Join Startup Grind Berkeley for our third ever event at the Sutardja Center for Entrepreneurship and Technology - SCET at Memorial Stadium at UC Berkeley!

Wouter Roelofs is a diplomat and the Innovation Attache at the Dutch Consulate General in SF. The role of consulates as economic outposts is to facilitate conversation between nations and industries.

The Netherlands has a history of pioneering new economies and creating markets.

Some wisdom from Wouter:

1) Like in Startup Grind, I’ve found that true relationships are built in person and with experts (through travel, with visits and counter-visits). There’s no shortcut to cultural exchange. Seeing something or someone in person, makes all the difference

2) Understanding emerging tech ecosystems in regions, and the political relationships and policies necessary to enter a market takes time that private sector folks don’t have a lot of.

3) Determining what won’t work is as important as understanding what will. Solutions must fit the existing policy climate, business trends, infrastructure, etc.

4) A good public sector is symbiotic to successful entrepreneurship. Diplomats facilitate the adoption of new tech through building strategic relationships with public and private sector officials.

We’ll have food, drinks, swag, and you’ll make lots of new friends :)