Life as an entrepreneur - Bart Hendriks

Bart Hendriks, co-founder of Wattsun

What is your name?
Bart Hendriks.

Where were you born?
In Leiden.

How did you end up in Arnhem?
Our family moved to Huissen when I was in primary school. I started living in Arnhem during my college days when I was attending the HAN University of Applied Sciences, where I did Commercial Economy.

Why did you decide to stay here to conduct your business?
We're based at the Industrial Park Kleefse Waard (IPKW), with the Hotspot Energy, where a number of other business focusing on battery development are also situated. It's the perfect spot for us.

What are you selling?
We support professionals with their on-site power demand through use of our own stackable, mobile battery system. On a daily basis, we provide power where there are no power sockets at hand. We have the ideal solution for situations like that! It's easier, more sustainable, and cheaper.

Why are you selling that?
We believe we can create positive change in the way energy is used on location.

What do you want to achieve?
Our ambition is to conquer Europe and to make mobile sustainable energy available throughout the continent.

Who and/or what inspire(s) you?
Many things are an inspiration to me; when it comes to business, it's usually the companies that grow exponentially fast and bring about real change. Companies like VanMoof and Otrium really inspire me.

Which book do you think everyone should read?
Scaling up by Verne Harnish. As a business, we are in the phase of scaling up all our activities. This book is a real guide that gives interesting insights and techniques about scaling up in a way that yields the best results.

Which film or TV show do you think everyone should watch?
Suits!

What should be on everyone's bucket list?
I believe bucket lists are different for everyone, but I would encourage anyone to actually do all the things they've always been dreaming about. Get after that adventure!

What are some things everyone should see and do in Arnhem?
I live in Klarendal, a great working-class neighbourhood close to Park Sonsbeek. The park is extremely beautiful, so I would advise people to have a stroll around there and treat themselves to a beer at Stadsvilla Sonsbeek (as soon as things open up again).

Which entrepreneur from Arnhem inspires you?
Koen Olieslagers my partner!

This is Arnhem

In this blog series, The Life Net and This is Arnhem like to show how attractive Arnhem is to start and establish as an entrepreneur. It spotlights various internationals or companies that attract internationals. They like to share their inspiring story about how they started and grew with their business. Would you like to know more about starting a business in Arnhem? Pay a visit to Startclub Arnhem or pose your questions to the municipality's ondernemersdesk. This is a translation. Click here for the original Dutch article