In yet another major milestone for the Eindhoven tech ecosystem, HighTechXL – Europe’s only deep-tech venture builder – is collaborating with Silicon Valley-based Extreme Tech Challenge to create a major tech forum.
HighTechXL and Extreme Tech Challenge will present Deep Tech Connect: A Deep Tech Innovation Forum on June 28 at the High Tech Campus Eindhoven Conference Center. Based in San Francisco, Extreme Tech Challenge (XTC) is the world’s largest startup competition for entrepreneurs addressing global challenges.
This inaugural Deep Tech Connect will be a full-day innovation showcase and deal-flow exchange with roundtable sessions for deep-tech investors and will include the CEO of Europe’s most valuable deep-tech company.
Peter Wennink, President and CEO of ASML, will present the keynote address. ASML is the only company in the world that produces extreme ultraviolet photolithography machines, equipment essential to making the world’s most advanced computer chips.
ASML, founding partner of HighTechXL and a member of the Eindhoven Startup Alliance, was recently named Europe’s most valuable tech company, with a market capitalization of more than $247 billion.
In addition to a rare public appearance by Wennick, the event will include a pitch showcase with select deep-tech startups – including alumni from HighTechXL and LUMO Labs – investor breakout sessions focusing on AI and big data, quantum computing, space, semiconductor, TechBio and networking sessions.
Nicolas Autret (Partner at Walden Catalyst Ventures) will present insights and key takeaways from The European Deep Tech Report, developed by Walden Catalyst Ventures in collaboration with Dealroom and Lakestar. Following will be a panel discussion on this topic with Constantijn Van Oranje-Nassau (Envoy, Techleap) and Jean-Francois Bobier (Partner and Director, Boston Consulting Group), moderated by HighTechXL CEO John Bell.
“Deep Tech Connect is THE place to be for European deep tech entrepreneurs, investors and corporates at the heart of Europe’s leading deep tech ecosystem,” said John Bell, HTXL CEO. “The event combines renowned speakers and panels with ample opportunities for personal interactions.”
The HighTechXL/XTC partnership comes as Europe’s semiconductor giants such as ASML vie for global dominance with American and Asian companies.
“In 2021, European deep tech had its best year with $22 billion in funding and billion dollar exits,” said Victoria Slivkoff, Executive Managing Director of Extreme Tech Challenge and Head of Ecosystem at Walden Catalyst Ventures. “We’re delighted to partner with HighTechXL to create a forum for investors, corporate executives, and entrepreneurs to come together and share best practices and opportunities to further advance Europe’s deep tech ecosystem in solving our toughest global challenges.”
Speakers will be announced during the next few weeks.
Exposure on such an influential stage will give startups access to corporate executives, VCs and more attending Deep Tech Connect, along with the potential for investment and corporate strategic partnership.
Deep Tech Connect is a perfect example of open innovation and pulling together parties that strengthen our global ecosystem.
“Thanks to ecosystem partner LUMO Labs for their support in initiating Deep Tech Connect and unlocking opportunities for all impact startups to showcase their solutions in solving grand societal challenges,” said John Bell.
About HighTechXL:
HighTechXL is the Netherlands’ only deep-tech venture builder. We merge the unique skills of our global ecosystem with advanced technologies and entrepreneurship to build deep-tech ventures that tackle grand societal challenges.
HTXL scouts advanced technologies from world-renowned R&D centers and tech companies, builds high-performance teams around the technologies and guides the teams through a rigorous venture building program. HighTechXL ventures must address one or more of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
About Extreme Tech Challenge (XTC):
Inspired by the United Nations 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), XTC, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit public benefit corporation with hundreds of global partners, is the largest ecosystem and competition for purpose-driven tech startups. XTC is at the nexus of a global innovation ecosystem comprised of corporations, venture capital investors, universities, foundations, policymakers and other innovation ecosystem builders working together to solve the world’s most pressing challenges through tech innovations, entrepreneurship, and meaningful capital. Since 2015, XTC finalists have raised $3.5B in investment capital.
