The entrepreneurial alumni group from the University of Twente recently enjoyed an insightful and engaging visit to Robin Radar Systems in The Hague, a tech leader dedicated to enhancing safety through innovative radar solutions. Co-founded by UT alumnus Siete Hamminga, Robin Radar has become a trailblazer in actionable radar technologies for bird strike prevention in aviation, bird monitoring in wind farms, and drone detection in defense and security.
The visit commenced with a welcome address from Marcel Verdonk, CCO, who provided an overview of Robin Radar’s impactful work and its role in promoting safety across various industries. Following Verdonk, CEO and founder Siete Hamminga shared his entrepreneurial journey, reflecting on both his successes and challenges during and after his time at UT. He quoted, “Success is going from one failure to another without losing enthusiasm,” illustrating his leadership style and personal values with authenticity and charisma.
During the factory tour, UT alumni Wouter Keijer, Tom Nagel, and Bob Moll offered detailed insights into the company’s processes, explaining the assembly and testing of Robin Radar’s cutting-edge systems. The event fostered a collaborative atmosphere, as all attendees were UT entrepreneurs, further enriching the discussions.
This visit was particularly timely, coinciding with the recent announcement of an international scale-up collaboration with investment partner Parcom. Additionally, Siete Hamminga was recently honored with the Van de Kroonenberg Award for Young Entrepreneurship from the Twente University Fund. One alumnus humorously remarked, “The Van de Kroonenberg Prize... a catalyst for the successful takeover of Robin Radar!”.
The evening concluded with a lively dinner that sparked further discussions among the entrepreneurial alumni. This event not only highlighted the potential for collaboration and growth inspired by their shared UT background but also encouraged attendees to remain actively involved by serving as entrepreneurial coaches or participating in future company visits and initiatives.
About the Entrepreneurial Alumni Group (EAG)
The EAG is an alumni initiative aimed at raising awareness and recognition of the entrepreneurial spirit at UT by enhancing the success of UT spin-offs and founders. The EAG focuses on strengthening UT spin-offs and entrepreneurs by leveraging our knowledge, expertise, and network, as well as organizing value-adding events that connect emerging companies with established entrepreneurs. Rather than competing with existing initiatives, they aim to support wider accessibility to knowledge, experience, and networks.
