100 Drinks, Pitches & Demos: Connected dots sparking curiosity and creating opportunities

Ten years ago, nobody knew exactly where this would lead, but Bert-Jan Woertman and Hans Meeske took a leap of faith. They found themselves in an empty, almost forgotten Philips cyclotron building at the High Tech Campus and filled it with energy. It all began with the simple idea that if you bring people together, magic happens. They called it 'Drinks, Pitches & Demos,' and in the past ten years, it attracted thousands of curious people; all of them became wiser, more connected, and even more curious thanks to 99 episodes of DPD.

On December 4th, DPD's 100th edition expects an audience bigger than ever in the High Tech Campus Conference Center. Although in a different setting than before, the mission remains the same: connecting people to tap into each other's experience, skills, and brains. "Serendipity doesn’t just happen", Woertman explains. "It’s nurtured by the moments when you connect what seems unconnected when you spot an opportunity and act on it. Even before that, by shaping the conditions within which the seemingly unconnectable dots can emerge and find their alignment." So that's what Woertman and Meeske have done for the past ten years, and that's what new members Magdaleen Jooste and Jesper Beerens are helping with since the last couple of years.

"All you need is a group of open minds that see the opportunity, Meeske says. "When those people come together, they can create something larger than they could have on their own. We saw that from the very start. In a few short months, our quiet space was buzzing with life. People rolled up their sleeves, cleaned the building, painted the walls, drilled holes, and installed a kitchen. They shared drinks and exchanged ideas. And in that shared effort, something special emerged."

Over the years, what has made DPD thrive isn't corporate jargon or buzzwords. It’s people lifting one another higher. Early pitches turned into real companies—success stories like LifeSense, Usono, byFlow, Smart Robotics, and Amber all began with a few words in front of a room full of peers.

Dots of progress

At the heart of this is the belief that everyone can create their own dots of progress. Woertman: "The triggers that spark connections and opportunities come from persistence, awareness, and the willingness to get involved. Serendipity isn’t passive. It’s about seeing what others might overlook and acting on it."

Meeske, Woertman, and their companions - all volunteers - have built this by being hands-on, keeping it simple, and staying grounded. "From day one, we’ve kept the atmosphere relaxed, high-level, and open to anyone who wants to contribute. That’s why DPD is still going strong today, with more than 2,000 members in our Meetup group at the heart of our community and newsletters to support the message."

Over time, DPD evolved beyond the metaphor of a cyclotron—forging connections with other innovation hubs such as TU/e Innovation Space, Microlab, Dutch Design Week, and the Twice Startup buildings. Meeske: "With every dot added, DPD became an even more vibrant event, closely connected to the Gerard & Anton community, linking entrepreneurs, experts, and creatives across the region." And of course, Woertman adds, "this would never have been possible without the help of all our partners. Behind both of us, there's a whole army of support - they are the real power of this region!"

Meaningful connections

Looking forward, the mission remains the same for all DPDs after the 100th: to keep connecting the dots. Woertman: "Not just to accelerate businesses but to build meaningful connections between people and ideas. Whether through our monthly events, the awards, or new collaborations, what will keep this alive is the very thing that started it all—people with their sleeves rolled up, willing to make something happen. Together, we fuel the next wave of innovation in Eindhoven."