Frans Nauta

Frans Nauta is a dynamic professional who embodies the spirit of innovation and entrepreneurship, working at the intersection of Silicon Valley and Europe. With a strong passion for clean technology, he excels at kickstarting new initiatives, particularly in the realms of startups and innovation ecosystems. Among his notable achievements are the establishment of ClimateLaunchpad.eu, recognized as one of the world's largest competitions for clean tech business ideas, which has engaged over 750 applications and trained more than 300 startups across 28 countries. He also founded the Climate-KIC Startup Accelerator, which has enrolled around 500 startups and attracted over €200 million in funding. As part of the Dutch Innovation Platform, he contributed to designing a new innovation policy for the Netherlands, chaired by the Prime Minister. Frans has also been involved with various initiatives, including the leading Dutch think tank on social innovation and the environmental monitoring system for the city of Amsterdam. Additionally, he pioneered the introduction of clean natural gas-powered canal boats in Amsterdam. Beyond his project initiatives, he teaches Executive Education at UC Berkeley, coaches startups, collaborates on innovation projects with corporate and government clients, and is an accomplished author. His latest book, "Agents of Change: Strategy and Tactics for Social Innovation," was published in December 2012, following his earlier work detailing his experience as the innovation secretary in the Dutch Prime Minister's office.