First I would like to use this opportunity to wish all the receivers of the EUREOS newsletter a happy and ‘entrepreneurial’ 2009. For our company Digitaal Schrijven, 2008 ended very successfully with the winning of a ‘Mobility Award Best Practice Case: Process Improvement’.

I also look back to a very successful and inspiring EntrepreneushipCycle 2008 in which I had the honor to participate as chairman of the jury in the 24hour Business game. The perfect organization of EUREOS, the ambiance at the WTC and the excellent students with their inspiring plans made it all a great success.
During the last 24hour Business game several teams where composed with students from Delft, Leiden en Rotterdam. It was evident that those students where complementary to each other and used their specific knowledge to make a perfect business plan. Therefore I’m very pleased with the HOPE Entrepreneurship initiative what was launched at the end of 2008.

The financial crisis is for the real entrepreneur a wonderful opportunity. It demands innovative and creative ideas to improve business. For me and our company it’s a great opportunity because our digital pen and paper solution has already proven to be very cost effective and high acceptance with the user. Successful cases in homecare and sales reports have laid a fundament for 2009. Compatible connections with SAP, Exact, Microsoft are now on our roadmap for 2009 and are almost finished.

2009 will also be a year in which I will reserve a lot of time for giving advise for entrepreneurial initiatives and coaching young students. Besides that I was asked to take part in a new committee who will advise the Chamber of Commerce concerning entrepreneurial questions and policy. For me it is a great honor and another way to make sure that the entrepreneurial thought and behavior will be spread.

I hope to see and to meet you in the next EntrepreneurshipCycle 2009.

Jan den Hartogh
www.digitaalschrijven.nl