Zander Labs wins the Technology Fast 50 2025

Rotterdam, 7 November 2025

Zander Labs, developer of brain computer interfaces (BCI) that allow human intelligence to work seamlessly with technology, has been voted the fastest growing technology company in the Netherlands. With a spectacular growth in turnover of 9,950 per cent, Zander Labs finished in first place in the Technology Fast 50.

The Technology Fast 50 was awarded for the 26th time this year. It puts the most promising Dutch start-ups and scale-ups in the spotlight. The list highlights companies that show exceptional growth and innovation in a short period of time. Deloitte organises this annual competition in close collaboration with ABN AMRO, Euronext, Google Cloud and Kennedy Van der Laan.

Aquablu finished in second place with a turnover growth of 2,162 per cent. Aquablu makes smart hydration systems. The patented technology turns ordinary tap water into healthy drinks, enriched with flavours, vitamins and electrolytes. 8Vance came in third with a turnover growth of 1,741 per cent. The company has developed AI-driven and skills-based technology to match talent with employment opportunities in organisations.

"Dutch tech startups and scale-ups are at a crucial crossroads: innovative solutions are increasingly clashing with a lack of capital and talent, more regulations and vulnerable supply chains. Only by allowing government, investors and corporates to work together on better financing, skills development and international upscaling, we will maintain our competitiveness. The Technology Fast 50 provides a platform for innovation and entrepreneurship by bringing together key players in the Dutch tech scene," said Rob de Leeuw, partner at Deloitte.

Rising Star Award
The Rising Star Award is for promising tech start-ups with the potential to become future Technology Fast 50 winners. In this category, tech companies are assessed by a panel of independent experts based on ambition, revenue potential, degree of innovation and scalability. Q*Bird, provider of quantum cryptography, has won this year's Rising Star Award. Neople has won the Rising Star Audience Award. Neople develops trainable AI 'digital coworkers' that integrate with business software.

In addition to the Technology Fast 50 and Rising Star Award, more awards were presented:

Deep-Tech Award
The Deep-Tech Award recognises start-ups that solve complex problems with scientific innovations and proprietary technology, recognising the significant investment and time (8-12 years) required to scale up. This year's Deep-Tech Award was presented to Nearfield Instruments, a Dutch high-tech scale-up that develops advanced metrology systems and inspection equipment for the semiconductor industry.

Diverse & Inclusive Leadership Award
The Diverse & Inclusive Leadership Award, for companies that structurally embed diversity and inclusion in their culture, was won by Mews, the hospitality platform that supports customers with Mews Hospitality Cloud to streamline hotel operations, improve the guest experience and increase profitability. Mews is recognised for its systematic, value-driven approach to DEI, which anchors this topic in internal and external processes.

Sustainability Pioneer Award
This award honours scale-ups that make a major impact on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). By addressing key issues such as climate change, these companies are contributing to progress with innovative solutions. LeydenJar Technologies took home this award this year. LeydenJar Technologies develops ultra-thin, pure silicon anodes that provide high energy density, lightning-fast charging, lower CO2 emissions and cost savings, enabling more powerful batteries for EVs, smartphones and other applications.