On (the) T at... David van Iersel - Pinxt

Neighbor Kevin Peels of Evido Innovative Film Production passed the the T-pot on to David who is based in ‘the Case’ with 24 hours in operation (abbreviated 24U). An inspiring meeting place in the plinth of building TQ4 on Strijp-T.

What does your organization do?

“24U in business is an entrepreneurs' platform where currently over 350 organizations and entrepreneurs are connected and meet each other. We facilitate the dialogue by actively making the connection. In this way we offer every entrepreneur 50 to 75 contact moments per year,” says David. “We are located in ‘De Zaak’, as we call this meeting place for entrepreneurs. In addition to 24U, several collaboration partners are based here with whom we produce media such as podcasts, video content and an online magazine, thereby giving a platform to stories from the region.”

“ The origin of the company lies on Strijp-S and through Boudie Hoogedeure I got to know Strijp-T. Through the project in which we interviewed twenty former Philips employees, who had spent the greater part of their working lives in building TQ, I was inspired by the stories and fell even more in love with Strijp-T. When I had the chance to rent a space in which my own office could be housed and I – as it were – could build a small ecosystem around my core team, I did not have to think long. From here, collaborating with innovative and creative companies is so much easier. For example, starting in January we will begin CLUB NXT Media Café in SoMMedia’s TV studio specifically for young professionals and from Strijp-T we will regularly broadcast entrepreneurs’ stories”.

“Your network works, I can attest,” said Boudie. “From the beginning when Strijp-T was in development, I came to 'peek at the neighbors' and in a short time got to know many people and companies. A large part has since established itself at Strijp-T.”

David: “We do not believe in logos but in people. That makes our work so special and rewarding. A compliment we once received was that one of our members said they had gained a lot of knowledge, generated business, but had also made friendships.”

What is your role?

“As an inspirer and driving force, I work from ‘above’ the organization to set the course from there. I am no longer involved in the day-to-day operations. They are carried out daily by an enthusiastic team supported by a flexible layer.”

Who do you want us to go to on the T next time and why?

“Then I immediately think of Rick Scholte of Sorama. He is an inspiring, successful entrepreneur who has the talent to put innovative technological science into simple words. His rapidly growing, now internationally operating, organization works with independent ‘cells’ instead of departments.”