Meet the DLAB team: Bram Bark

Meet Bram
Hi, I am Bram Bark. I have a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the VU and recently graduated with a master’s in Entrepreneurship. One and a half years ago, I started as a student assistant at the VU StartHub and the Demonstrator Lab VU and now it has become my full time job.

Apart from my work here at the VU, I write about Ajax youth for Ajax Showtime. I play both field and indoor soccer and in the game as well as at work: I’m always up for a drink in good company.

And what is your role now?
I am the Project/Program Manager at the StartHub and the Demonstrator Lab. I am involved with the Amsterdam Startup Launch, a program in collaboration with Roland Berger and Van Doorne, where startup founders refine their business plans. At the Demonstrator Lab, I am responsible for the application process of new startups, assist with the program we set up, and help in professionalizing the processes. I am also often the first point of contact for the DLAB members. Collaboration between different entrepreneurship initiatives, such as the VU StartHub, is also high on my list.

What are your ambitions for the Demonstrator Lab and VU StartHub??
I believe we are doing well, but there is always room for improvement. I would like to see all the different initiatives in the entrepreneurial ecosystem working together, achieving more success collectively. I think the Demonstrator Lab and the VU StartHub form the foundation for entrepreneurs and the ecosystem. It should become the place where every aspiring entrepreneur wants to belong, an environment where you can find everything you need in the early stages and where entrepreneurs help each other advance. I will do my best to achieve this.

On the chalkboard in the Demonstrator Lab it says: “I have not failed, I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.” What have you failed greatly at?
It’s a bit hard to admit publicly, but that would be the theory exam for my driver’s license. The first time, I underestimated it, thinking I could pass with just a few hours of studying. That didn’t end well. The second time, I forgot to bring my ID and was kindly asked to reschedule. On my third attempt, I showed up a day late and was told the same thing. Finally, on the fourth try, I managed to pass.

What compliment do people give you often?
That I’m helpful and always thinking along with everyone. I think that’s the compliment I hear most often.

What is the best part of working at the Demonstrator Lab?
It is a highly motivating environment; you can feel everyone’s ambition. I also think it is the ideal place for me to develop. I meet many people from whom I learn a lot, and I have the freedom to learn. We are a small team, so you immediately have a lot of responsibility. And with so much potential, who would want to leave?

Science says: ‘Work hard, play hard’. What if you would get 1 week off from work without any social or financial responsibilities, how would you spend your time?
Can I choose the week myself? Because I’d make sure it’s when a few great football matches are on the schedule, like Real Madrid vs. Barcelona. I’d combine the football trips with visiting beautiful places around the world.

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Want to connect with Bram, or join him for a great football match? Look him up on Linkedin > https://www.linkedin.com/in/bram-bark-02a950252/