Sramana Mitra: This leads to another part of the discussion. As lavishly funded companies emerge, a parallel phenomenon has accelerated this year: this is also the golden age of bootstrapped startups. People are accomplishing far more, far faster, with significantly fewer resources and less capital than ever before. We are seeing trends such as ultralight
Rotterdam, the Netherlands’ largest port city, is a hub for logistics, industrial IT, and enterprise-focused digital services. The city’s startup ecosystem may be smaller than Amsterdam, but it offers unique opportunities for IT and IT-enabled service founders who can leverage industrial networks, early enterprise clients, and accelerator programs tailored to B2B solutions.
Amsterdam is the startup capital of the Netherlands, a city that combines global connectivity, mature infrastructure, and a concentration of accelerators and investors. For IT and IT-enabled services startups, Amsterdam offers unparalleled access to networks, mentorship, and early-stage customers. Yet, it also exemplifies the accelerator conundrum: founders gain visibility and resources, but traditional programs often
The Netherlands has emerged as one of Europe’s most dynamic startup ecosystems, offering a blend of mature infrastructure, global connectivity, and sector-specific expertise. Key hubs include Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Utrecht, Eindhoven, The Hague, and Groningen, each providing accelerators, incubators, and corporate networks that support IT and IT-enabled service startups. Yet despite this richness, the ecosystem illustrates
Sramana Mitra: One interesting point is that the peak occurs in 2021, which was the height of COVID. This was not a traditional boom time, yet the venture industry peaked in 2021 and 2022, during the pandemic. Gus Tai: I would also like to comment on the next slide, and then we can move into
Belgium’s startup ecosystem, spanning Brussels, Antwerp, Ghent, Leuven, Liège, and Charleroi, is rich in opportunity but also illustrates the accelerator conundrum: founders have access to mentorship, corporate networks, and resources, yet are constrained by equity requirements, physical presence, selective entry, and pressure to scale rapidly. Even in hubs with strong IT and IT-enabled services support,
Charleroi, traditionally an industrial city, is emerging as a hub for IT-enabled service startups and digital solutions. While smaller than Brussels or Ghent, Charleroi offers founders the opportunity to engage with niche accelerators, local enterprises, and early adopters, particularly in B2B software and SME-focused IT solutions.
Liège represents a smaller but strategically important hub for IT and IT-enabled service startups in Belgium. Traditionally known for its industrial base, the city is evolving to support smart industrial solutions, B2B SaaS, and IT-enabled digital services. Founders in Liège have access to accelerators, local corporate networks, and niche investors, but the ecosystem is limited