Polarsteps selected for Techleap.nl Rise, the showcase for future unicorns
Polarsteps has been selected to join the first edition of Techleap.nl Rise. With this ambitious programme, Techleap.nl and top entrepreneurs like Pieter van der Does (Adyen), Ali Niknam (bunq), Steven Schuurman (Elastic), Chris Hall (Bynder), Michiel Muller (Picnic) and Gillian Tans (Booking.com) are helping the most promising scale-ups in the Netherlands to grow faster internationally. With its all-in-one travel app, Polarsteps helps millions of travelers plan, track and relive their trips in a smart and beautiful way.
As part of the programme, Polarsteps will be put on the international map with corporates, investors and media. Founders are encouraged to learn from each other about the challenges of scaling up a company and receive support from Dutch top entrepreneurs who share their own insights and lessons learned with this batch of promising scale-ups. Every quarter Techleap.nl Rise will select a new group of entrepreneurs. Other scale-ups that are part of this first batch, are: Easee, Floryn, LTO Network, Mapiq, Nico.Lab, Online Payment Platform, Quicargo, Starred en Wizenoze.
Two unicorns a year, best ecosystem in Europe
The aim of Techleap.nl Rise is to support the emergence and development of world champions in the technology sector, to become less dependent on technological solutions from other countries and to create a climate in which two unicorns per year can 'rise'. By 2023, Techleap.nl Rise intents to have supported 250 promising scale-ups. The insights from the program will be shared to further improve the tech-ecosystem in the Netherlands and to define bottlenecks and solutions for the growth challenges of scale-ups.
Strict selection
The criteria to participate are strict: a scale-up qualifies for the program if they meet the following criteria: currently €10M+ is being raised in a funding round or they are preparing to raise it with their next round; an annual turnover in excess of €1 million; more than 10 FTEs employed; at least 50% annual growth and a clear understanding of the product/service and the market they serve.
Constantijn van Oranje, Special Envoy Techleap.nl: "With Techleap.nl Rise we want to create more Dutch technology companies that can measure themselves against the best internationally. We have found the best entrepreneurs in the business willing to help our most promising scale-ups with honest hard and constructive feedback. By learning from each other's experiences and connecting them to the right parties, we create an innovative climate in which the tech leaders of tomorrow can rise above themselves.”
Koen Droste, Co-Founder and CEO Polarsteps: "Techleap.nl Rise is important to us because it paves the way for us to the international tech scene: from investors, to media and tech talent. We expect the program to have a real impact on the growth of our company through the connections we can make.”
Gillian Tans, Chairwomen Booking.com: "The Techleap.nl Rise program allows me to give back the insights of my own scale-up journey with Booking.com to today's most promising companies.”
Read more about the selected scale-ups and the Techleap.nl Rise program here.
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Download PDFAbout Polarsteps
About Polarsteps
Polarsteps is helping over 7 million travelers across the world to plan, track, and relive their trips. The Amsterdam scale-up was founded in 2015 by a team of avid travelers with a passion for smart technology and cool design. The all-in-one travel app makes every part of the journey easier and more enjoyable: from the very first spark of travel inspiration to reliving it when it’s all over and done. The goal? To inspire and connect people across the globe through travel — so that everyone can express their wanderlust in a beautiful (and responsible) way.
Polarsteps – Make your way in the world
About the app
Easily use your travel bucket list and Polarsteps travel guides to plan a trip and build your own editable itinerary. Once you're there, let us take over and plot your path on a digital world map that you can fill with your own photos, videos, and thoughts. Want to share your journey? Simply invite your loved ones along for the virtual ride. Finally, at the end of it all, you can create a beautifully designed Travel Book with the push of a button – turning your travel moments (the good, the bad, and everything in between) into lifetime memories.
Polarsteps is available for free in the App Store and Google Play store, or visit polarsteps.com.