Techleap partners with Booking.com

Amsterdam, 14 Nov 2023 - Techleap, the non-profit organisation that accelerates the growth of Dutch tech start-ups and scale-ups, announces a partnership with Booking.com today, with more to follow soon. The leading digital travel platform will join forces with Techleap in support of their ongoing efforts to help advance the Dutch tech ecosystem.

Techleap is actively seeking partnerships in coming years to support its activities in service of Dutch tech - attracting business partnerships who align and commit with Techleap’s mission. Booking.com’s commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion in tech makes for an ideal partnership with Techleap’s community of Diverse Leaders in Tech. The partnership will initially focus on collaborating on events such as the DEI in Tech Summit and the State of Dutch Tech.

Partnering with companies that not only share the same mission, but also join us in our new phase taking on a new entrepreneurial approach, is a groundbreaking step for Techleap. Some activities will become self-sustaining, with support from business partnerships helping to achieve a greater impact in Techleap’s mission to build the strongest performing tech ecosystem in Europe.  

"By fostering deep and long-lasting partnerships with organisations who share our ambitions, we can achieve the most lasting impact," said Hadewych Corstens, Commercial Director of Techleap. "We are excited to strengthen and expand our initiatives through this strategy. In the end, working together and exchanging expert knowledge allows us to accomplish so much more.”

Intensifying ecosystem collaboration

Founded in the Netherlands in 1996, Booking.com was one of the first Dutch unicorns and still one of only a handful of European tech companies to establish itself successfully as an international player. With more than 100 nationalities working at their headquarters in Amsterdam, the company also openly advocates for a more diverse and inclusive industry through numerous partnerships and initiatives, both locally and globally, and continues to play an active role in fostering enhanced collaboration and knowledge sharing across the broader Dutch tech ecosystem.

“The combination of entrepreneurial drive and access to diverse, international talent in the Netherlands creates a unique environment that is essential for start-ups to grow and thrive,” said Arjan Dijk, Senior Vice President at Booking.com. “We’re delighted to be partnering with Techleap and to further contribute to an even more inclusive and dynamic Dutch tech ecosystem for the long-term, helping strengthen the country’s reputation as a leading hub for innovation.”

End of press release

About Techleap

Techleap is a non-profit organisation subsidised by the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy and working towards a more public private funded program. It aims to accelerate the growth of Dutch tech start-ups and scale-ups. The organisation creates an ideal environment for technology companies to scale by acquiring and sharing knowledge. This enables the Netherlands to better respond to major societal transitions, securing jobs, and future earning capacity.Recently, the Techleap program was extended with government subsidy until 2026 - with the ambition to expand its community programs. The organisation has set the goal of making its community initiatives self-sustaining through attracting business partnerships who align and commit with Techleap’s mission. 

About Booking.com 

Part of Booking Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: BKNG), Booking.com’s mission is to make it easier for everyone to experience the world. By investing in the technology that helps take the friction out of travel, Booking.com’s marketplace seamlessly connects millions of travellers with memorable experiences every day. For more information, follow @bookingcom on social media or visit globalnews.booking.com.