StartLife proudly announces the appointment of Jean Boudillon as its new Head of Programs. Jean brings valuable experience and deep familiarity with our founders and partners, having previously served as Program Manager at StartLife. This ensures a smooth transition and continued support for our growing community.

Bridging the Gap Between Startups and the Market

At StartLife, we turn promising Food & AgriTech founders into market-ready entrepreneurs. As Program Manager, Jean was the anchor point for our Accelerate program, guiding founders through market validation and growth. Now, as Head of Programs, he will lead the global strategy for our Accelerate and A La Carte programs, overseeing our mentor network and partner engagement. His goal is to help founders validate their ideas, raise funds faster, and scale with confidence.

“Congratulations to Jean on his new role as Head of Programs! I’m truly excited to move forward together and to see how his leadership will continue to strengthen StartLife’s support for startups,” says Dr. Nikki Harrison, Managing Director of StartLife.

The Challenge and Our Response

Too often, early-stage startups push products and technologies without a clear understanding of market needs. This is a common pitfall, and with global investments contracting and innovation budgets being cut, startups need to demonstrate strong commercial traction now more than ever.

That’s precisely what we do at StartLife. We reposition the market at the center of a startup’s venture and connect them to potential partners and customers.

Strengthening Our Ecosystem

“We’re like startups ourselves,” says Jean. “We need to focus on what we do best, that is bridging the gap between technological startups and the market to accelerate innovation. The good news is: We already have everything we need to achieve that.”

With 15 years of experience and deep roots in the ecosystem, StartLife is a trusted growth partner for Food & AgriTech startups. Jean’s plan is to double-down on this ecosystem: increasing mentors and alumni involvement, deepening partnerships with Wageningen University & Research (WUR), and strengthening our ties with the region, including Foodvalley and Oost NL.

A Call to Action for the Community

“We’re calling the whole community to join forces with StartLife to accelerate innovation and impact. We need you!”~Jean

If you want to be involved and help founders succeed, reach out and join our efforts!

PS: You can follow Jean’s personal newsletter The Growth Letter where he shares his heartfelt experiences working with entrepreneurs and leaders in the industry