Upstream Festival 2025 Rotterdam: Network with 2000+ Innovators, Investors, and Founders

If you’re building a startup in climate tech, circular economy, digital innovation, or social impact, and you’re looking for a place where meaningful connections actually happen—not just business card exchanges—Upstream Festival 2025 in Rotterdam might be exactly what you need.

This is not your typical startup conference where you sit through endless panels and leave with a stack of brochures you’ll never read. Upstream Festival is designed around a simple but powerful idea: innovation happens when the right people connect around shared challenges. Over two days in May, more than 2,000 founders, investors, corporate innovators, and policymakers will gather in Rotterdam to forge the kinds of relationships that turn early-stage ideas into funded, scaling companies.

The festival runs May 21-22, 2025, and it’s structured to maximize the chances that you’ll meet someone who can genuinely help your business move forward. Whether that’s a co-founder, an investor, a strategic partner, or a mentor who’s solved the exact problem you’re facing, Upstream creates the conditions for those connections to happen naturally.

This is the sixth edition of the festival, and it’s grown significantly since its launch in 2020. What started as a local Rotterdam initiative has evolved into one of Europe’s most focused gatherings for startups working on the transition to a digital, carbon-neutral, circular, and inclusive economy. If that describes your work, keep reading.

Upstream Festival 2025 at a Glance

What Makes Upstream Festival Different

Most startup conferences follow a predictable formula: keynote speakers on stage, breakout sessions in conference rooms, and awkward networking breaks where everyone checks their phones. Upstream Festival deliberately breaks that mold.

Focus on Connections, Not Just Content: The festival is built around the idea that the most valuable thing you’ll take away is a relationship, not a slide deck. Sessions are designed to be interactive, with plenty of time for questions, discussions, and follow-up conversations. The “Unconference” format—where participants set the agenda based on what they actually want to discuss—ensures that you’re spending time on topics that matter to you, not just what the organizers thought would be interesting.

Two-Day Structure with Purpose: Day Zero (May 21) is all about immersion and side events. This is when you can participate in smaller, more focused gatherings across Rotterdam and neighboring cities like Delft and The Hague. Think workshops, co-founder matching sessions, and even “CrossFit with Investors”—yes, that’s a real thing, and it’s exactly what it sounds like. The idea is to break down the formality and create genuine connections through shared experiences.

Day One (May 22) is the main event, held at Poppodium Annabel in Rotterdam. This is when the festival shifts into high gear with fireside chats, deep dives, pitch sessions, and roundtables. The venue itself is designed to encourage interaction—you’re not sitting in rows staring at a stage; you’re in spaces that facilitate conversation and connection.

Ecosystem Approach: Upstream Festival doesn’t just bring together startups. You’ll find investors actively looking for deals, corporate innovation teams scouting for partnerships, policymakers working on regulatory frameworks, and service providers who can help you scale. This ecosystem approach means you’re not just networking with other founders (though that’s valuable too)—you’re meeting the full range of people who can actually move your business forward.

Sustainability and Impact Focus: If you’re working on climate tech, circular economy solutions, renewable energy, sustainable mobility, or social impact, you’ll find your people here. The festival explicitly focuses on innovations that drive the transition to a more sustainable economy. That means the investors you meet are looking for impact-driven companies, the corporates are serious about sustainability partnerships, and the other founders understand the unique challenges of building businesses that prioritize both profit and planet.

Who Should Attend Upstream Festival 2025

This festival is designed for people who are actively building or investing in the future economy. You’ll get the most value if you fall into one of these categories:

Early to Growth-Stage Founders: If you’re past the idea stage and have a working product, early customers, or are raising your first significant funding round, Upstream is a great place to meet investors, partners, and advisors. The festival attracts both seed-stage and Series A investors, so whether you’re raising €500K or €5M, you’ll find relevant conversations.

Climate Tech and Impact Entrepreneurs: This is one of the few festivals where sustainability isn’t just a token track—it’s the core focus. If you’re building solutions for carbon reduction, circular economy, renewable energy, sustainable food systems, or social impact, you’ll be surrounded by people who understand your market and your mission.

Investors Seeking Impact Deals: VCs, angel investors, and corporate venture arms attend Upstream specifically to find startups working on sustainability and digital transformation. If you’re an investor looking to deploy capital in these sectors, the festival offers curated pitch sessions and networking opportunities designed to surface high-quality deal flow.

Corporate Innovation Teams: Large companies send innovation teams to Upstream to scout for partnerships, pilot opportunities, and acquisition targets. If your startup could benefit from corporate partnerships—whether for distribution, validation, or funding—this is a concentrated opportunity to meet decision-makers.

