Innovation Starts With Customer Problems

Season 07 of Startup Passport by Frontwalker continues with Episode 04 – Lutger Rutten, Co-founder of Sixth Sense Diagnostics, a Port & Maritime finalists at the NL Startup Competition 2026. What started as a student challenge has evolved into a science-driven startup developing rapid diagnostic technology that makes laboratory testing faster, simpler, and accessible anywhere. By transforming complex biosensor research into practical solutions, Lutger and his team are helping industries make faster, more accurate decisions without the need for laboratories or specialized training. In this episode, Lutger shares how Sixth Sense Diagnostics is bringing lab-grade testing on-site, why innovation should start with real customer problems, and how the team moved from human diagnostics into food quality inspection. He also discusses the journey of commercializing academic research, building a startup from university innovation, and creating technology designed to solve real-world challenges. This new season brings conversations with founders, innovators, investors and ecosystem leaders shaping the future of entrepreneurship, in partnership with Erasmus Enterprise and the NL Startup Competition. These conversations are powerful, inspiring, and game-changing, and we can't wait for you to hear them. Stay tuned! New episodes dropping soon!