We kicked off the day with a warm welcome and an update on Graduate Entrepreneurship by our managing partner, Auke van den Hout, and our development manager, Julia Knoeff. They mentioned that Graduate Entrepreneur is dedicated to accelerating founders' journeys by providing support and facilitating connections within our network. Auke expressed, 'The uniqueness of Graduate comes together today,' before adding, 'I wish Graduate Entrepreneur already existed when I was young.'

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Following the introduction, we delved into the so-called “How they did it” panel, in which successful entrepreneurs discussed the early stages of starting a business, pivotal moments, and expectations versus reality. The panel featured a diverse group of entrepreneurs: Coen van Oostrom (Founder EDGE), Graciëlla van Vliet (Founder Closure / Jochem.AI) and Sebastiaan Bruinsma (Founder Nobly POS), and it was moderated by one of our Graduate Entrepreneur founders, Menno Antal.

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After the panel, we jumped into our next program feature: the Graduate Connect game, also moderated by one of our founders, Sandro van Hellenberg Hubar. During this game, portfolio founders pitched their challenges and asked the audience for help. The aim of this game was to foster valuable connections within the Graduate network, enhancing collaboration and networking in our community. The game was a great success, resulting in 90 new valuable connections and fostering ongoing conversations within our network!  

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We continued the program with a talk from another founder of Graduate Entrepreneur, Frans van Houten, together with Auke van den Hout, in which we looked forward to the future of Graduate Entrepreneur, venture capital and the entrepreneurial world. ‘We are actually still a startup ourselves’, Auke mentioned. Additionally, Frans van Houten revealed the secrets of Sillicon Valley: ‘it’s all about connecting with people. Do not be shy; just ask the question. However, don’t ask a black and white question.’

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The day concluded with the Startup Fair, accompanied by drinks and bites. This event provided our portfolio companies with the opportunity to showcase themselves, make connections, and engage with visitors in an informal setting.

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We would like to thank all of those who attended Graduate Connect 2024! From engaging discussions to valuable networking opportunities, it was a day filled with inspiration and growth. Let's continue building connections and shaping the future together!  

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