Hannek Stegweg, CEO of lost-and-found startup iLost, is the main winner of the grand finale of the The Next Women Startup award. She convinced both the professional jury and the audience in the final pitch event in the ABN AMRO dialogue house.
The Next Women is an initiative led by Simone Brummelhuis to encourage women entrepreneurs. During 2012, several pitch events were held at different locations in The Netherlands (at startupjuncture we covered the Eindhoven event). “Alle women entrepreneurs can pitch at these events at a first-come-first-serve basis” She explained “That way we give all women entepreneurs a chance to practice their pitch and improve their chances of success”. The best entrepreneurs from each event were given the opportunity to pitch again before the jury and a bigger crowd at the grand finale on February 6th.
iLost was both a jury winner and audience winner. The iLost concept of helping people find back lost objects, and more importantly takes over the handling of found objects from large organisations clearly impressed everyone.
Chairwomen Simone, here pictured together with Dies Donker from hosting company ABN AMRO also announced the plans for this yea. One of the new plans was the presentation by Jonna Klein of TNW of The NextWomen100; 100 successful Dutch business women who can act as role models for any woman that wants to succeed in business.
Some the 100 women selected for the TNW100 who were recognized for their business success. All women seleted founded or lead a successful business (in existence for at least 3 years).
Lisanne Buik presenting VanChefs.
Freena Eijffinger from Autitouch, a software developer for people autism.
Bettina Neseker from citymom.
Katya Vladislavleva from DataStories (evolved analytics)
Favoroute founder Frederieke Wolter
Shubhangi Jadhav from music website Muzikool
Ingrid Sloots from Beauty Bookers. Earlier featured on Entreprenl.
Zairah Khan from Kids bij de buren.
Doctor Marlies Schijven from Hospitallity App.
All entrepreneurs awaiting a jury member announcement
All contestants, Hanneke Stegweg from iLost in the center.
Jury members: Ad Scheepbouwer, Mark Voermans, Harry Helwegen, Cilian Jansen Verplancke, Margaret McGovern, Marnix Borghouts, Robert Verwaaijen, Sascha Engels, Herman Kienhuis, Arthur van de Graaf, Sheila Struyck.
About the author: Sieuwert van Otterloo (twitter: @entreprenl) gives management advice with a focus on IT-enabled business. He gives software related advice via the Software Improvement Group, startup and innovation advice via Inbys and manages his own venture fund Otterloo Ventures. He writes for Startupjuncture and Frankwatching.
[…] year’s winner was Hanneke Stegweg of iLost, who was later accepted into Rockstart accelerator. We hope that the extra publicity and perhaps […]