee of a startup turned scale-up and also worked at Indeed. Right now, she leads Sales & Operations at Minite.

Konstantinos Kouzelis 

Founder of Coolset

Konstantinos Kouzelis is CEO and co-founder of Coolset (previously Greencast), an Amsterdam-based platform that helps startups and SMEs by providing a simple and effective solution that helps automate decarbonisation efforts. 

Coolset’s tool helps organisations measure, analyse, reduce, and offset their greenhouse gas emissions across Scope 1, 2, and 3.  It also allows users to track their carbon footprint, set reduction targets, and identify opportunities for improvement.

Additionally, Kouzelis is a part-time member of Sales Sessions, a community where sales leaders gather to share experiences, learn, and connect without the influence of sponsored talks or self-promotion. 

Previously, Kouzelis had a stint in Private Equity at Parcom, followed by various roles in M&A at ING Corporate Finance and trade research in shipping at A.M. Nomikos in Athens, Greece.

Kouzelis’s educational background includes a Master of Science in Maritime Engineering from Delft University of Technology with an impressive GPA of 8.3 and a published thesis scoring 9.0. 

Before that, he completed a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from the same institution.

Moodi Mahmoudi

CEO & co-founder of NEXT

Moodi is co-founder and CEO of NEXT — an Amsterdam-based AI-powered product discovery platform that turns customer interactions into product insights. 

Before NEXT, Moodi was VP for Optimal, a private-equity-backed SAP solutions provider, where he was part of the management team that raised $100M which led to the company’s acquisition by NTT Data Corporation. 

Moodi joined Optimal after the successful acquisition in 2008 of KBMS, a leading provider of SAP-based solutions he founded in 2005. 

Moodi started his first venture in his McGill dorm room in 1999 building Canada’s first online classified ads company, uswap.com.

Moodi studied at McGill University, MIT Sloan, and holds an MBA from INSEAD.

Joris Oudejans 

CEO & co-founder of BASH

Joris Oudejans is the co-founder of BASH, an Amsterdam headquartered social app for discovering, sharing, and hosting events.

After teaching himself to code and founding his first business at 14 years old, this newfound passion for tech entrepreneurship made him decide against his previous plan of a medical career and instead go all-in on entrepreneurship. He studied computer science at the University of Delft and Imperial College London to support this path.

During his BSc, Joris founded a B2C payment app and a software development agency, successfully exiting the former after graduation. In his various roles at tech companies, he has led teams of (remote) developers, raised €1M+ in funding, and has been mainly responsible for product and marketing strategy.

After his MSc, he used his previous exit to set up BASH and assemble a talented and ambitious team. Since then, BASH has raised €1.5M, successfully navigated through the Covid pandemic, and is rapidly becoming the go-to app for event discovery in Amsterdam and beyond. The recent €750K Seed round is a pivotal step in BASH’s journey, paving the way for increased revenue generation and expansion across The Netherlands.

Joris envisions BASH becoming the global leader in social events within the next five years, and 2024 will be a critical year in determining the realisation of that goal.

Frans Walter Biegstraaten

Co-founder of BIYU

Frans Walter Biegstraaten is a seasoned senior executive and accomplished startup and scale-up entrepreneur, boasting a wealth of experience spanning various industries, including software and hardware. 

He is the co-founder of BIYU, an Amsterdam startup that offers rental equipment services for gardening, parties, cleaning, and kitchens. 

With a remarkable track record, he has established businesses from the ground up and elevated existing ventures to profitable heights. 

His expertise extends to adeptly constructing and overseeing commercial teams, operating seamlessly across diverse geographies, including Europe, APAC, and China. 

Biegstraaten’s comprehensive skill set showcases his proficiency in navigating the intricate landscapes of entrepreneurship and business development.

Anastasia Kuskova 

Co-founder of Sirius

Anastasia Kuskova is the co-founder and CEO of Sirius, a company dedicated to revolutionising the mining and metal industries by driving impactful change. 

