The 14th edition of the Main Software 50 Awards brought together more than 250 software entrepreneurs yesterday at DeFabrique in Utrecht. A room full of innovation, ambition, and healthy competition. Exactly the ingredients that show how rapidly the Benelux software sector is growing. For us, the afternoon felt like a glimpse into the future of technology, but also a reminder of the power of a strong network.
A sector that continues to surpass itself
From the opening by Malou Petter, it was clear: this is not a standard award show. The event is tightly organized, and the combination of content, recognition, and entertainment is exactly why this ranking has been the benchmark in the Benelux for 14 years.
During the Q&As with Main Capital Partners, it was particularly emphasized how the sector is changing due to AI and business transformation. The same themes were echoed in the presentations and discussions later in the day. Companies that adapt to these changes now are tomorrow's winners, as reflected in the rankings.
Refinery89 was chosen as Overall Champion #1, followed by CarWise Group and Inverid. Each organization demonstrates how to cleverly combine data, automation, and customer focus. Among the special awards, AMOTEK stood out with the Highest Growth Award, while Typetone received the Main Accelerator Award (on paper, that is).
Panels, insights, and the role of AI
This was followed by the panel discussion with Yorick Doctor (Microsoft), Mark Appel (Sendcloud), Bart van Muijen (Pro4all), and Jason Raats (Main Capital Partners). Their conversation went beyond the hype: how do you use AI in a way that adds value, remains scalable, and makes commercial sense? What stood out is that all speakers emphasized the combination of technology and human expertise. Innovation doesn't happen in isolation. Companies must first be open to it.
In our opinion, the strongest component came last: the keynote by Wietse Hage – known from the podcast AI Report. With connections in both philosophical and academic realms yet a great affinity with technology, he was the right person to talk about the various facets of AI. Some of his messages included:
AI has been around for a long time, think about the old TomTom. It's just much more advanced now.
AI is more than just generating texts (like ChatGPT). It now also includes images, sound, and movement.
If people criticize AI applications, it's likely an expression of 'Coping', a term for justifying something you actually see as a threat.
We're not yet at the 'highest' level of AI. If you divide it into levels, where level 1 is 'Conversational AI' (like chatbots) and level 5 is 'Organizational AI' (AI can run an entire organization), we're currently around level 2, 'Reasoning AI'.
Networking that actually matters
The day ended with a walking dinner and networking drinks. Here, knowledge was shared and new ideas were formed between entrepreneurs who had not previously met. And that's precisely where the magic of events like the Main Software 50 lies. They bring together a sector known for fierce competition but also understand that growth happens faster when you find each other.
For everyone wanting to stay ahead in tech, from AI to security and SaaS, this event is an annual reality check and motivator. The future moves quickly. But moving together is always faster. Schedule something with us so we can spread your news together!
