KickstartAI is an independent non-profit that connects AI talent and drives societal impact in the Netherlands. Founded in 2019 by Ahold Delhaize, ING, KLM, and NS, we became an independent foundation in 2022. Our community of 7,500+ professionals from 750+ organizations collaborates on real-world AI challenges — because AI can help society adapt and thrive.
Meet — Connect with peers at meetups, workshops, and through our invite-only Slack community. Share knowledge with software engineers, data scientists, and ML engineers across the Dutch AI ecosystem.
Co-Create — Tackle real-world problems through hackathons and collaborative projects with industry partners. We've completed 15+ projects with 10+ partners including NS, bol, Amper, KLM, Ahold Delhaize, and ING.
Grow — Access cutting-edge research, technical blog posts, a monthly podcast, mentorship, and job opportunities.
- AI-supported surveillance at train stations — improving safety through intelligent monitoring
- Data-driven poverty intervention with food banks — using AI to identify and support communities in need
Membership is free and open to anyone working in data science, AI, or software engineering in the Netherlands — whether you're a professional or a student. Our members include talent from organizations like IKEA, Booking, KPN, and ASML.
- Join the community at kickstart.ai
- Attend our events — check the calendar for upcoming meetups, workshops, and our annual TechDays
- Partner with us — reach out at info@kickstart.ai
Based in NEXT Delft, the Netherlands