With backgrounds in aerospace engineering, civil engineering, and econometrics, Paul brings a unique blend of expertise to the table. We had the pleasure of sitting down with him and came away with an inspiring testimonial.
In this interview, Paul shares his experience with 42workspace. He discusses how its interactive and supportive network of professionals has helped him grow his network, maintain meaningful connections, drive innovation, and scale his business.
Robin Gordijn (left) and Paul van Erp (right), co-founders of Vera Connect
Community and culture at 42workspace
Paul highlights the unique, community-oriented culture that defines 42workspace. According to Paul, the environment at 42workspace helps spontaneous interactions, where initiating conversations over a simple cup of coffee with individuals from different companies becomes a natural part of the day. Paul explained that this culture of openness and connectivity boosts collaboration on small but significant activities, such as sharing lunch, seeking knowledge, or asking questions about various fields. “It’s truly a community in that sense, and joint events further strengthen these bonds, making it easier to talk to each other personally and professionally,” Paul says. He believes these events build a sense of friendship and collaboration among the members, positively impacting the overall working experience.
Professional Growth and Feedback
Though it’s only been a few months since Vera Connect began working at 42workspace, Paul describes how the community has played a significant role in their growth and product development. “It’s mostly explaining our story and getting feedback on the product. This helps in the growth of the product and our team,” he explained. Interacting and exchanging views with other entrepreneurs and freelancers in the coworking space have helped him and his team refine their pitch and product. “The feedback received from the community has been invaluable,” he shares.
Testing and Early Adopters
As Paul and his team continue to add features to make the app more robust, he explains how the enthusiasm and expertise within 42workspace have benefited Vera Connect, as people gladly agree to be test users. “The community is always enthusiastic about testing. There’s a lot of tech talent here and early adopters keen to try out new apps,” he says. This supportive environment provides essential feedback that drives continuous improvement and innovation.
Vera Connect team meeting at 42workspace.
Networking and Collaborations
So, is he looking to collaborate with anyone from 42workspace? “We’ve made some initial connections with people that can help us. We already have some people here that we talk to, and have agreed to sit down with. We haven’t set up professional collaborations yet, but we’re open to it,” he explains. Another striking feature that fascinates Paul is 42workspace’s rich ecosystem, including initiatives like Rotterdam Tech Social, which allow the tech community and changemakers in Rotterdam to connect, support each other, and get help from the ecosystem too.
Exciting Future Developments at Vera Connect
Like most startups, Vera Connect is currently bootstrapped and plans to leverage the 42workspace community for support when seeking funding. Outlining the promising future developments they are working on, particularly their plans for growth and seeking investments, he optimistically says, “We finance our company now with some IT assignments, but we will need investments at a certain point. Hopefully, the community will open many doors for us when we’re ready for that step.”
Paul adds, “In general, 42workspace is great for somebody who likes to be in an environment where things happen, especially if your company is at a point where it can help from interactions for testing, going to market , seeking investments, or anything else the community can help you with, including all the later phases.”
As Vera Connect continues to grow and innovate, Paul remains optimistic about the future. The supportive environment of 42workspace provides valuable resources and connections that will help them in their journey. With the community’s backing, Vera Connect is well-prepared to achieve its goals and make a mark in the tech industry.
