INNOVATION Ç
30 30
AN UNEXPECTED POSITIVE CONSEQUENCE OF COVID-19
INNOVATION Ç What started two years ago as an innovative idea developed into a creative and ambitious platform, consisting of Curaçao professionals from all over the world. Especially during quarantine, Innovation Ç created inspiring online sessions and motivating presentations, which led to an increasing number of members. The presentations of upcoming entrepreneurs, digital conferences focusing on positive subjects for the island and uplifting blogs are just some ingredients that made this platform grow. The name says it all. Innovation Ç aims to contribute to the socio-economic growth of Curaçao by connecting individuals and organizations in order to build a better future through innovation. Curaçao Business Magazine had the opportunity to interview Luuk Weber and Andy Kirchner, the forces behind Innovation Ç, about the start, present and future of their exciting plans. WRITER: DESI DIJKHUIZEN
Luuk Weber was part of the Caribbean Blockchain Network in 2018, which led him to create an interesting event in December 2018 that brought creative and innovative minds together. “The idea was to present a more personalized version of TEDx (A TEDx event is a local gathering where live TED-like talks and performances are shared with the community and has the mission of ‘ideas worth spreading’.) This young and positive meet up at Landhuis Chobolobo captured so much attention and quickly became bigger than
CURAÇAO BUSINESS | EDITION 2 | 2020
expected. It was important for the innovative speakers to not only focus on the business part, but also to show the audience the emotional and personal challenges that they experienced through the entrepreneurial journey. The cherry on top was definitely the presence of our Prime Minister Eugene Rhuggenaath at our event, something we never saw coming. One of the speakers was Andy Kirchner, who blew the audience away with his impressive story of survival, determination and passion towards life. Little did I know that two years
later our friendship would bloom into a positive and inspiring platform”, Luuk explains at the beginning of the interview. It was that successful event at Landhuis Chobolobo that started to write the first chapter of Innovation Ç. After a pause of a year due to imperfect timing, Luuk decided to continue with this idea to create events that are ‘more than just’ conferences. His goal was to bring innovation, with a Caribbean twist, creating solutions to problem areas.