With a mission to empower companies in these sectors, Anastasia leads Sirius, a Techstars-backed startup that pioneers a comprehensive tech stack tailored for the sustainability officers of the future. 

Boasting more than 11 years of invaluable experience in the mining and metals sector, Anastasia is a trendsetter. 

She previously co-founded and spearheaded Re|Source, a corporate startup endorsed by industry giants like Tesla, Glencore, Umicore, and other key players in the EV supply chain. 

Her leadership extended to co-chairing the Group ESG Committee at Eurasian Resources Group, a $10B mining company, where she spearheaded the ESG transformation across diverse regions and operations.

Anastasia’s influence doesn’t stop there; she actively contributes to global initiatives as a member of the Net Zero Steering Committee of the World Economic Forum and holds the esteemed position of deputy governor of the Mining and Metals platform. Her insights are widely recognized, as she serves as a strategic advisor at a research institute and contributes thought leadership to Forbes.

Anastasia Kuskova stands at the forefront of industry transformation, leaving an indelible mark on the sustainable future of mining and metals.

Steef Fleur

Founder of Billie Wonder (Part of Amsterdam Circular)

Steef Fleur is a high school dropout turned urban engineer, photographer, and mother of two, who has emerged as an all-round entrepreneur with a mission that goes beyond the ordinary. 

Steef is the visionary behind Billie Wonder, an Amsterdam company that aims to make washable diapers a mainstream choice. 

What started as a two-year exploration of the cloth diaper market while pursuing a career in documentary photography has now become Steef’s life purpose. 

She is determined to leave the planet in a better state for her children than she found it. Drawing on her experience as a photographer, Steef has spearheaded projects worldwide, challenging perceptions on subjects like hemp. 

These ventures have equipped her with the skills to mobilize people and build the knowledge and network to transition Billie Wonder from a multi to a mono-brand enterprise.

Crafted from the kindest materials and sourced ethically, these products are not only good for people but also the planet.

Laurie Lancee

Founder of Vinimini

Laurie Lancee is the founder of Vini Mini, an Amsterdam startup to prevent chronic diseases. Their first focus is on preventing food allergies, for which they offer easy, healthy, and safe food supplements for babies.

The idea is based upon a personal experience from Laurie with her son Viggo, who had severe allergies.  Food allergies are on the rise with currently 1 out 4 children in Europe having a food allergy. Laurie wants to stop this increasing problem and wants to turn the negative experience she has had with Viggo into something positive. She quit her corporate career and started Vini Mini, together with her co-founder Jozien Boersma.

Laurie finished her Hospitality Management and Business Administration degree and worked in Paris, Shanghai and London. She settled in Amsterdam and got a degree in Business Economics and Chartered Global Management Accountant (CGMA).

Over the past 15 years, Laurie built a successful career in business finance and accounting at multinationals such as HEINEKEN, and RGP, among others.

Vini Mini won several awards, amongst which the most recent FEM-START Awards with a price of 100k investment.

Rens Doornbusch

Co-founder & CTO at Roboat

As the co-founder and CTO of Roboat, Rens Doornbusch has been instrumental in driving the development of autonomous boats for the city’s canals since February 2023. 

Before this role, Doornbusch served as the Product Owner and Mechatronics Engineer at Roboat, contributing to a six-year research project in collaboration with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the Amsterdam Institute for Advanced Metropolitan Solutions. 

Doornbusch also developed Revive Devices, an initiative focusing on addressing electronic waste through accessible solutions.

Before that, he was Chief Engineer at Project MARCH, leading a voluntary effort to build an exoskeleton for paraplegics. 

His other small projects include a research internship at the National University of Singapore, an engineering internship at Dental Robotics, and roles as an assistant in applied labs and as a teaching assistant in mechatronics and product dynamics at TU Delft.

Rens completed his BSc in Industrial Design Engineering at Delft University of Technology.