News
2 min read
Behind many of the AI innovations that organisations use today, there is a Dutch start-up. Yet many of these companies remain relatively unknown outside their own networks. That is a missed opportunity, because it is precisely these companies that are developing solutions to help organisations apply AI responsibly, at scale and with demonstrable value.
On 9 and 10 September, Data Expo at Jaarbeurs Utrecht brings start-ups, organisations and AI professionals together to exchange knowledge, practical experiences and innovations. With the message "The Netherlands does not have a shortage of AI talent. It has a shortage of visibility, and of boldness," Dutch Startup AI takes Data Expo visitors through the state of the Dutch AI start-up sector and the question of which developments will define the next growth phase of AI in the Netherlands.
At Data Expo, Dutch Startup AI will present the lecture '560 startups, 1,024 founders, billions in funding: the invisible Dutch AI start-up sector'. Using current figures and three practical examples, they will demonstrate how large and mature the Dutch AI start-up sector has become.
The session highlights where the true strength of Dutch AI start-ups lies. Not in the largest model, but in domain knowledge, high-quality data and solutions that allow organisations to retain ownership of their own data. In addition, themes that will be key to further sector growth are addressed, including data strategy, governance, AI adoption, digital sovereignty and the choice of the right cloud and data architecture.
Alongside the Dutch Startup AI lecture, Data Expo offers a programme of more than 150 talks and keynotes centred on Dutch real-world cases. Visitors will gain insight into how Dutch organisations are already deploying AI today, the choices they are making and the lessons they have learned along the way.
A selection from the programme:
Data Expo brings together professionals from data, AI, technology and business to exchange knowledge, share practical experiences and initiate new collaborations. At the centre is one question: how do you translate data and AI into demonstrable business value? Over two days, you will discover more than 150 keynotes & lectures, inspiring Dutch real-world examples and strategic insights for organisations looking to move from experiment to production and from pilot to scale. For AI start-ups, this offers a unique environment to share knowledge, make new connections and engage with organisations that are actively looking for innovative solutions.
Curious about how the Dutch AI sector is developing and which innovations are already making an impact today? Visit Data Expo on 9 and 10 September at Jaarbeurs Utrecht. Register for free at www.data-expo.nl and meet start-ups, organisations and AI professionals from across the Dutch ecosystem.
External links open in a new tab and lead to sites outside Dutch Startup, we don't control their content.
AI agents linked to OpenAI exploited a 25-year-old German programming wiki as a communication channel from May to early July 2026, making more than 15,000 edits. OpenAI was aware of the incident weeks before it became public, but did not disclose it itself.
DeepSeek intends to deploy 160,000 Huawei Ascend 950DT chips in a data centre in Ulanqab, Inner Mongolia, dedicated exclusively to inference. Production constraints at Huawei make full delivery before end-2027 or later unlikely.
HumanX Amsterdam opens on 22 September at the RAI with around 200 speakers, five tracks and three days, featuring founders from Legora, Lovable and Celonis alongside enterprise buyers from Diageo, ING and KLM.
