Dutch Tech Leaders Recognized: Techleap Unveils 2024 Giving Back Awards Finalists
Amsterdam, Friday, 23 August 2024.
Techleap announces eight finalists for its 2024 Giving Back Awards, honoring Dutch tech ecosystem leaders for significant social contributions. The initiative showcases diverse impacts, from addressing funding imbalances to establishing tuition-free coding schools, highlighting the sector’s commitment to social responsibility.
Notable Finalists
Among the finalists is Christina Caljé, a former Executive Director at Goldman Sachs and founder of Autheos. Since its acquisition in 2021, Autheos has focused on addressing funding imbalances in the European startup ecosystem. Caljé’s contributions extend to advising and serving on various boards of accelerators, venture capital funds, startups, and government entities.
Empowering Women in Tech
Corinne Vigreux, another finalist, is renowned as the first female unicorn founder in Europe with her company TomTom. She established CODAM, a tuition-free coding school in Amsterdam, and has reached over 500,000 girls globally with her technology-focused book. Vigreux has also donated over 25,000 copies of her book to underprivileged girls, promoting technology education and empowerment.
Mentoring the Next Generation
Scientist-turned-entrepreneur Dinko Valerio co-founded Leyden Labs and ProQR Therapeutics and is known for mentoring other entrepreneurs in the Netherlands. His work has significantly strengthened the local tech community by providing guidance and support to emerging innovators.
Strengthening the Tech Community
Hans Scheffer, founder and CEO of Helloprint, which operates in 13 European countries, has initiated programs like WeTechRotterdam to bolster the tech community. These initiatives have positioned Rotterdam as a hub for Dutch innovation, particularly in healthcare.
Funding Access for Startups
Heleen Dura-van Oord, a founding partner at Peak Capital and co-founder of DQ&A Media, has been instrumental in providing essential funding access for startups in the Netherlands. Peak Capital supports investments in early pre-revenue companies such as Livekindly, Winc Academy, OurHouse, and Drystack.
Promoting Diversity in Tech
Janneke Niessen, a D&I activist and co-founder of CapitalT, is involved in initiatives like InspiringFifty and Fundright, which promote diversity in technology. Her efforts aim to create a more inclusive tech environment by highlighting the achievements of women and underrepresented groups.
Academic Contributions
Maarten Steinbuch, a Distinguished University Professor at Eindhoven University of Technology, specializes in automotive engineering and mechatronics. His academic contributions include supporting entrepreneurship and integrating it into academic curricula, fostering a new generation of tech innovators.
Serial Entrepreneurship
Michiel Muller, a serial entrepreneur and founder of Picnic and Route Mobiel, actively supports entrepreneurship in academic curricula. His ventures have not only been commercially successful but have also contributed to nurturing the entrepreneurial spirit within academic institutions.
Looking Ahead
The winners of the 2024 Techleap Giving Back Awards will be celebrated in April 2024. This event will further highlight the significant social contributions made by these leaders and their ongoing commitment to driving positive change in the Dutch tech ecosystem.