Students rewarded for entrepreneurial spirit

Kazakhstan and Schalow started their company Bondi during their studies. Bondi offers sustainable sharing systems for e-bikes and e-scooters to travellers in Dutch cities. Their aim is to offer a responsible alternative to driving a car.

Two years ago, the pair launched a trial with electric kick scooter sharing in Arnhem. The two received 135,000 euros in funding for their promising company through the Gelderland Valoriseert program. Since then, the entrepreneurs have already employed 10 people.

“In the next 5 years, we want to be operational in all major Dutch cities and have various types of shared mobility options. We’re also looking at international expansion.” Max Schalow, Bondi

Kazakhstan was introduced to entrepreneurship at an early age. "My father and grandfather were both entrepreneurs. They’re an inspiration to me.” Schalow: “In the next 5 years, we want to be operating in all major Dutch cities and offer different types of shared mobility. We’re also looking at international expansion.”

HAN Executive Board chair Rob Verhofstad also handed out the TOR certificate to Gerjan van Stralen, Jimmy Boy Spies and Mees Roppe. They launched their company QR-FIT a year ago and it’s already a great success. Verhofstad is thrilled to see students like Van Stralen, Spies, Robbe, Schalow and Kazakhstan. “We have 37,000 students at HAN. My aim is to deliver 37,000 entrepreneurial professionals. They don't all have to be like these 5, but we as a university of applied sciences want to contribute to society by delivering new entrepreneurial professionals."

People who are up to the task and want to create a better world for the future. Verhofstad: “HAN’s slogan is ‘open up new horizons’. We want to facilitate students in a way that they can develop to their fullest potential and move closer to new horizons. And in the process can make a contribution to the world. These 5 students have shown they can do it.”

Source: Gelderlander