About
Why?
We believe that in order to be successful, early stage startups need:
- - Laser-like focus on building, developing and marketing their product or service.
- - Rock-solid advice and introductions from experienced entrepreneurs, investors and seasoned industry experts.
- - Introductions to the right launching customers, influential people in their industry and press-relations.
How?
Aside from world class mentoring in the most innovative environment on the planet, we are offering all the startups in our program up to 15,000 in seed funding to help you along the way. Rockstart Accelerator will deal with the legal, administrative, hassles and distractions of setting up a company, providing you with the focus you need to start and continue on your entrepreneurial journey. Add to the mix over 99 of the world’s brightest minds in the form of our mentors and our visiting advisors, you will have a wealth of knowledge at your disposal to create the most innovative and disruptive company out there. In return, Rockstart Accelerator takes an 8% equity stake in each of our startups (not in each founder). We aim to change the rules in building a radically successful company. We’re here to take your startup to the next level. See Oscar talking about Rockstart accelerator here
Rockstart Accelerator team:
Oscar Kneppers
Founder.
Oscar is an experienced serial entrepreneur within media. In 1998 Oscar founded Emerce, the leading Dutch magazine on business, marketing and technology. Emerce was sold to VNU in 2003. In 2005 Oscar launched Bright, a cross media title on tech, style and design. Oscar was awarded the 2007 Most Innovative Publisher title by the Dutch Publishers Congress. In 2008 Bright was sold to NDC|VBK.
Don Ritzen
Co-founder and Managing Director.
Co-founder of Rockstart Accelerator. Co-Founder of Startup Weekend Amsterdam, Founder of Startup Weekend Eindhoven, Startup Weekend Cameroon and EU SW facilitator. Founder and Curator of StartupDigest Amsterdam and previously responsible for Business Development at Wakoopa.
James Digby
Co-Founder.
Co-founder of Startup Weekend NL and UK and also one of the founding EU Facilitators for Startup Weekend. James brings to the team over a decade of entrepreneurial experience working with a number of startups in growing brand value and product development.
Rune Theill
Co-founder and Program Director.
Jury member at Venture Cup (business plan competition). Previous Startupbootcamp Associate. Owner of Nu det jul.dk. Tried several entrepreneurial ventures, and believes in learning by trying.
Eleftheria Karyoti
Marketing & Communications.
With background in cultural entrepreneurship and marketing communications, Eleftheria has worked at several cultural events and institutions in the Netherlands and Greece. She loves being surrounded by creative, inspiring people that want to make the world a little better and writing about them.
Finn Hansen
COO.
Passionate about building things. Diverse international background working with both corporates and startups in business and product development. 2x winner at StartupWeekend CPH. Co-founded several projects.
Cecile Kroes
Operations & Website Manager.
International Business & Management Studies graduate student. A passionate traveler, loves new experiences, has worked as a sporting-events manager in Australia and is back in the Netherlands to finish her studies.
Katalin Peterfi
Business Operations & Events Intern.
Media and Entertainment Management student with an international background and experience in the music business and events. At Rockstart Katalin makes sure that both internal and external Rockstart events run not only smoothly but the visitors pick up the Rockstart vibe and leave with a memorable experience.
Andra Nuta
Events & Operations Intern.
Romanian, studying European Studies in The Hague since 2010 and now enthusiastically exploring the wonders of events and entrepreneurship. Been involved with event organising in Glasgow and Bucharest over the past year.
Dimitri Haussman
Business Development Intern.
Passionate entrepreneur and Master of Business Administration student. Worked in different departments at an international oriented company and enjoyes travelling the world. Loves to build and create new products and ideas.
Daniel Guzzo
Business Operations Intern.
Has background in sport and social events at the University of Sao Paulo, Brazil. Right now is exploring new paradigms in the Old World. Already passionate about processes, nearly an Industrial Engineer.
Koen Oosterbroek
Business Operations Intern.
Aspiring entrepenerd, current-day creative director and student International Communication & Media. Internationally oriented background in the creative industry. Founded several projects.
Rockstart Accelerator advisors:
Jon Bradford
Founder of Springboard.
Jon has founded the Difference Engine, Springboard and ignite100. The Difference Engine was the first major acceleration programme in Europe, Springboard is based in Cambridge (and soon to be London) and ignite100 combines an accelerator with £100k follow on funding.
Rajesh Patel
Former CEO.
Indian background; raised in the UK. Former CEO of Exact. CEO of year 2007 by Computable; Entrepreneur of Year in 2008 by the BID; Voted as member of the board to run “Netherlands BV” by Management Team in 2009.
Paul Molenaar
Investor.
Publishing specialist. Former: CEO @ IDG Communications, CEO @ ilse media (Sanoma Digital), COO @ Sanoma Media. Current co-owner of Layar, and Z24.nl, member of the supervisory board @ Consumentenbond, member Privacy Authority NL, and advisor for KRO.
Maarten Beucker Andreae
Co-founder & CEO at 2dehands.nl – TTY.
With his web-development company TTY they bring together experienced entrepreneurs, innovative ideas, technical skills and investors to successfully launch new internet companies, including 2dehands.be, Jaap.nl, Paypool.com, Zwapp.com and EU1.tv. In 2009 Maarten was voted Amsterdam Entrepreneur of the year.
Demo Day 2013
Important dates
From our blog
-
The importance of value proposition for your business
May 19, 2013
The value proposition for your product and business are probably two of the most important marketing statements that you will make as a startup. Since... -
Boris Veldhuijzen van Zanten – From failure to failure without lack of enthusiasm!
May 18, 2013
If business was taught in the form of stories, it would never be forgotten - paraphrasing Rundyard Kipling’s original quote. That’s the thinking behind the... -
A match made in startup heaven
May 13, 2013
Choosing the right business partner is a common concern among entrepreneurs. Founding and running a startup is a serious and unpredictable business; everybody who has... -
Why is measuring so hard?
April 28, 2013
“Startups don’t starve, they drown”, said Shawn Carolan. You know how it goes: you have a young product, you recently launched and you’re desperately collecting...
