Mare Straetmans

In Rotterdam, we work together on the most pioneering solutions, which contribute to the maritime sector’s energy transition, digitalisation and circular economy. The ultimate place for maritime companies which want to innovate and grow their business. The City of Rotterdam, Port of Rotterdam Authority, Deal Drecht Cities, Smart Delta Drechtsteden and Rotterdam Partners are working together on putting the area on the map as the most complete, innovative and sustainable maritime cluster, under the flag of Rotterdam, Maritime Capital of Europe. To further strengthen the competitive position of the regional maritime sector and stimulating doing business and innovate in the Rotterdam region. We do this in close coöperation with the regional maritime sector, network associations and knowledge institutions.

In Rotterdam, we work together on the most pioneering solutions, which contribute to the maritime sector’s energy transition, digitalisation and circular economy. The ultimate place for maritime companies which want to innovate and grow their business. The City of Rotterdam, Port of Rotterdam Authority, Deal Drecht Cities, Smart Delta Drechtsteden and Rotterdam Partners are working together on putting the area on the map as the most complete, innovative and sustainable maritime cluster, under the flag of Rotterdam, Maritime Capital of Europe. To further strengthen the competitive position of the regional maritime sector and stimulating doing business and innovate in the Rotterdam region. We do this in close coöperation with the regional maritime sector, network associations and knowledge institutions.

We have a mission: build new ventures, co-create & scale solutions with passionate and ambitious top talent in the middle of the leading energy & maritime hub in the world. The planet deserves to achieve zero emissions as quickly as possible. In an effort to reach this goal, our aim is to facilitate the collaboration of all challengers both physically and digitally with the Climate & Energy tech hub.

GreenSwans is a climate technology company that commercializes breakthrough transitional technologies to address the $6 trillion global climate economy. Our vision is to be a leading provider of climate solutions that transform key industries to help heal our planet. Already, two patented industrial technologies are in market and primed to bolster planetary health by protecting oceanic wildlife and reducing water waste and carbon emissions. With a founding team that has led or built 22 companies in the industrial manufacturing, software, technology, and industrial process automation sectors – GreenSwans is uniquely suited to source, grow, and bring climate technology solutions to market.

PortXL is the World's 1st Port & Maritime Accelerator. For five years now, PortXL has been committed to giving innovative (young) entrepreneurs a foothold in the maritime business world. In this way, we are working together to create a strong, future-proof port. And just now, in this time of crisis, we need to step up our efforts. That is why PortXL is coming up with a new approach, Match by PortXL. MATCH by PortXL's mission is simple: we want to realise 100 innovative projects in one year. How do we do this? By connecting companies and entrepreneurs, in other words: connecting ships with tugboats that accompany the large ship safely to the port. The cooperation between ship and tugboat is important to achieve the goal, one simply cannot do without the other. That is why I appeal to all businesses in the port of Rotterdam: think like a tugboat! Innovation is now a much-heard and popular word in the maritime sector. Every company does 'something' with it, some more than others. In practice, we at PortXL see that innovation is often also considered exciting. But the fact is: we can no longer ignore it. It is no longer a choice or a nice 'extra'; it is a necessity if we want to continue to exist together as a port, and as a port business sector. That is why PortXL set up MATCH by PortXL. Ten exclusively selected start-ups will be accelerated during an intensive 100-day mentorship driven program located in the city of Rotterdam. Apart from facilities and training, PortXL offers an ecosystem of founders, investors and corporate partners that supports and accelerates the entrepreneurial journey. On the final closure day, Shakedown, the teams will pitch their business ideas to an audience of launching customers, business angels, venture capitalists, multinationals, journalists and sponsors. We don’t just accelerate startups. We innovate ports for sustainable growth