First edition of Drinks, Pitches & Demos in Tilburg
A stage full of innovators, chips galore, and a community that connects: DPD enjoys a successful premiere in Tilburg's Spoorzone.
Published on June 3, 2025
Bert-Jan Woertman, August de Vocht
Bart, co-founder of Media52 and Professor of Journalism oversees IO+, events, and Laio. A journalist at heart, he keeps writing as many stories as possible.
On May 27, Building 88 in the Spoorzone was the bustling scene of the very first Tilburg edition of Drinks, Pitches & Demos (DPD). What started as an exciting trip outside Eindhoven grew in an hour and a half into convincing proof that Brabant has more than one innovation hub. Around sixty visitors – from startup founders to curious students – immersed themselves in a series of thirteen short and appealing pitches that together reflected the creativity and social engagement of the region.
“This is a new beginning,” said co-organizer Bert-Jan Woertman. “We are bringing the energy of Eindhoven to Tilburg to forge new connections between innovators, experts, and networks in Brabant.” Together with August de Vocht, he guided the audience through an hour of inspiring ideas for what could one day be the new startups. This provided so much food for thought that the last guests did not leave the building until many hours later.
From smart walking sticks to AI for expats
The pitches ranged from super practical to socially groundbreaking. For example, Lumicane presented a luminous white cane that is visible in the dark – literally a life-saving innovation. And Hanna Niamilentseva from NutriHanna addressed the daily struggles of expats in the Netherlands: “Food can be a source of stress. The standard Dutch dietary recommendations – such as three sandwiches in the morning and three sandwiches in the afternoon – don't always work for people from other cultures.”
DeelscootMobiel also addressed an urgent problem: the inaccessibility of public spaces for people who depend on a mobility scooter. With a shared scooter around the corner, this problem can be tackled. Breathing New Energy demonstrated a high-tech shirt with built-in sensors and vibration motors to alleviate the symptoms of post-COVID patients.
“Or more broadly, this can help everyone improve their breathing.”
Young talent, big ideas
The stage also provided a platform for student teams and young entrepreneurs who presented their stories with remarkable conviction. NextGen AI, for instance, aims to give all children access to AI education. Six provinces have already been conquered; nationwide coverage is the next milestone. The pitch by Bright (iGEM) about a bioluminescent sensor to detect endometriosis more quickly resonated. “Women currently wait an average of 5.5 years for a diagnosis. That has to change,” they said with determination.
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Another initiative that received loud applause was 15 Minute Coaches: an accessible mentoring platform for students who struggle with the telephone. “They simply don't dare to call,” said the initiator. “So we provide people who give 15 minutes of their time so they can practice—that makes all the difference.”
LuckyPay, an idea by Aaron van Rijn, aims to make it easier to give someone money as a birthday present: “a kind of reverse Tikkie.” Marijn van der Laan takes an entirely different approach with Sadrana: he aims to assist companies that must comply with the European Accessibility Act. "The problem is the scope of this legislation; it's almost impossible to get through it all. But it's very important, so you'd better comply. We make that easy.“ Instantflows, an initiative by Priscille Niakale, uses AI to simplify research processes. ”Even without any research experience, we make it possible to conduct in-depth research yourself in an affordable way."
Personal and social
The pitches were often peppered with personal stories, like that of Mathieu Konijn, who developed the Cancer Benefit Pass after being diagnosed with Hodgkin's disease. “I couldn't work and had little money, but I did need to do fun things. This pass is intended to give young people in similar situations a social life again.”
And then there was HomeFlow, a minimalist framework by Chiawen Lee, designed to help families tackle chaos in their homes and their minds. “A tidy environment – from your freezer to your wardrobe, from the children's room to the kitchen – equals a tidy mind,” she said. Her workshops help families take steps in that direction together.
Finally, the pitch from Social Housing Swap addressed a pressing problem in the Dutch housing market: the long waiting lists for social housing. With the help of AI, house hunters can connect and exchange digital proposals, including files that can be used immediately by housing associations. “What if someone else would be happy with my house—and I with theirs?”
Tilburg is here to stay
In their closing remarks, Woertman and De Vocht expressed their delight with Tilburg's first: “We are all volunteers, but what happened here tonight feels professional and committed. Tilburg has proven itself.”
With free beer, chips, a warm atmosphere, and a stage for fresh ideas, the first Tilburg DPD edition was more than a successful experiment. Calls for a sequel were already being heard during the drinks reception—and with good reason. Innovation flourishes where people come together, and Tilburg now has an extra place for that.
Would you like to pitch yourself or just come and listen? Keep an eye on the LinkedIn page of Drinks, Pitches & Demos (part of Gerard & Anton) for the next edition. It's already tomorrow (Wednesday afternoon).