Benelux Enterprise Awards 2025 Featuring:
AI Global Media, Ltd. (AI) takes reasonable measures to ensure the quality of the information on this web site. However, AI will not assume any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, correctness or completeness of any information that is available through this web site. If errors are brought to our attention, we will try to correct them. The information available through the website and our partner publications is for your general information and use and is not intended to address any particular finance or investment requirements. In particular, the information does not constitute any form of advice or recommendation by us or any of our partner publications and is not intended to be relied upon by users in making or refraining from making any investment or financial decisions. Appropriate independent advice should be obtained before making any such decision. Any arrangement made between you and any third party named in the site is at your sole risk and responsibility. EU Business News is thrilled to announce the launch of the Benelux Enterprise Awards 2026, now proudly entering its ninth year of celebrating the most exciting, impactful, and forward-thinking organisations across Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg. This long-standing programme has become a fan favourite in the EU Business News calendar, shining a spotlight on businesses that dare to innovate, inspire, and break new ground in one of Europe’s most competitive and internationally connected regions. The 2026 edition promises more buzz, more brilliance, and more opportunities than ever before. From disruptive startups and agile SMEs to powerhouse enterprises transforming their sectors, the Benelux Enterprise Awards recognises the achievements that push boundaries and raise the bar for excellence. If your organisation is driving change, building community, or setting new standards across the region, this is your moment to shine. Sofi Parry, Senior Editor Website: www.eubusinessnews.com Benelux Enterprise Awards 2026
4. RSS-Hydro: Best Geospatial Modeling & Earth Observation Solutions Company 2026 6. Hydrogen Power Solutions BV: Emerging Hydrogen Storage Innovators of the Year 2026 – Europe 8. Value Drive B.V.: Best High-Stake Valuation Advisors 2026 10. CAP-City: Best Cross-Sector Youth Employability Initiative 2026 – Belgium 11. Effortel: Best MVNE Solutions Provider 2026 & OSS/BSS Solution of the Year: EMS 13. Learn2speak Dutch: Best Dutch Language Coaching Service for Expats & Professionals 2026 Contents
EU Business News- Benelux Enterprise Awards 2026 “RSS-Hydro’s mission is to create real impact and value to those impacted by extreme weather disasters, across all communities and sectors.” Founded in 2017 by Guy Schumann, RSSHydro is a dynamic, science-driven pioneer bridging the gap between advanced research and commercial climate risk solutions. On a mission to make the world a more secure and climate-resilient place, the company is dedicated to helping communities, governments, and businesses assess, predict, and mitigate the risks of climate extremes. It focuses heavily on extreme weather events and disaster risk reduction, specifically floods, wildfires, and waterrelated hazards. RSS-Hydro’s business activities are built around three main pillars: commercial products and services, high-end consulting, and research and development. Boasting a proven track record of successful projects around the world, the team takes pride in its ability to navigate the complexities of geospatial monitoring and Earth observation, offering a comprehensive suite of tailored solutions that leave a lasting, meaningful impact on communities and ecosystems alike. The company’s Earth Observation applications utilise remote sensing and advanced modeling techniques to analyse natural hazards, providing valuable geospatial insights to better protect communities and assets. By combining radar, microwave, and multi-spectral satellite imagery, RSS-Hydro tracks fire, flood, and water stress related disasters seamlessly. Using proprietary Machine Learning models, the team can accurately detect, map, monitor, and predict disaster events across the globe, at the level of impact. Best Geospatial Modeling & Earth Observation Solutions Company 2026 The impact of global warming is exacerbating the intensity of natural disasters around the world. As climate change accelerates, so does the frequency of floods, droughts, wildfires, and more. In this high-pressure environment, RSS-Hydro has emerged as a forward-thinking, science-driven company driving climate resilience through Earth Observation, space technology, and data-driven solutions. We spoke with Founder and CEO Guy Schumann to learn more about the company’s mission, as RSSHydro is named in the Benelux Enterprise Awards 2026. May26051 Rather than simply analysing past disaster data, RSS-Hydro actively simulates hazards, events, and impacts by blending hard science, advanced AI and geospatial technology, and high-performance computing. It provides globally scalable, all-weather disaster intelligence that yields highly accurate risk models, even when up to half of the local infrastructure data is completely missing. FloodSENS is RSS-Hydro’s cutting-edge machine learning algorithm that uses satellite imagery and topographic data to accurately identify and map flood extents globally across diverse conditions. It provides timely flood information for insurance, humanitarian aid, and disaster management. Through FireSENS, RSS-Hydro uses nearreal-time thermal data and demographics to pinpoint wildfire risk for vulnerable populations, addressing health threats from smoke inhalation and air quality degradation. It offers real-time insights and tracks long-term impacts, with customisable data integration for tailored community information and postfire monitoring. HydroSENS extracts vegetation health and runoff data from satellite imagery at various scales. The application can also integrate Sentinel-3 imagery to generate downscaled soil moisture and water stress indicators at 20m resolution. HydroSENS offers tailored solutions for monitoring runoff, vegetation, and soil. RSS-Hydro’s flood risk modeling solutions leverage advanced remote sensing and modeling to assess flood risks, providing accurate insights to identify vulnerabilities and support effective risk management strategies. A model simulates water depth, velocity, and extent for various scenarios, producing hazard and risk maps compliant with local and national regulations. The applications of this service include flood studies, urban design assessments, environmental impact assessments, river restoration, dam break analysis, drainage design, and mitigation planning. The company’s flagship SafeCity is an award-winning flood modeling solution that creates high-fidelity Digital Twins of urban water cycles. It is designed for public and private sectors alike, including municipalities, utilities, engineering firms, finance, and insurance companies. SafeCity’s key features include comprehensive flood risk assessment for entire municipal areas, including buildings and infrastructure; underground network integration, with detailed analysis of past and future events and return periods; the incorporation of development plans; flood protection recommendations; scenario testing and 3D visualisation; and forecasting capabilities. To maximise the impact of its innovative solutions, RSS-Hydro collaborates across three distinct ecosystems. It works alongside many world-leading national and international research and innovation organisations to constantly improve its science-based algorithms and models; works in close collaboration with municipalities, local governments, and communities to improve urban planning, protect public infrastructure, and design effective disaster risk reduction strategies; and also helps corporations, facility managers, and the financial sector safeguard physical assets against climate hazards. What’s more, RSS-Hydro operates an active research department that collaborates with MSc, PhD, and post-doc researchers to push the scientific envelope in geoinformatics and hydrology. The team understands that climate data can be overwhelmingly technical, and uses immersive 3D visualisations, artificial intelligence, and geospatial innovations to turn abstract risk numbers into tangible, clear realities. This allows decision-makers to clearly see the “case for investment” in climate adaption and disaster management.
