First Moves

In this episode, I sit down with Wout Voorderhaak, a medical student who has grown his Instagram to over 300,000 followers while simultaneously balancing his studies and running a business. But Wout's story isn't just about numbers—it's about purpose. Throughout our conversation, Wout shares how his content creation journey has always been driven by one core mission: helping people. Unlike many cr...

From a magician’s flair to a full-fledged chocolatier, Jorrit Consten’s entrepreneurial path is anything but ordinary. In this episode, we dive into how Jorrit turned a single workshop into DARQ—a boutique chocolate brand that now spans a café, hotel, ice cream shop, and more. A compelling story of creativity, resilience, and building with family.

Executive coach Peter Holmark reveals what sets exceptional leaders apart—and how they stay grounded through complexity, pressure, and power. From energy management to cultural alignment, this episode is packed with real-world leadership insights and coaching tools for any leader aiming to level up.

Discover how artificial intelligence and robotics are transforming the future of agriculture in this dynamic live event, hosted by Brightlands Greenport Campus and EIT Food. From precision farming to automation breakthroughs, this conversation brings together pioneering minds pushing the boundaries of agritech innovation. Tune in to hear how cutting-edge tech is transforming the way we grow, harve...

What happens after your PhD project fails in clinical trials? For Christian Bertens, it opened the door to a very different kind of success. In this episode, Christian shares how the challenges of his early research shaped his perspective and prepared him to co-found Peyeoneer—a startup developing a novel implant to treat glaucoma. From the realities of clinical failure in his PhD with eyedrop dis...

Vince Meens has lived through the full spectrum of entrepreneurship— founding & building successful companies, experiencing exits, and facing the pain of failure & bankruptcy. As well as personal challenges, ultimately landing him in a coma & even facing death. Doctors told his family he wouldn’t make it. But Vince did survive. And more importantly, he rebuilt. Over the course of three...

Stèphanie van Heuven van Staereling shares how Ondernemen in Limburg is transforming from a media platform into a vital connector in the region’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. From curating impactful stories to shaping strategic narratives, discover how storytelling is driving innovation across Limburg.

How do you turn a PhD project into a medtech company receiving €160M in funding? Martijn Cox, co-founder and Head of Technology at Xeltis, shares the story of building a groundbreaking vascular implant startup from scratch. This episode explores the realities of deep tech commercialisation—from team building to scaling to market launch.

What started as a college project to help his mother has become a thriving soft drink brand. Max Prop, founder of Prop’s Brewery, shares how he built a no-nonsense drinks business, sells over 15,000 bottles a month, and develops custom flavours in collaboration with a variety clients.

What happens when biomedical startups get a head start with built-in infrastructure, regulatory guidance, and hands-on knowledge? In this episode, Kurt Gielen, Chief Business Officer at Medace, shares how they’ve built a globally unique model that accelerates early-stage innovation in the life sciences. We dive into the origins of Medace, its one-stop-shop approach for clinical trial readiness, an...

Blockchain expert and Web3 pioneer Sunny Jiang shares how decentralisation and tokenisation could transform finance as we know it. From the United Nations to the UK and EU Parliaments, Sunny is helping shape the global future of tech and investing. She reveals how digital assets and emerging tech are reshaping investment and inclusion across continents.

Award-winning author and TEDx speaker Chris Fenning has trained over 75,000 professionals—including teams at Google, NATO, and JP Morgan—in how to communicate clearly at work. In this episode, Chris shares practical tools to simplify conversations, bridge the gap between experts and non-experts, and make sure your message lands the first time. Whether you're managing up or navigating team dynamics...

How do we bridge the gap between people and technology? Yanick Dols , Business Developer at Brightlands Smart Services Campus, shares how he creates buy-in using narrative, emotion, and rationality. In this episode, we explore how he supports startups, scale-ups, and the tech ecosystem to drive innovation in Limburg. From building communities to navigating the intersection of technology and societ...

Mike Verhiel, CEO of Psylaris, shares how his company is revolutionizing mental health care through VR-powered therapy sessions. From EMDR to exposure therapy and relaxation exercises, Psylaris helps therapists speed up interventions and reduce waiting times—making mental health care far more accessible and affordable. With +5,500 therapists, +850 organizations, and over 75,000 therapy sessions co...

How can a region transform into a powerhouse for startups? Predag Koncar, Head of the Startup Program at Maastricht University, shares his journey from game developer to founder in Augmented Reality and now a key player in building the Euregio startup ecosystem. Plus, an exclusive opportunity you won’t want to miss! If you're looking to launch or scale your startup, Predag has a special announceme...

Step into the world of startup competitions with this exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the Brightlands Startup Challenge. In this special episode, hosts Sebastian and [your name] take you inside the event, speaking with participants, winners, and jury members. Discover what it takes to compete, the driving forces behind innovative startup ideas, and the key criteria that determine who walks awa...

In this episode, we dive into the inspiring story of Hans Heijnen, the founder of Soapbox. From his early days as a university student to leading a 50-person team, Hans shares the lessons he learned on his entrepreneurial journey. We explore how Soapbox is creating meaningful connections between youth, education, and organizations to drive real-world impact—and the funny, unexpected moments that s...

In this episode, Thomas Übellacker, Co-founder and COO of Digicust, explores how AI is transforming industries and society. From automating customs clearance at Digicust to empowering organizations through Texterous, and fostering an AI-driven community at AIM to solve Europe’s pressing problems, Thomas shares actionable insights into AI's practical applications. We also dive into his journey into...

Discover how Rong Wang, Co-founder and CEO of EGGXPERT, is reshaping the way we think about sustainability. From her journey as a biotech researcher to founding EGGXPERT, Rong shares how they upcycle eggshells into innovative solutions for industries like cosmetics, bio-fillers, and more. EGGXPERT is on a mission to create a circular industry by turning waste into value and disrupting traditional...

Jens Thies, Co-Founder and Chief Science Officer at Temple ORTHOBiologics, shares his journey from a university graduate to a leader in the biomedical science space and now entrepreneur. With over 20 years of innovation experience and 36+ patent families, Jens reveals the secret to successful innovation: falling in love with the problem, not the solution. Tune in for insights on collaboration, enj...

Discover the often untold story behind closing a business with Stijn Willemse, founder of DIS-ORDER. In this episode, Stijn shares the journey of deciding to shut down a company that ran for three impactful years. Gain insight into how closing one door can open new opportunities and reshape a founder’s perspective for future endeavours.

What does it take for a business to secure meaningful support from a bank? John Janssen of Rabobank’s Business Innovation Team Limburg shares how he guides companies in sustainability and healthcare, revealing what banks look for in a business and how founders can boost their chances of success. From insights into crafting a compelling business case to navigating lending requirements, John unpacks...

Explore the parallels between American football and business with Bart Hendriks, head coach of the national championship winning Maastricht Wildcats. Bart shares insights into cultivating team culture, respecting individual strengths, and instilling values that drive success on and off the field.

Anirudh Rajesh, Co-founder and CEO of Aestuarium, is pioneering a solution to the global water scarcity crisis. By using genetically modified bacteria, his start-up makes desalinating seawater 5x more efficient and far more cost-effective than traditional methods. In this episode, we dive into Anirudh’s journey—from his passion for genetics to building a company that could help transform access to...

In this episode, we chat with Alexandre Martens, co-founder of Clipstake, a groundbreaking platform that allows fans to invest in their favorite content creators and share in the success of their ad revenue. Alexandre shares his journey from a childhood love of building to launching an innovative company that connects creators with their audiences in new ways. Tune in to hear his thoughts on the e...