Description of Octoco’s services and case studies of engineering products we have built. We will talk about our approach to building POCs and MVPs and how this approach has helped us launch start-ups at low costs. We will also talk about our sweat equity investment process.

Join the Innovators Lounge – the beating heart of our weekly gathering – to informally meet with like-minded people and exchange thoughts and ideas. All in effort to connect, learn & share. From this Lounge you can access the meeting rooms in which all of our sessions take place. Check out our program posters hanging around in the space to get the full overview of everything that’s happening today & feel free to join the sessions that meet your needs!

Welcome! This info table is your must-go first stop when you are new to Venture Café Rotterdam or when you are keen to learn more about who we are and what we do. Is this your first time to Venture Café, or do you want to make new, serendipitous connections with other Venture Café visitors? Do you want to know a bit more about Venture Café’s mission, or are you interested in what brings other people to visit Venture Café? Then join us here! At this info table we will gather to maximize your Venture Café experience, we’ll make short introductions and new connections! What you can get out of joining us here: (1) we will inform you about Venture Café’s mission, the programming offered at Venture Café and your opportunities here; (2) you get to share what your are looking for at Venture Café; and (3) you are potentially connected with an interesting contact during this Gathering, but at least you will be direct in the right direction! Venture Café is all about connecting innovators to make things happen. Venture Café Foundation builds innovation communities. We hosts the largest weekly innovation community event in Rotterdam. Worldwide we connect 2000+ innovators every week on Thursday!

Mobility is entering a new age of innovation. In the next decade many disruptive innovations may occur in this sector, in support of United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.   Today NIO will be present to share their vision on the future of mobility. And they are giving away something cool to the community: 2 visitors will get to drive a NIO for a weekend! Stop by at this info table, get the instructions and win!   About NIO House Rotterdam NIO House Rotterdam is the first NIO House in the Netherlands. Right in the centre of the port city – at De Meent 80 – the NIO House plays an important role in the local community. Because in addition to being a place where you can experience our models live, you can also relax, get inspired, work, meet and meet others, while being immersed in the world of NIO.

The Smart Cities A to C exchange program aims to share knowledge and experience relating to solutions for urban mobility and mobility hubs between Amsterdam, Rotterdam, and Catalonia.   A delegation from these three locations focusing on smart mobility will be part of this weeks Thursday Gathering, hosted by Rotterdam Partners. If you wish to meet participating companies, stop by this info table!   Companies present: Overview will be added soon!

Join this 30-min of speeddating to meet other visitors and connect with them on a deeper level. Today’s focus: Sustainable Development Goals. What have you done to lower your carbon footprint? Do you have tips for others or are you looking for inspiration? Let’s share them today in an intimate session and unite for the SDGs!   Moderation and questions provided by team Venture Café!

Join us to learn how Fenus will open the financial world for everyone using Crypto & Decentralized Finance (DeFi).   We’ll talk about the 1.4 billion people in the world without bank access and how blockchain technology can change that.   Amjad Fourani will also give a sneak peek at Fenus’ roadmap to become an all-in-one financial platform in a new world of finance.

The Sustainable Development Goals are challenging goals. We often hear about the enormous work that remains to be done to achieve them by 2030.   In this session we however focus on the good stuff: the, perhaps unknown, ideas and businesses that are being executed already, in support of the SDGs.   Expect short (3-min!) descriptions and pitches of ideas and businesses in Rotterdam that contribute to achieving the SDGs by 2030. After the session there is time to mix and mingle in the Café area.   Do you want to take the stage at this session? Please e-mail us your idea and we’ll include you as a speaker. Please include: short description of your idea/business, which SDG it contributes to, current status, what is needed to take the next step.   Looking forward to seeing you there!

5pm to 5.30pm walk in/welcome drink5.30pm to 7pm workshop7pm to 7.30pm socializing / closingWhat brings peace to my life?We all have different priorities when it comes to our daily activities; for some, it could be the families, for others, their hobbies, and for many what they do to support themselves financially, basically, work.The more Daniela experiences work environments around the world, the clearer it becomes that the people we spend our time with at work have a big influence on the personal, professional, and business outcomes. To her, human capital is the most important capital an organization has.In this workshop explore different aspects that make work be peaceful, and therefore, our lives as well.

This week join us for an illuminating discussion that empowers individuals and their communities to embrace neurodiversity as a source of innovation and creativity. Learn how to navigate the complexities of a confusing and uncertain world with grace, resilience, and a renewed sense of purpose. Session host: Rob Hutters!   Agenda 5pm to 5.30pm Walk-in and welcome drink 5.30pm to 7pm workshop 7pm to 7.30pm Close & Networking/Socializing Today’s subject: Neurodiversity as a source of innovation and creativity by Rob Hutters This session is a captivating talk that looks at the intersection of neurodivergence and human flourishing. Through a compassionate and empathetic lens, Rob Hutters will take you on a journey to understand the nuances of neurodiversity, revealing how diversity of experience can be turned into a competitive edge for businesses and individuals alike.   You will learn how to leverage your unique perspective, turning it into a powerful asset for personal growth and societal advancement. Learn to see through the eyes of the neurodivergent and experience a different way of being through a series of short experiments.