Innovation is one of the key pillars of success, and there is no debate in this. Understanding the importance of innovation, several Dutch startups have come up with unique technologies to resolve the major challenges faced by people. If we have to rate them based on the innovation they have brought in, then a majority of them have turned successful and are operating in the market currently.
This is where KvK Innovation Top 100 – an initiative that operates with the mission to showcase what SMEs are capable of in the Netherlands – comes to play. It is an opportunity for startups to increase their visibility. This initiative is meant for innovative Dutch entrepreneurs running small and medium-sized businesses.
The Kamer van Koophandel (KvK) is the Chamber of Commerce in the Netherlands. According to its website, it is an independent administrative body that informs, advises and supports businesses and manages the Commercial Register. “Our mission is to make life easier for you as an entrepreneur,” it says. The daily operations of the KvK are supervised by the four members of the Board of Directors (Raad van Bestuur or RvB in Dutch).
On January 21, 2021, the KvK presented the ranking for the 15th time with 100 concrete innovations realised by Dutch small and medium-sized businesses. Here are the 15 Amsterdam-based startups that made it to the list.
Easee
Founder/s: Yves Prevoo
Founded year: 2017
Funding: NA
Easee has developed an online eye test that you can do at home easily without having to leave the house. This eye test is as accurate as when you have your eyes tested by an optician. As per the company, its mission is to make complete and accurate spectacles for everyone.
“With a laptop, a smartphone and three meters of space, you can now test your eyes at home. This innovation reduces waiting times for eye care. Costs are saved, quality is increased,” says KVK.
BrainCreators
Founder/s: Gerbert Kaandorp, Jasper Wognum, Peter Eijk
Founded year: 2016
Funding: €50k
BrainCreators comprises a team of experts in Artificial Intelligence with expertise in both enterprise software engineering and machine learning. The company delivers digital inspectors that automate repetitive tasks so you can scale your business more effectively and cost-efficiently. It engages with partners in infrastructure, construction, and manufacturing to transfer their expertise to the its platform, developing scalable ai-as-a-service solutions.
Soft Revolt
Founder/s: Elles Roeleveld, Anet van Haaster
Founded year: 2020
Funding: NA
The comfort and looks of a refined lightweight bralette offers core support. Soft Revolt develops wireless bralettes that are known for their comfortable fit and the support they give. The bralettes are for the full cup sizes. Centred on women’s needs, the mission of this company is to be soft to the skin, soft to nature and foremost, soft to wearers.
According to KVK, “The innovation of this first 3D knitted bra is in the patented knitted support. The idea is based on the 3D knitted shoe, the Nike Flyknit. In addition to being an extremely comfortable product for women, it brings enormous innovation to the back of the process: it enables on-site production, reduces transport and saves energy. Production time is reduced by at least half. In addition, knitting has a zero-waste production process. This alone saves up to 90 per cent CO2 emissions per bra.”
The Flower Farm
Founder/s: Marcel van Wing,
Founded year: 2019
Funding: NA
The Flower Farm, a palm-free margarine brand operates with a mission – ”We are committed to the deforestation of the tropical rainforest by unsustainable palm oil plantations.”
It intends to help save our rain forests that are being destroyed for the production of palm oil. Consumers can now opt for a palm oil-free alternative: margarine from The Flower Farm, which is made with shea butter and without palm oil.
Circular IQ
Founder/s: Roy Vercoulen
Founded year: 2016
Funding: NA
Circular IQ is a cloud-based application that supports businesses in identifying circular economy performance criteria. It makes it easy for them to collect sustainability data throughout supply chains. Notably, mo performance can be compared objectively across products, companies and suppliers.
“Circular IQ is the first software platform with which companies can collect, analyse and report sustainability data in collaboration with their chain. More than 600 organisations in 58 countries, including Fortune 500 companies, are already using this,” according to KVK website.
Owlin
Founder/s: Sjoerd Leemhuis, Bas van Ooyen , Richard Kraayenhaagen
Founded year: 2012
Funding: €3.3M
Owlin backed by Rockstart develops cutting-edge, real-time data analysis for the financial sector, providing real-time news analysis to a state-of-the-art AI-based platform. The company has built an impressive list of international clientele including Adyen, ING, KPMG, Deutsche Bank, and Fitch Ratings.
