Interview with Fabienne Gram on Techlicious events - where startups & corporates dined to close 70 deals

Tell us a bit about yourself and YES!Delft?
I’m the Community & Events Manager at the tech incubator YES!Delft and have been working for 8 years in the event-world. We support entrepreneurs to build and grow leading technology companies. Our programs turn promising technology ideas and teams into solid startups and grow them to successful companies (160+ companies since 2005). We offer guidance and support to graduates, scientists, engineers and professionals in their startup journey. In 2015, YES!Delft was ranked as a top incubator by University Business Index (UBI), being number 4 in Europe and number 9 worldwide.

What was the goal of the Techilicious event?
The main goal of Techilicious on May 25, 2016 was to accelerate startup & corporate collaboration to innovate faster together. We have transformed YES!Delft into a unique restaurant, called Techilicious. The most promising the start-ups and selected corporate board members and innovation managers came together to dine to deal. Fifty startups from all over the country we’re preselected to dine with the CEO’s and CTO’s of large companies of their choice. From Yuri Sebregts (Shell) and Jan Kees de Jager (KPN) to Vincent Kwaks (Vanderlande Industries) and Hans de Jong (Philips). Practically all big Dutch corporations were present and open to do business with startups. It was a very successful night with over 70 deals which will lead to innovative projects, pilots and partnerships.

How did you use Krowden (formerly NetworkTables) and for what reason?
We used Krowden (formerly NetworkTables) as a tool to facilitate matchmaking beforehand to get the most deals for future collaboration out of Techilicious. Participants could request seats in 2 rounds and corporates would accepts. In this way matches between startups & corporates were made which resulted in 92% of the attendees being matched.

Do you have advice/tips for other event-managers who will use NetworkTables?
Start in time, an impressive guest list or key-note speaker is not enough. Try to create commitment before, during and after the event by offering real value with well-prepared matchmaking and interaction between guests. You are the facilitator, but tools like Krowden (formerly NetworkTables) will make your job easier.

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FAQ

How were the startups selected to participate in the Techilicious event?
Startups were selected to participate in the Techilicious event through a rigorous application process where they had to showcase their innovative ideas, business models, and potential impact on the tech industry. A panel of judges reviewed the applications and selected the most promising startups to be part of the event.

Can you provide examples of some of the innovative projects or partnerships that resulted from the event?
One example of an innovative project that resulted from the Techilicious event is a collaboration between a startup developing AI-powered chatbots and a major e-commerce platform to enhance customer service and streamline online shopping experiences. Another example is a partnership between a cybersecurity startup and a financial institution to improve data protection and prevent cyber threats.

What are some common challenges that event-managers face when using NetworkTables, and how can they be overcome?
Some common challenges that event-managers face when using Krowden (formerly NetworkTables) include technical issues with the platform, difficulty in managing last-minute changes to seating arrangements, and ensuring smooth communication between attendees and organizers. These challenges can be overcome by providing thorough training to event-managers on how to use the platform effectively, having a dedicated support team available during the event, and implementing clear communication channels for attendees to reach out with any issues or concerns.