In TNW style
Lights, camera, action! We kicked off TNW Conference 2025 with a grand opening featuring the Founder & Chairman of TNW, Boris Veldhuijzen van Zanten. He shared a positive message about the exciting innovations shaping the future of technology, setting the stage for a conference brimming with inspiration and groundbreaking ideas. The energy was electric as attendees eagerly anticipated the days ahead, filled with transformative discussions and networking opportunities.
Reshaping Business
Thomas Wolf, Co-Founder and Chief Science Officer at Hugging Face, led a compelling talk on the tensions shaping AI — from open-source vs. proprietary models to trade-offs in efficiency, scale, decentralization, and control. Attendees explored whether openness can rival massive closed systems and where real power lies in how we build and share AI.
Pitch Battle winner!
Congratulations to Tap Electric for taking the crown at our Pitch Battle finals! Our panel of investors, industry leaders, and media were thoroughly impressed by their compelling and influential presentation, which undoubtedly sealed the deal. TNW wishes them all the very best in their future endeavors.
AI, Fraud, and the Future of Money
Matej Pfajfar, Natasha Govender-Ropert, Pernilla Sjöholm and Amelia Isaacs explored how AI is transforming fraud detection, risk management, and financial security—while cybercriminals evolve just as fast. The session delved into the rise of deepfakes, synthetic identities, and AI-driven scams, as well as the ethical and regulatory challenges that come with them. Beyond stopping fraud, the conversation centered on a deeper challenge: rebuilding trust in the digital economy through smarter, more resilient systems.
Get lost on the terrain
Wow, what cool activations! We had the EY Padel Court, the Levi9 car, the AWS networking area, the Airalo claw machine, a Multiball game, the Datasnipper AI photobooth and much more. The sun will be shining again tomorrow so be sure to cover all of these activations with some of your new connections.
EY Dome
EY brought the big names in the industry alongside inspiring talks in their very own EY Dome! Join them tomorrow for talks with CTO of Picnic, Daniel Gebler, Co-Founder & CEO of Carbon Equity, Jacqueline van den Ende, Erik de Heer, Associate Partner & Head of EYnovation Netherlands and much more!
An Expo Beyond Imagination
As always, the sponsors and exhibitors brought their A-game to the event, showcasing the latest trends, connecting with the right audience, and sparking conversations with decision-makers. The expo floor was buzzing with energy, but what truly set this year apart were the innovative booth activations that redefined what's possible. From immersive experiences to eye-catching stands, these activations proved that the expo floor is a platform for unlimited creativity!
Startups & Scaleups
Startups and Scaleups got the chance to exhibit their businesses in front of tech enthusiasts, investors and potential leads on the TNW Conference floor! We might've just have the next few unicorns with us! What startup or scaleup stuck out to you the most?
Aiming for sustainability
TNW Conference is one of the first conferences in The Netherlands to use reusable tableware and utensils thanks to our catering partnership with The Food Line Up. All of the utensils, cups, plates, and packaging at our event are reusable in the effort to minimise our waste and carbon footprint. Make sure to bring your water bottles tomorrow to fill up at one of three water stations.
Juggling Rulebooks & Rocketships
With bold moves from big players like OpenAI and an increasingly influential regulatory stance, Europe proved it’s far from out of the AI race. This standout session brought together top voices who explored how the continent is poised not just to keep pace, but to lead in shaping the future of AI. The discussion sparked fresh optimism about Europe’s unique position at the intersection of innovation and policy.
That's a wrap!
With numerous inspiring talks, innovative startups, and endless networking opportunities, TNW Conference 2025 has come to an end! Thank you to all of the tech enthusiasts, startups, investors, corporates, Government officials, sponsors, exhibitors and partners for coming together to create a future that excites us. Until next time <3