On 2 September, Erasmus Enterprise was officially opened. At Erasmus Enterprise top incubation experts from Zuid-Holland and two investment funds come together to accelerate innovation and entrepreneurship in the region. Young student entrepreneurs can now take maximum advantage of all expertise at one location. Alderman Vincent Karremans (alumnus of the EUR, former entrepreneur Magnet.me) provided the official opening. “I wish this initiative had been around when I started as an entrepreneur,” said Karremans.

Regional cooperation for social impact

Erasmus Enterprise contributes to the convergence between TU Delft, Erasmus University and Erasmus Medical Centre in Rotterdam. By bringing together tech, business and social expertise, the EUR wants to contribute to regional innovations that really tackle current and future social problems; societal impact ventures. “Erasmus Enterprise is the flywheel to make the entrepreneurial spirit of EUR and its students, staff and alumni even stronger. Together with our partners in convergence, and in the city and region, we have already set a lot in motion in a very short time”, says Prof. Dr. Ed Brinksma, Chairman of the EUR Executive Board.

Next Frontier Award and Societal Impact Award

During the opening, awards were presented to promising entrepreneurs. Paul Sisnett and Xenia Lichakhina of Paywith.glass were the winners of the Next Frontier Award. They make global payments possible with disruptive technology. Prof. Dr. Jan Peter Balkenende: “It was an honour to present the Next Frontier Award 2021 to the Paywith.glass team, a highly innovative new company with a focus on international payments”.

Elissa Glorie and Thom Uildriks of Moja Wear received the Societal Impact Award from the hands of Dr Ellen van Schoten. Moja Wear is an interesting start-up where social impact is created throughout the entire value chain. Ellen van Schoten: “Moja Wear shows how intensive and interdisciplinary cooperation within Erasmus Enterprise can lead to a successful start-up that actually provides an answer to social challenges. We hope the Erasmus Enterprise community will continue to be part of the story of this company in the future.”

6 experts 1 community

Within Erasmus Enterprise subsidiary Erasmus Centre for Entrepreneurship, affiliate YES! Delft, subsidiary Erasmus Research and Business Support, PortXL come together with investment funds UNIIQ and the new Graduate Entrepreneur Fund. Later this year UP!Rotterdam, DIT and Venture Café will follow. Besides all the experts, several start-ups have already joined the Erasmus Enterprise community. Ernst Hoestra, CEO Erasmus Enterprise: “I am pleased, but not surprised by the energy that is released in this community. Through a mix of experts with diverse and driven entrepreneurs, new initiatives come about. It is clear that we meet a need”.

Established successful entrepreneurs and fresh new generation

During the meeting, successful established alumni entrepreneurs such as Derckjan Kruit (Mendix), investors such as Hans van Ierland (HPE Growth) and Machtelt Groothuis (Rubio Impact Ventures), and social impact entrepreneurs such as Hester Le Riche (Active Cues, the Magic Table) came together with new entrepreneurs such as entrepreneurial sisters Micky and Linky Chen (Minite) and Bart Schrijnen (StarTXT.ai). New entrepreneurs such as Tijmen and Jelmer from Savvy, for example, were able to talk to CEO Michiel Muller (Picnic) about their plans and ideas during the meeting.