We’re excited to announce that the winner of the LET Award 2024 is Kees Aarts, founder and CEO of Protix!
“Kees Aarts is a visionary leader, renowned for spearheading groundbreaking innovations and driving remarkable company growth. His unwavering commitment to making a meaningful impact motivates him to create innovative solutions that tackle global challenges. His dedication to diversity, equity, and inclusion is demonstrated through his efforts to foster a culture of ongoing dialogue and serve as a role model within the industry. With exceptional leadership skills and resilience, Kees stands out as a source of inspiration for his team, our founder community, and the broader tech ecosystem.” said jury member Gillian Tans.
Omar Zakaria Fouab, founder and CEO of Archipel Academy, won the LET NeXT Award! This newly introduced award honours a promising early-stage scaleup which is part of the Techleap for Scaleups community, experiencing impressive growth and showing bold entrepreneurship, demonstrated success and community engagement.
The Leading Entrepreneur in Tech (LET) Award is a beacon of excellence within the Dutch tech ecosystem, annually celebrating those who are shaping a more innovative and diverse future in technology. These entrepreneurs stand out for their innovative tech-centric solutions, inspiring the tech community and embodying the spirit of ambitious, large-scale thinking.
Constantijn van Oranje, Special Envoy at Techleap
These were the three nominees for the second edition of the LET Award. We congratulate all these finalists for their outstanding work and contributions to the Dutch tech ecosystem. Winner Kees Aarts follows in the footsteps of Mews CEO and co-founder Matthijs Welle, the 2023 recipient of the LET Award.
Kees Aarts is renowned as a thought leader in sustainable agriculture and circular economy, celebrated for his pioneering spirit and commitment to positive change. He is the co-founder and CEO of Protix, an international insect farming operation that specializes in alternative animal protein. The proteins from these insects are incorporated into livestock feed. Kees is recognized as an innovative force in food and feed industries, reshaping global supply chains. As a member of the World Economic Forum’s Future Council on Food Security and Agriculture, and serving on boards like The Shadow View Foundation, and the Druid Collective, Kees actively shapes the future of these sectors.
Wouter Durville, co-founder and CEO of TestGorilla, is revolutionizing the recruitment industry by championing skills-based hiring through TestGorilla‘s platform. With over 400 scientifically validated tests, he’s reshaping traditional practices, ensuring fair selection processes. Under Wouter’s guidance, TestGorilla is redefining recruitment standards, empowering 10,000+ companies to cultivate stronger, diverse teams. This innovative platform prioritizes candidate satisfaction and enables HR teams to make data-driven decisions, fostering inclusivity and innovation in hiring.
Maarten Alblas and Jonas Ruyter, founders and former co-CEOs of DataSnipper, are revolutionizing auditing worldwide with AI automation. Originating from a friend’s struggles with repetitive manual tasks, DataSnipper now boasts 500K+ users across 125 countries. Recently achieving unicorn status after a $100M investment from Index Ventures, valuing the company at $1B. Their joint mission: empower auditors globally. Maarten drives product excellence and innovation, while Jonas ensures client satisfaction. Together, they transform the audit sector.
Techleap is a non-profit organisation, funded by the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy, helping to quantify and accelerate the tech-ecosystem of the Netherlands. Constantijn van Oranje is Special Envoy of Techleap.
