From Startup to IPO: Pioneering the Future of Energy
With Bart Lubbers (Fastned) & Kiki Lauwers (Thorizon)
The energy transition demands bold ideas, long-term commitment and breakthrough innovations. This requires founding new startups and funding them all the way to IPO.
After a series of successful Climate Conversations events in the Netherlands and Germany, we’re excited to host our first Belgian edition - bringing the format to Antwerp with two exceptional climate tech entrepreneurs who are transforming the energy system in radically different ways:
⚡ Bart Lubbers, co-founder of Fastned, built one of Europe’s leading fast-charging networks for electric vehicles, taking the company public and expanding across the continent.
☢️ Kiki Lauwers, a Belgian entrepreneur and CEO of Thorizon, is reinventing nuclear power by developing a molten salt reactor that runs on spent nuclear waste. A bold bet on scalable, clean baseload energy for the future.
Together, they’ll share the realities of scaling climate technology - from early-stage struggles to regulatory barriers, public perception and raising capital in a volatile market. What does it really take to bring big ideas to life?
🔍 We’ll dive into:
- The journey from founding to funding to IPO – what it takes, and what they’d do differently
- Timing your capital raise: why climate tech doesn’t follow a standard playbook
- Building teams, navigating regulation, and staying ahead of the curve
- Key lessons from the frontlines of building Europe’s most ambitious climate tech companies
🗣 Language: English
🔔 Application required
We aim to create a high-quality, engaging setting where participants can contribute meaningfully and connect with like-minded peers. Applications will be reviewed before invitations are confirmed. We recommend signing up early.