Ecosystem Builders and Policymakers: Accelerators, incubators, government innovation programs, and policy teams attend to understand emerging trends, support startups, and shape the regulatory environment. If you’re working on policy or ecosystem development, Upstream offers a chance to connect with the people actually building the companies you’re trying to support.

You’re probably not a good fit if you’re still in the idea stage with no product or traction, if your business has nothing to do with sustainability or digital innovation, or if you’re looking for a passive conference experience where you can just sit and listen. Upstream rewards active participation.

Key Sessions and Speakers to Watch

While the full agenda is still being finalized, here’s what you can expect based on previous editions and confirmed speakers:

Fireside Chats with Proven Founders: Past speakers have included Ida Tin (founder of Femtech Assembly and co-founder of Clue), Kiki Lauwers (CEO of Thorizon, a nuclear energy startup), and Ferdinand Grapperhaus (CEO of Next Sense). These aren’t generic motivational talks—they’re deep dives into specific challenges like fundraising in tough markets, navigating regulatory hurdles, and scaling impact-driven businesses.

Pitch Sessions and Demo Days: Selected startups get the chance to pitch to a room full of investors and corporate partners. If you’re raising capital, this is a high-leverage opportunity. Even if you’re not pitching, watching these sessions gives you insight into what investors are looking for and how successful founders tell their stories.

Roundtable Discussions: Small-group conversations on specific topics like “Scaling Climate Tech in Europe,” “Navigating Corporate Partnerships,” or “Building Circular Business Models.” These are capped at 10-15 people to ensure everyone can contribute, and they’re often the most valuable sessions of the festival.

The Unconference: This is an open-format session where the agenda is set by participants. You can propose a topic, facilitate a discussion, or just join conversations that interest you. Past unconference topics have ranged from “How to hire your first 10 employees” to “Navigating EU sustainability regulations.”

Side Events on Day Zero: These include “Meet Your Co-Founder” (run by YES!Delft, one of Europe’s top incubators), “Synergy Gathering” (focused on energy innovation), and various networking dinners and activities. These smaller events are often where the most meaningful connections happen because they’re more intimate and focused.

Insider Tips for Getting the Most Out of Upstream Festival

Attending a festival like this is an investment of time and money. Here’s how to make sure you get a return on that investment:

Set Clear Goals Before You Arrive: Don’t just show up hoping something good will happen. Be specific about what you want to achieve. Are you looking to raise capital? Find a co-founder? Land a corporate partnership? Meet potential advisors? Write down 2-3 specific goals and plan your time around achieving them.

Research Attendees in Advance: The festival typically publishes an attendee list or networking app. Use it. Identify the 10-15 people you most want to meet and reach out before the event. A message like “I see you’re attending Upstream—I’d love to grab coffee on Day Zero to discuss [specific topic]” works much better than trying to corner someone during a coffee break.

Participate in Day Zero Events: The side events on May 21 are where you’ll make deeper connections because they’re smaller and more focused. If you’re serious about networking, arrive a day early and participate in at least 2-3 of these sessions.

Prepare Your Pitch (Even If You’re Not Pitching): You’ll have dozens of conversations where someone asks “What are you working on?” Have a crisp, compelling 30-second answer ready. Practice it until it feels natural. This isn’t about being salesy—it’s about making it easy for people to understand what you do and how they might help.

Follow Up Immediately: The real value of a conference happens after the event. Take notes on every meaningful conversation, and follow up within 48 hours while you’re still fresh in people’s minds. A simple “Great to meet you at Upstream—here’s the resource I mentioned” email can turn a casual conversation into a valuable relationship.

Don’t Over-Schedule: It’s tempting to try to attend every session and meet every person. Resist that urge. Leave space in your schedule for spontaneous conversations, for processing what you’re learning, and for following up on connections you’ve made. Some of the best opportunities come from unplanned interactions.

Bring Business Cards (Yes, Really): Despite all the networking apps, physical business cards still work. They’re fast, they don’t require Wi-Fi, and they give people something tangible to remember you by.

Application Timeline and Logistics

Here’s what you need to know about planning your attendance:

Ticket Sales: Early bird tickets typically go on sale 2-3 months before the festival. Based on past editions, expect prices to range from €100-300 depending on when you buy and what tier you choose. Student and startup discounts are usually available. Past editions have sold out, so if you’re planning to attend, register early.

Accommodation: Rotterdam has plenty of hotels, but they fill up during major events. Book your accommodation as soon as you have your ticket. The festival venue (Poppodium Annabel) is centrally located, so staying anywhere in Rotterdam’s city center will work well.

