TERNEUZEN – Glenn Jonkman, owner of Novectra, a young electrical company from Terneuzen, was announced as the winner at BO – What’s Next by Junior Chamber Zeeuws-Vlaanderen.
The annual entrepreneurship event took place at the CO3 Campus in Terneuzen. The BO competition focused on young entrepreneurial talent from the region. The other nominees were travel specialist Gini (Virginia Scheele) and Grondbank Zeeuws-Vlaanderen (Amy and Izaak Nortier). The result was determined by a professional jury consisting of experienced Zeeuws-Vlaamse entrepreneurs, the public — who could vote up to one week before the final — and the four hundred visitors to the BO – What’s Next event at the CO3 Campus. The winner, Glenn Jonkman of Novectra, received a prize package worth €5,000, plus a digital kickstart through a digiscan and hands-on digitalisation session offered by B&P, a knowledge session from Fitr on stress and burnout, a session on the opportunities AI offers (Get a Grip), and a customised entrepreneurship module from Dockwize.
Novectra was founded in 2020. With a strong focus on innovation and sustainability, the company has quickly developed into a prominent player in the electrical market in Zeeland, as we read on the website. Specialisms include solar panels, heat pump panels, sedum roofs, charging stations, home batteries and electric underfloor heating. The company serves both businesses and the residential market. Finalist Virginia Scheele is building a new kind of travel experience with GINI: travel that goes further. She offers international impact and roots trips and also organises cultural tours in the Netherlands. The third finalist, Grondbank Zeeuws-Vlaanderen, run by Amy and Izaak Nortier, has a mission. ‘We believe that the soil we build on, live on and harvest from is also our responsibility. And that we can literally make that soil healthy again,’ say Amy and Izaak.
BO – What’s Next at the CO3 Campus brought knowledge, innovation, music, culinary experiences and entrepreneurship together in one evening. The programme was full of surprises: robots moved through the hall, there were entertainment acts and even the opportunity to play cards. Futurist Christian Kromme opened the evening with an inspiring keynote on technological acceleration, digital transformation and the impact of AI on entrepreneurship.
Next, the microphone was for Commissioner of the King Hugo de Jonge. He outlined the challenges for the Zeeland economy in the future and the role of AI in this. Afterwards it was time for refreshments: at the food court, Zeeuws-Vlaamse chefs presented a selection of flavourful dishes. For the many attendees, an ideal moment to meet and network. After the announcement of the winner of the competition for young entrepreneurs, Novectra, the One Night Band proved to be the perfect mood setter.
