Superconnectors in Rotterdam: Unlocking Professional Success

Primarily, “Superconnector” is a concept or label describing someone highly experienced in the innovation and technology ecosystem. It is a person with a multitude of connections. They are evolved in the knowledge and networks of their field. Furthermore, a Superconnector is characterized by their own success in past experiences. And most importantly, Superconnectors exhibit an openness to mentor others and give back.

Besides labeling a specific type of business professional, a Superconnector in Rotterdam can also refer to a networking event. Created within the collaboration of 42workspace, Varias, Innovation Quarter, and Tech Advocates, it is the first of its kind in the Netherlands. Superconnectors event offers opportunities for young businesses with potential to be connected with the usually hard-to-reach experts, otherwise known as the Superconnectors. The purpose of the event is to rally and solve the daunting problems startups may stumble upon to find the right solutions to their concerns with the Superconnectors.

Despite being in an experimental phase, the event has proved to be a large success with demand for and attraction from many professionals. According to the results of the past events, the startup representatives arrive in astonishment from the amount and quality of help they receive thanks to Superconnectors.

Since 2024, Superconnectors events have expanded with stronger support from regional innovation agencies, including InnovationQuarter and Rotterdam Partners, further solidifying their role as a key network accelerator for tech startups.

Among the many successful connections created after the event, an example includes startup SKOON meeting two of their Superconnector’s recommended people, with one of them becoming a new marketplace partner and the other a new ‘knowledge’ partner.

Having connections and attending networking events truly matters if you plan on being a business-owner with a good reputation. Not to mention, they are great opportunities to promote your business. With the ability to open doors to new possibilities, help companies push past their plateaus and work out the kinks in their strategy, Superconnectors play an important role by outsourcing knowledge and skills from the community.

For instance, let’s say a business has a goal to target its ideal customer. However, it has not been able to for several years and has no understanding of how to succeed or why their efforts have been unsuccessful. Superconnectors should be able to help with such topics. 

Meanwhile, it is very important for the companies themselves to open up and ask questions. To get to the root of the problem, Superconnectors must strategically review the full scope of the obstacle in question to provide expert insight. 

Both the event and those serving as mentors provide opportunities for startups to meet, promote their companies, resolve their challenges, and ultimately progress to the next level in their professional endeavours. 

Local government and ecosystem stakeholders increasingly recognise Superconnectors as essential facilitators of knowledge transfer and economic growth within Rotterdam’s innovative tech landscape.

Discovering Superconnectors: A Guide for Coworking Entrepreneurs

The best place to stay aware of all events being organized in the city is by following the 42workspace platform.

UpRotterdam is a great platform to keep track of as well as it consists of a welcoming community of people eager to offer their experience, help and services.

Generally, it is also a good idea to reach out on your own. Be honest and vulnerable about the problems your company is facing. Digital platforms are also being integrated to provide virtual access to Superconnector matchmaking, expanding reach beyond physical events, especially relevant in 2025’s hybrid networking environment. If the companies reach out to 42workspace, we see how we can help to connect businesses to the right people, platforms, or fellow companies. 

When Superconnectors are asked for help by companies, it is almost always a win-win situation because with even more introductions, further connections can be made.

Rotterdam offers a great networking base and boasts a collaborative culture full of those willing to help their fellow entrepreneurs. This urban center proves to be a truly powerful combination of experts with various networks.

Currently, Superconnectors is a physical event which takes place in Rotterdam, but in the future, the plan is to make it accessible via digital, hybrid formats as well.  

Before directly approaching a Superconnector and dumping all of your problems onto them, you have to first formulate your so-called “Critical Ask.” This is the specific question through which you express the current challenge you are facing within your startup. 

Prior to presenting the Critical Ask, take an objective perspective and double check if this is a serious issue. Ask yourself what you already know about potential solutions to your issue and bring them to the conversation. A significant factor in getting the direction you seek will be having thought thoroughly about your question. Your “Ask” should be sharp, well-formulated and prepared for a discussion with a Superconnector. 

This is the reason we also offer to teach startups on how to get to the core of that Critical Ask. For example, when it comes to using probing questions, you should target the root of the challenge:

• Is this the real challenge? Why? 
• Or is there something else connected to it? 
• Could it be something more complex? 
• Is it something deeper than you can take on yourself?

The most important aspect when approaching Superconnectors is to be prepared by really studying your problem beforehand. 

Workshops and training sessions on formulating effective asks are increasingly offered by 42workspace and partners to improve startup engagement and benefit from Superconnectors.

The experts are given the title of Superconnector after they are voted so by several people. 

At 42workspace, we try to look for people who really stand out through their activeness in the innovation ecosystem. They are those individuals who are passionate about helping others, who in the past have shown their ability to help companies and people tackle their challenges. That is why Superconnectors are well-known and have been active in similar endeavors for several years. Having experience is a necessity. 

The future looks bright and will create more and more Superconnectors as with each generation, younger people become innovative, talented, and connected. 

New initiatives aim to foster a growing pool of Superconnectors by mentoring emerging talent and encouraging cross-sector collaboration in Rotterdam’s evolving innovation ecosystem.