‘When standard treatment ended, I started building my own’

For most people, Sytse Sijbrandij is synonymous with GitLab. The software company he co-founded grew into a globally used DevOps platform and was listed on Nasdaq in 2021. But when the University of Twente alumnus looks back on the past few years, the conversation is barely about software. His greatest challenge began in 2022, when he was diagnosed with cancer.

On 31 August, during the Opening of the Academic Year, Sijbrandij will receive the Van den Kroonenberg Lifetime Achievement Award. It is an honour he deeply appreciates. “The University of Twente already positioned itself as the entrepreneurial university when I was a student. I experienced that mindset first-hand. The fact that this culture is still alive today, and that I now stand alongside these other laureates, makes this award especially meaningful.”

Entrepreneurship started in Twente

Sijbrandij’s entrepreneurial journey began early. During his first year studying Industrial Engineering Management he spotted a design for an infrared receiver on one of the university’s online noticeboards. He built the device himself, improved the design and started selling it online to customers around the world. “I sold thousands of them. Looking back, that was actually my first international business.” Alongside his studies, he was actively involved in his study association. More importantly, it was where he formed lifelong friendships. “We still get together every year for a Christmas dinner. Recently, they even came to visit me in the United States.”

Sytse Sijbrandij at his University of Twente graduation

Recognising opportunity immediately

He recognised GitLab’s potential just as quickly. After discovering an open-source project that allowed software developers to collaborate, he decided that very same day to build an online hosting service around it. “I immediately thought: this is special. I’m going to host it and offer it as a service.” At first, nothing happened. “So I started making pancakes. A little while later I checked again and suddenly the project was featured at the top of the homepage. I spent the rest of the evening answering questions from users.” 
Just one year later, he received an offer of $10 million to sell the company. He declined. “By then I already knew there was far greater potential.”

The entrepreneur remained, even during illness

Years later, that same entrepreneurial mindset unexpectedly proved invaluable again. After being diagnosed with a rare form of bone cancer and finding that standard treatments offered little hope, Sijbrandij approached his illness in the same way he would build a start-up: with curiosity, analytical thinking and a constant search for new possibilities.

“As an entrepreneur, you have to believe in what you're building. When there was no standard treatment left for my situation, I thought: then I'll go looking myself.” He assembled an international team of doctors and researchers, immersed himself in the latest scientific insights, and participated in experimental personalised treatments, including several tailor-made cancer vaccines. He has also chosen to openly share his medical data and experiences so that others can learn from them. Today, there is no evidence of active disease, although he remains under close medical supervision.

Start with one person

His experience has changed the way he thinks about innovation. According to Sijbrandij, people too often focus on solutions for millions of users, whereas many breakthroughs begin with solving one specific problem for one individual. “Innovation often starts with one person solving one problem. Only then can you scale.” That is also the message he hopes to pass on to students and researchers at the University of Twente. “If you're unsure whether you should think internationally, do it. That's where you'll find knowledge, capital and people who have already walked the path you're aiming for. And make sure you seek advice from people who have actually built what you want to build.”

He still follows developments at the University of Twente with great interest, particularly the companies emerging from the university. “Entrepreneurship has been one of the UT’s defining strengths for a very long time. It's wonderful to see that culture is still thriving.”

About the Van den Kroonenberg Lifetime Achievement Awards

To mark the University of Twente’s 65th anniversary, the Van den Kroonenberg Lifetime Achievement Awards will be presented for the first time during the Opening of the Academic Year on 31 August. The awards honour four UT alumni who, as founders or driving forces, played a defining role in the development of internationally leading technology companies. Alongside Sytse Sijbrandij, the awards will also be presented to Jitse Groen (Just Eat Takeaway.com), Geert-Jan Bruinsma (Booking.com) and Martin van den Brink (ASML).