Interview with Upstream initiator

What makes Upstream different from other events?

There are several reasons why Upstream is different. The first is that Upstream truly community-led and community-driven. It starts with ecosystem players that are building a strong startup/scaleup ecosystem, and are creating the event together with us. That’s where it stands out.

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The second reason we stand out is our focus on structured serendipity. We prioritize startup and scale-up founders - our core audience. Next come investors who back these companies, followed by potential enterprise or industry partners. To ensure meaningful connections and relevance for all attendees, we intentionally limit the number of passes in each category. This curated approach brings together the key players that help startups and scale-ups thrive. It’s what makes us unique—and it’s why we cap attendance and maintain a founder-to-investor ratio of 3:1.

Main topics: Energy transition, resources transition (circularity), well being and digital.

How has Upstream developed over the last 5 years?

Over the years Upstream has gravitated closer to its core. The core has always been ‘Connecting changemakers’ but I think in the beginning we were still pushing too much. There was a lot of content and we had great speakers but we realized that the real value is creating connections between these changemakers.

The second part we learned is the importance of efficiency. We started with five days, and now we have moved to two. We realized that bringing the event back to two days is far more effective - you get far more done. No long days of meetings and workshops, but a more compact and intense program. The real value lies in the cross-sections. We believe in cross pollination between industries and transitions. There are other specialized industry events out there, but we really want to be in the general startup and scaleup space, which is open to everyone.

What are the startups and speakers to watch at Upstream?

This is such a tough question… It is like asking which child you like best. Bernadeta: Firstly, it's worth pointing out that half of speakers are female founders. If I really have to chose my favorite speakers are Marta Sjögren CEO of Paebbl, Fonger Ypma from Arctic Reflections, who has a great story, and at last, Clare Jones from Polarsteps. I think they complete the representation of super cool founders who will be there at Upstream.

Lars: I'm impressed by the entire lineup and the quality of the speakers across all stages. It shows the willingness of founders and CEOs to pay it forward. There is really a chance to interact and speak with the founders. Attendees told us they enjoy the fast paced and intimate fireside chats, followed by a Q&A to truly connect. And in the deepdives, that are more like keynotes, you’ll find first hand insights in various topics of scaling.  The final part is the expert round-tables where you share challenges and learnings other founders and a topic expert. And of course: do not miss the final pitches at the Startup Stage, where the most promising Dutch founders showcase their solutions. .

In terms of investments, 2024 was significant for the Rotterdam and Delft region. What are your expectations for 2025 and beyond?

I think we are on to something. But first, a step back – Upstream is not a Rotterdam, but a Dutch event. That’s why we welcome guests from across the country and abroad.. That said, we are super proud that Rotterdam is the number #1 city in deep tech investments. That’s a trend we’ve been observing over the  past few years. It’s thanks in part to Delft University of Technology, but also the work of TNO (with spinoffs like Nearfield Instruments)..The rise in deep tech investments reflects a broader trend in technological development and growing interest in deep tech. It’s a  really stronghold in this region. But we need to step up to keep this momentum - also know that these  companies need both regulatory freedom and physical space  to grow. If we can facilitate that, we have a prosperous time ahead.

Looking at university spin out value, Delft University of Technology ranks as number 1 in the Netherlands. As far as deep tech investment per city in the Netherlands goes, Rotterdam ranks on top with 900 million during 2019 – 2024. Amsterdam ranks second 600 million.

What is the value of the side events for Upstream?

The side events - over 55 this year - is really the place where the community comes together. It’s where partners and the innovation ecosystem come together. This year, we have a variety of side events, and we’re confident you will find a side event that is relevant to you.

These can be based either on a specific challenge, industry or background – or a combination of those. It’s the niches that make the side events truly special.  We are aiming for quality side events, not  just quantity. And of course, it’s a great way to meet people in smaller settings, before the main event.

What call to action do you have for deeptech CTOs and/or technical founders?

Many events are focused on CEOs, that’s why we are happy to have TNO Fast Track organize the CTO Unconference. It’s actually the first CTO Unconference every at Upstream, a good evolution of  the CTO dinner we hosted in the past. CTOs play a crucial role in the kind of companies that drive the transitions we’re in.

With a CTO Unconference you can really dig deeper. It’s very important for CTOs to open up and connect with peers. The structure of the Unconference enables CTOs to connect on topics that are top of mind to them. Even though CTOs might be working in different industries, the challenges can be similar.