Aura Aware
Founder/s: Janneke van den Heuvel
Founded year: 2020
Funding: NA
During the pandemic crisis, Aura Aware developed a smart device, which helps businesses maintain safe social distancing for both themselves and customers. It is a social distance sensor, which warns if customers fail to follow social distancing norms of 2 metres. This smart device uses LIDAR technology employed by self-driving cars for the same purpose.
Geospark (Roam.ai)
Founder/s: Jothi Priyadharshan, Manoj Adithya
Founded year: 2017
Funding: €1.1M
Roam.ai (formerly known GeoSpark) is an AI location tracking technology for app makers that cuts battery drain by 10x, enables endless possibilities and location triggered analytics. GeoSpark’s patented technology using Artificial Intelligence puts much less strain on the GPS (the system used worldwide to determine your position) without compromising on accuracy.
BitesWeLove
Founder/s: Marleen Basart, Peter Paul Menken, Robert Menken
Founded year: 2014
Funding: NA
BitesWeLove uses only natural ingredients and the very best nuts. They combine these with all kinds of other ingredients that they love. As a result, the bites are tasty and good as well. The healthy nut-based snacks come in six flavours, wrapped in colourfully designed bioplastic packaging. Interestingly, the packaging is made of vegetable residual waste instead of plastic, making them completely biodegradable.
Yumeko
Founder/s: Rob van den Dool
Founded year: 2010
Funding: NA
Yumeko is an eco-bed and bath company. It produces beautiful and luxury green products for a natural bed and bathroom, including duvets, pillows, bedding, blankets, and towels. These products are made from natural and organic materials including cotton, wool, kapok, and animal-friendly feathers.
WordProof
Founder/s: Sebastiaan van der Lans
Founded year: 2018
Funding: €1.4M
WordProof uses a combination of blockchain technology and timestamps to protect and verify the sources of content on the internet, thereby securing proprietary content, minimising the spread of fake news, and detect fraud. It claims to be building a Timestamp Ecosystem, which will support multiple blockchains. It offers a WordPress plugin available to one-third of all websites to access the Timestamp Ecosystem.
Last year, the Netherlands-based Yoast – a leading SEO plugin for WordPress acquired a stake in the company. It also finished first in the ‘Blockchains for social good’ competition hosted by the European Commission. As a result, the company won €1M.
Holie Foods
Founder/s: Merick Schoute, Valentijn van Santvoort
Founded year: 2018
Funding: NA
Helie Foods drives a positive change for the planet. Holie is an impact-company creating conscious food with a positive impact. Notably, 50 per cent of its profits are donated to plant trees to help fight climate change.
“With their business model, Holie challenges the current capitalist system in which companies, at the expense of people and the planet, are primarily out to make a profit. Holie believes in a form of conscious capitalism in which companies take responsibility and use their business as a force to do the right thing,” according to KVK.
GiantLeaps
Founder/s: Laura Heerema
Founded year: 2017
Funding: NA
GiantLeaps estimates the climatic impact caused by the food that is served. It provides details per dish on the menu or via an analysis of the products that are purchased. The startup provides clear graphics and numbers using Life Cycle Assessment and provides an insight into those products that contribute the most. With this solution, restaurants can measure progress and implement climate-friendly measures too.
Overstory
Founder/s: Indra den Bakker, Anniek Schouten, Roelof Pieters
Founded year: 2018
Funding: €1.7M
Overstory applies artificial intelligence to high-resolution satellite imagery to provide real-time analytics of natural resources. Its solutions help forest industry companies, insurance companies, and asset investors to improve decision making with timely and accurate insights into natural resources. It aims to help protect the earth’s forests by providing data-driven and actionable planet intelligence.
Capte
Founder/s: Paul Chipault, Sergey Vladimirov
Founded year: 2016
Funding: €125k
Capte develops, produces and integrates smart IoT solutions for transportation, including the range of connected embedded devices for tracking vehicles, drivers and passengers, connectivity and a superior web backend with APIs. Its clients include transportation companies that want to include value-added services for their users such as secure transportation, remote diagnostics and compliance.