Travel: Rotterdam is easily accessible by train from Amsterdam (30 minutes), Brussels (1.5 hours), and Paris (3 hours). The city’s airport (Rotterdam The Hague Airport) handles European flights, though many international visitors fly into Amsterdam Schiphol and take the train.

Visa Requirements: If you’re traveling from outside the EU, check whether you need a Schengen visa. The application process can take several weeks, so start early. The festival organizers can provide invitation letters if needed for your visa application.

Schedule Planning: Block out May 20-23 if possible. Arrive on May 20 to settle in and attend evening networking events. Participate fully on May 21-22. Use May 23 for follow-up meetings with people you met during the festival—many attendees stick around an extra day for this purpose.

What Past Attendees Say

Upstream Festival has built a strong reputation over its five previous editions. Here’s what makes it valuable according to founders and investors who’ve attended:

Quality Over Quantity: “I’ve been to dozens of startup conferences, and most feel like speed dating—lots of shallow conversations that go nowhere. Upstream is different. The format encourages deeper discussions, and the people who attend are genuinely interested in collaboration, not just collecting contacts.” — Founder of a Dutch climate tech startup

Investor Access: “As an early-stage founder, getting in front of investors is always a challenge. At Upstream, I had substantive conversations with three VCs who were actively investing in my space. One of those conversations turned into a term sheet six weeks later.” — Founder who raised a seed round after attending

Ecosystem Connections: “I wasn’t looking for funding—I was looking for strategic partners. I met two corporate innovation teams at Upstream who became pilot customers, and one of those pilots turned into a significant commercial contract.” — B2B SaaS founder

Practical Learning: “The sessions aren’t just inspirational fluff. I learned specific, actionable strategies for navigating EU regulations, structuring impact metrics, and building partnerships with corporates. I left with a to-do list, not just motivation.” — Social impact entrepreneur

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this festival only for Dutch startups? No, Upstream is international. While it’s based in Rotterdam, attendees come from across Europe and beyond. Sessions are conducted in English, and the focus is on pan-European innovation ecosystems.

Do I need to be raising capital to attend? Not at all. While many attendees are fundraising, others are looking for co-founders, strategic partners, talent, advisors, or simply to learn and connect with peers. The festival serves multiple purposes beyond just investor meetings.

Can I attend just one day? Technically yes, but you’ll get much more value from attending both days. Day Zero’s side events are where many of the best connections happen, and Day One builds on those relationships.

Will there be opportunities to pitch? There are formal pitch sessions for selected startups (you typically apply in advance), but there are also informal opportunities to share your work during roundtables, unconference sessions, and networking breaks.

Is this festival worth it for early-stage startups? If you have a working product and some initial traction, yes. If you’re still in the idea stage, you might get more value from a more educational program or accelerator. Upstream is designed for startups that are ready to scale.

What’s the dress code? Startup casual. Think nice jeans and a button-down, not suits and ties. Rotterdam’s startup scene is practical and unpretentious.

Will sessions be recorded? Some sessions are typically recorded and shared with attendees, but the networking and interactive elements are the real value, and those don’t translate to video.

How to Apply and Register

If Upstream Festival sounds like a good fit for your goals, here’s what to do next:

Step 1: Visit the Official Website: Go to www.upstreamfestival.com to see the full agenda, speaker lineup, and ticket options. The website also includes information about side events, accommodation, and travel.

Step 2: Register Early: Tickets go on sale several months before the festival. Early bird pricing can save you 30-50%, and you’ll guarantee your spot before the event sells out.

Step 3: Plan Your Schedule: Once you have your ticket, review the agenda and identify which sessions, workshops, and side events align with your goals. Many side events require separate registration, so don’t wait until the last minute.

Step 4: Connect with Attendees: If the festival provides a networking app or attendee list, use it to reach out to people you want to meet. Schedule coffee meetings or dinners in advance.

Step 5: Prepare Your Materials: Update your pitch deck, practice your elevator pitch, and make sure your LinkedIn profile is current. Bring business cards and any materials that might be useful in conversations.

Step 6: Book Travel and Accommodation: Rotterdam hotels fill up during major events. Book early to get convenient locations at reasonable prices.

Upstream Festival 2025 is one of the most focused opportunities in Europe to connect with the people building, funding, and supporting the next generation of sustainable and digital innovation. If you’re working on solutions that matter—not just for your bottom line, but for the planet and society—this is where you’ll find your community.

For complete details, speaker announcements, and ticket registration, visit the official Upstream Festival website at www.upstreamfestival.com.