Quality creates better connections

Season 07 of Startup Passport by Frontwalker continues with Episode 09 – Robin Hoogstraten, Co-founder of Upstream Festival. As the co-founder of Upstream Festival and an ecosystem builder, Robin shares how thriving startup ecosystems are created through collaboration, founder-first thinking, and meaningful connections. In this episode, he reflects on Upstream's journey to becoming an independent organisation, the growth of Rotterdam's entrepreneurial ecosystem, and why bringing together the right people is more valuable than simply growing bigger. Robin also discusses what makes a strong startup ecosystem, the importance of being vocal about opportunities within a city, and why collaboration between founders, investors, partners, and institutions is essential for long-term success. He explains how Upstream carefully curates its community to ensure every participant adds value, why the festival prioritises quality over quantity, and how staying founder-centric creates an environment where meaningful connections can thrive. 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!