Informatietype:
Event
Unit:
High Tech Industry

CTO Unconference 2025

During Upstream, TNO Fast Track – supported by Invest-NL and Techleap –  organizes the CTO Unconference. During the Unconference you will get inspired by a battle-tested and experienced CTO, exchange challenges in groups in a supportive environment and learn to navigate your challenges along the way. It is a dynamic event in which the participants decide for themselves which topics will be discussed and how the conversations will go. This is the opportunity to explore together the most important themes and challenges of deeptech CTOs and/or technical founders.

Join the event
Startdatum:
Time:
13:30 - (CET)
Location:
CIC Rotterdam
Costs:
Free

Introduction

TNO Fast Track, Techleap and Invest-NL are joining forces to bring you an exclusive CTO Unconference, designed to provide fresh perspectives, hands-on discussions, and practical solutions for your toughest tech hurdles.
Are you a CTO or part of your company's technical team, facing challenges where expert help would make a difference? Join us for this unique event, where you'll have the opportunity to learn from other experienced technical entrepreneurs and exchange insights with your peers.

About TNO Fast Track

TNO Fast Track helps startups and scale-ups accelerate technological innovation through independent R&D, expert networks, and state-of-the-art testing facilities. They support entrepreneurs in de-risking innovation, validating concepts, and refining prototypes through applied research and tailored guidance. By bridging the gap between science and market-ready solutions, TNO Fast Track enables companies to bring breakthrough technologies to market faster and more effectively.

About Techleap

Techleap accelerates the growth of Dutch startups by providing access to expert networks, data-driven insights, and tailored programs. They help founders overcome scaling challenges, secure funding, and expand internationally, strengthening the Netherlands' position as a leading tech hub.

About Invest-NL

Invest-NL is the Dutch National Promotional Institute, financing businesses and projects with societal impact that struggle to secure traditional funding. They support pioneering technologies, green initiatives, and social enterprises, driving sustainability and innovation in areas like the carbon-neutral economy, circularity, healthcare, and deep tech.

For whom?

The Unconference is aimed at CTOs or other senior technical roles for who shape the technical roadmap, navigate the technical landscape and own decisions. Are you a founder or CEO with a technical background? Then do sign up as well.

The purpose of an Unconference is peer to peer learning. The expertise, challenges and questions of the participants determine the program of the Unconference. What makes this gathering so valuable is that it revolves around topics that you find important! These can vary widely: they could involve the building blocks for success during your company’s growth, exchanging practical advice about raising investment, the do’s and don’ts for attracting talent, specific personal choices you have made in entrepreneurship and any best practices or failures from which everyone can learn.

Practical information

CIC Rotterdam is based in the Groothandelsgebouw just a few steps from Rotterdam Central Station. After the program has ended we will return to Annabel for day-zero drinks.

Programme

The full program is about 3 hours. We will finish on time to join the day-zero drinks at Annabel.

Keynote and Q&A

We are honored to welcome Tanja Claasen, COO and CTO of Robin Radar Systems, a leading technology company specializing in detecting and classifying small airborne objects such as birds and drones. Tanja will share her insights on the role of AI in the company’s growth and innovation processes, focusing on both its potential and risks. She will also discuss her experiences in driving structured innovation and ensuring successful product launches in a fast-growing scale-up environment.

Break-out sessions

After setting the stage by an experienced startup facilitator, a number of small groups will be formed in which attendees are welcomed to share about their journey and learnings so far. Groups will be rotated so you have the opportunity to speak with everybody you wish. A few break-out sessions have been prepared. We hope they inspire you to define the topic that would like to address for your startup/scaleup.

Session #1 by Pavel Kudlacek - Head of Product Development at LeydenJar Technologies

LeydenJar is developing a 100% silicon anode that boosts the energy density of li-ion batteries for many different applications in consumer electronics and automotive. How do you keep your R&D team thriving while aiming high? This session tackles that challenge head-on.

Session #2 by Roel Smallegoor - Technology manager at Myne

Roel Smallegoor will share how he’s quantified the cost of clearing technical debt in Myne’s AI+robotics metal-sorting system—and seeks your help framing the value side of the ledger. How do you tie debt remediation to outcomes like throughput, uptime and plant readiness? Which ROI models and metrics win over non-technical leaders? And what cleanup approaches deliver the fastest payback in regulated, asset-heavy environments? Join us to co-create a decision toolkit for tech-debt investment in complex hardware+software ventures.

Session #3 by Paul Poodt - CTO at SparkNano and Associate Professor at Eindhoven University of Technology

SparkNano is developing next gen nano coating equipment using an innovative patented spatial atomic layer deposition (ALD) technology. Join this session to learn more about growing pains and growth gains. We dive into the transition from start-up to scale-up in deeptech.

Session #4 by Earl Goetheer – CTO at High Tech XL

Earl will share his experiences about the importance of a strategic & adaptive R&D roadmap. From Earls perspective it is very important to synchronize product roadmaps, customer interactions, funding milestones, and hiring plans to keep startup momentum. Bring your own R&D roadmap experiences and share your toughest challenges.

Wrap up

Before heading to Annabel, learnings will be shared and the Unconference will be wrapped up.

To register for the event, please fill in the details below: