The mobility and logistics of tomorrow! How Connekt connects startups and accelerates innovation

Sybe Andringa

Project Manager at Connekt | Working together on sustainable mobility

At the end of January, during the Connekt Affiliation event, I once again brought together established organizations from the Connekt network and promising startups. The result? Four new Affiliate members who will strengthen our network in the coming period: Perciv.ai, Urban Vind, Roadscor, and Coding the Curbs. In this article, you will discover how the Connekt Affiliation program connects startups and established organizations, and the new ideas this leads to.

The power of startups
Accelerating innovation in mobility and logistics – that is the core of Connekt. Startups play a crucial role in this. They bring fresh ideas, groundbreaking technologies, and new business models. Flexibility and the ability to respond quickly to market changes are their strengths. But without the right networks and resources, their impact remains limited. That is exactly where Connekt can make a difference for them.

Established Connekt members benefit from the fresh perspective and innovations these startups bring. But how do they find the right match? That is where the Affiliation program comes in. Since 2014, Connekt has been selecting promising startups and putting them in direct contact with Connekt members. This creates opportunities for new collaborations.

Large organizations possess experience, market knowledge, and financial power. Startups bring speed, agility, and innovative technologies. By connecting these worlds, we accelerate innovation – and that is exactly what Connekt aims to achieve.

Connekt Affiliation event
A few weeks ago, I organized the Connekt Affiliation event for the second time, an important moment within our Affiliation program. Here, ten startups presented their innovative ideas for smart and sustainable mobility and logistics. After a short pitch, they engaged in dialogue with Connekt members at a lively startup marketplace. This offered Connekt members the chance to discover new ideas, contribute to further development, and explore new collaborations.

This year, the startups could win two prizes. The grand prize: a two-year Connekt membership and a direct link to multiple Connekt members. A jury with experts from TNO, Capgemini, TU Delft, and Connekt (Board and Advisory Council) determined the winner. In addition, there were several audience awards: a one-year membership for startups that were seen as a valuable addition to the network by the Connekt members in attendance.

The result? Four new Affiliate members, each contributing in their own way to a smarter and more sustainable mobility system.

Startup 1: Perciv.ai

Let's start with the winner of the Affiliation event: Perciv AI, an innovative startup from Delft. Perciv AI specializes in AI-driven radar perception for autonomous systems. With their groundbreaking software, they improve radar performance, making it as accurate as LiDAR technology – but at a fraction of the cost.

Traditional radar algorithms struggle to recognize and distinguish objects. Perciv AI uses deep learning to significantly improve radar perception. This makes it possible for radars to detect objects (such as pedestrians) faster, more accurately, and more effectively. This makes the technology comparable to LiDAR – but without the high costs and sensitivity to weather conditions.

Perciv AI's solution is completely hardware-agnostic, meaning it works with various radar systems without requiring specific sensors. This offers enormous flexibility and makes their technology perfectly suited for autonomous vehicles, robotics, and aviation – sectors where reliable detection and object recognition are crucial.

In addition, Perciv AI focuses on scalability and user-friendly implementation. Their software integrates seamlessly with existing radar platforms, allowing companies to quickly benefit from improved situational awareness. This is of great value to automotive companies working on self-driving technology, as well as for drones, security systems, and industrial automation.

Startup 2: UrbanVind

Next, we want to put UrbanVind in the spotlight, the startup that received a coaching trajectory and a one-year Connekt membership thanks to Connekt members Technolution and BUKO Bereikbaar.

Catch every move” – that is the mission of UrbanVind, an innovative startup transforming urban mobility with data-driven insights into traveler flows. Their goal? To make public transport more attractive and comfortable through real-time information on passenger movements.

Their product CrowdFlow offers transport authorities and operators a complete overview of passenger flows in public transport – including where and when passengers board and alight. This provides them with essential data and insights to improve service and increase comfort for travelers.

By utilizing travel behavior analysis, Urban Vind offers transport authorities a cost-effective software solution for collecting real-time information on crowding. But it doesn't stop there: using techniques such as nudging and gamification, Urban Vind helps to actively reduce that crowding. In this way, CrowdFlow improves the traveler experience and optimizes the public transport system.

Startup 3: Roadscor

The third winner is Roadscor, which received a coaching trajectory and a one-year Connekt membership thanks to Connekt member Vialis.

The startup Roadscor focuses on creating safe infrastructure. They have developed an innovative tool to assess the traffic safety of critical road sections, such as intersections. This enables traffic engineers to optimize traffic designs – even when no data is available on (near-)accidents at those specific locations.

How does this work? Roadscor's tool can detect unsafe scenarios, even if they are not yet known. Based on those scenarios, it identifies all potential traffic conflicts in a structured way, based on both probability and severity. Special attention is given to vulnerable road users.

The result is a clear safety indicator for road design. With this indicator, the current situation, as well as various proposed infrastructure improvements, can be evaluated before they are actually implemented.

Roadscor thus enables traffic engineers to design safer roads that align with the objectives of road authorities. Their solution supports the Vision Zero approach, aimed at drastically reducing traffic casualties.

Startup 4: Coding the Curbs

The final winner of a one-year Connekt membership is Coding the Curbs. Connekt members Panteia and Hastig have offered them a coaching trajectory and access to the Connekt network.

Free the City!” The founders of Coding the Curbs saw that loading and unloading zones do not function efficiently. More than 50% of deliveries occur in violation of the rules, while more than 80% of reserved loading and unloading zones often remain unused.

Therefore, they have developed an innovative platform that digitizes and optimizes loading and unloading zones. Users can reserve these spots in advance, monitor them digitally, and use them flexibly depending on the need. In this way, they contribute to optimal use of space, lively streets, and guaranteed parking spots.

When a loading and unloading zone is transformed into a Smart Zone together with a city, it is equipped with IoT sensors. Logistics companies and entrepreneurs can easily reserve and use these zones, ensuring they have a spot. Cities receive real-time insights into the use of these spots, performance, delivery patterns, and occupancy rates via a dashboard. This provides them with the data to take more targeted policy measures.

On to the next one!
In this way, Connekt has once again connected four parties to the network that contribute to optimizing our mobility and logistics. Whether it concerns optimizing autonomous systems, traveler flows in public transport, traffic designs, or loading and unloading zones: these are the ideas that shape the future of mobility and logistics!

The search for new startups continues unabated. It is our goal to organize a new edition of the Connekt Affiliation event at the end of 2025. So, are you or do you know a startup that wants to make a difference in mobility and logistics? Let us know and send a message to sybe.andringa@connekt.nl!

Connekt is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year! We are celebrating all year long! Would you like to know more about this?

Then visit our special theme page 25 years of Connekt!