5. Best Geospatial Modeling & Earth Observation Solutions Company 2026 Where competitors are typically restricted by local desktop software or specific cloud limitations, RSS-Hydro is entirely architectureagnostic. It can seamlessly scale simulations using a combination of numerical models, AI, and GPU across cloud-native setups, national supercomputers, or deploy them directly into orbit using space edge cloud computing. “Instead of waiting hours for a satellite to capture an image, transmit it to Earth, and wait for data processing, RSS-Hydro has moved its intelligence to the orbital frontier,” said Guy. “Partnering with satellite providers, we are deploying algorithms directly onto satellites or fast on the ground. This cuts data disaster turnaround times from hours down to just minutes, giving every decisionmaker life-saving data before the water even peaks.” RSS-Hydro has achieved several major scientific milestones since its inception, though its most prominent achievement to date has been its successful transition from a specialised R&D firm into a globally recognised pioneer in automated, spacebased disaster intelligence. Its methodology has caught the attention of the world’s biggest technology ecosystems, including start-up support and ongoing partnership collaborations from Google, Microsoft, NVIDIA Inception, and Oracle OCI. “Our proudest achievement is proving that a bootstrapped, science-first company can redefine how emergency managers, disaster response teams, global humanitarian groups, and the world’s largest tech companies interpret and react to climate risks.” Looking to the future, RSS-Hydro’s primary focus is the evolution of its core products, transitioning from “mapping what happened” to “predicting what will happen”. The big target is to reach advanced Technology Readiness Levels for predictive modeling, which will be achieved through the pursuit of proactive forecasting by fusing Earth Observation data with AI-assisted predictive models. Rather than delivering historical maps after a disaster, RSS-Hydro will be rolling out automated, scalable early warning networks that give cities and corporations hours, or even days, of advanced warning regarding exactly which infrastructure assets will fail. Ultimately, it aims to take its “Earth Observation for All” philosophy to the next level by aggressively scaling pilots across highly vulnerable regions. Beyond 2026, RSS-Hydro will be moving entirely away from ground-station latency. In collaboration with partners, the company will continue expanding the deployment of its AI algorithms directly onto satellite hardware. This allows the satellite to “think” in space, filtering out unnecessary information and transmitting critical disaster alerts straight to the ground in minutes. To support this growth, the internal structure is expanding. RSS-Hydro is actively doubling its workforce, targeting highly specialised technical profiles such as data scientists and hydraulic engineers, and a dedicated global expansion team to transition its R&D breakthroughs into dominant commercial SaaS products. “The future of RSS-Hydro is about speed, scale, and insight,” Guy concluded, “processing data at supercomputing speeds, scaling our solutions globally to save lives, and ensuring decision-makers can clearly understand climate risks before they happen and act rapidly when disasters happen.” Company: RSS-Hydro Web Address: www.rsshydro.lu
Jul22546 EU Business News- Benelux Enterprise Awards 2026 “Diesel is disappearing. The grid is overloaded. Batteries fall short. We deliver reliable, silent, and emission-free energy at any location.” Based in Haren, Groningen, Hydrogen Power Solutions is an emerging leader in hydrogen storage innovation. The company develops mobile hydrogen-powered energy systems for a wide range of applications, including construction sites and infrastructure projects, events and festivals, defence and remote locations, off-grid power supply, and maritime environments. Many customers in these sectors have struggled with dieseldependent temporary power. Grid congestion can delay construction projects; diesel generators pollute and face increasing restrictions; batteries may not provide enough power for heavier applications; and hydrogen solutions can be complex to deploy. To address this challenge, Hydrogen Power Solutions has developed the Modular Hydrogen Cassette (MHC). This patented technology is designed for safe, low-pressure hydrogen storage in a compact, mobile system. Often described as a missing link in hydrogen infrastructure, the fully modular and scalable MHC is designed for rapid deployment in real-world environments. “Customers value the Modular Hydrogen Cassette for its combination of low pressure operation, portability, and scalability. It offers a practical hydrogen solution for environments where flexibility, ease of deployment, and operational simplicity are essential.” The Modular Hydrogen Cassette is based on patented metal hydride technology, which allows hydrogen to be stored safely and efficiently at low pressure. It integrates storage and thermal management, including a specialised heating and cooling system. With a footprint based on a standard 10-ft container and a compact height of just 47.5 cm, each cassette stores up to 42 kg of hydrogen and is designed to fit into existing infrastructure, logistics flows, and operational environments. Emerging Hydrogen Storage Innovators of the Year 2026 – Europe The reliance of diesel for temporary energy supply is becoming an increasing concern, often leading to delayed projects, rising costs, and unmet sustainability goals. Hydrogen Power Solutions has emerged with a breakthrough in the world of energy storage with a modular hydrogen cassette that enables clean, silent, and reliable power without dependence on diesel or grid connections. We took a closer look at this innovation below, as we name Hydrogen Power Solutions in the Benelux Enterprise Awards 2026. Contact: Cyriaan Teunissen Company: Hydrogen Power Solutions BV Web Address: www.hydrogenpowersolutions.eu This design positions the Modular Hydrogen Cassette as the first hydrogen storage module with an ultra-low profile. Metal hydride stores hydrogen through absorption and releases it through desorption. Hydrogen gas enters the system and splits into hydrogen atoms at the metal surface. These atoms enter the metal and occupy spaces between its atoms. When heat is added, the hydrogen atoms leave the metal and recombine into hydrogen gas (H₂). The technology is protected by intellectual property and gives clients access to a distinctive system architecture. The cassette has been tested to TPED and PAD 3S requirements. Its footprint has been designed around standard 10-ft container dimensions, supporting compatibility with existing logistics and handling infrastructure. The Modular Hydrogen Cassette is designed for broader application across construction, events, maritime, and defence. Its distinguishing features are simple: low pressure, modular design, and an infrastructure-compatible footprint. Together, these make hydrogen easier to deploy and integrate into real-world environments. Hydrogen Power Solutions develops the Modular Hydrogen Cassette for demanding environments without a grid connection, such as construction sites and events. The MHC forms the storage component of an integrated off-grid energy system. Combined with HPS hydrogen generators, fuel cells, or electrolysis equipment, it enables modular The Missing Link in Hydrogen Infrastructure
7. energy solutions tailored to the application. The electrolyser produces hydrogen to charge the system; the MHC stores, transports, and buffers that hydrogen; and a fuel cell or hydrogen generator converts it into electricity when needed. The Modular Hydrogen Cassette helps make hydrogen practical to store, transport, and deploy. By combining low-pressure storage, portability, scalability, and an infrastructure-compatible footprint, it supports clean energy applications across multiple sectors. This practical approach underpins Hydrogen Power Solutions’ recognition as Europe’s Emerging Hydrogen Storage Innovators of the Year 2026. After launching the Modular Hydrogen Cassette earlier this year, Hydrogen Power Solutions is preparing for commercial growth and scale-up. The company aims to bring its low-pressure hydrogen storage technology to demanding environments around the world, giving construction sites, events, maritime operations, and remote locations access to a more sustainable option for temporary energy supply. Hydrogen Power Solutions’ IoT system enables remote monitoring of its equipment, supporting system oversight, performance monitoring, and integration into customer operations. Its integrated solutions bring together storage, conversion, and generation to support rapid deployment in real-world applications. Hydrogen Power Solutions helps customers make off-grid energy work in a practical, reliable, and measurable way.
EU Business News- Benelux Enterprise Awards 2026 Best High-Stake Valuation Advisors 2026 Value Drive is a Dutch valuation boutique that focuses on high-end valuation engagements for critical management decisions in the Benelux mid-market. The company primarily serves mid-market private companies in the non-financial sector across the Netherlands, in addition to Dutch-listed companies on occasion, as well as high-net-worth individuals and foreign companies with Dutch interests. Following Value Drive’s recent recognition in the Benelux Enterprise Awards 2026, we heard more from Founder and Managing Partner Jeroen Weimer. May26051 the University of Twente, graduating in 1991 with a thesis in the combined field of strategy and finance. In 1995, Jeroen completed his PhD thesis cum laude, combining his PhD work with project-based activities for ABN Amro Bank for two years. Over the course of his professional career, Jeroen has leveraged his impressive education to advise large corporates, PE firms, medium-sized private companies, and shareholders on multiple issues with major value impact. He has provided services including fairness opinions, strategic valuations, board room advice, value-based modelling for managerial decision-support, IP valuations, tax-related valuations, and portfolio valuations for PE firms. Through the last two decades, Jeroen has applied his unrivalled expertise to valuations for dispute resolutions, including court cases, arbitration, and mediation cases. As a partner with final responsibility, he has engaged in almost 60 dispute resolutions. Jeroen has been involved in civil court cases both as an independent expert and a party-specific expert, acting in major arbitration cases both nationally and cross-border. This includes the ICC International Court of Arbitration in Paris, the Singapore International Arbitration Centre, and smaller cases through the Dutch arbitration institute (NAI). In 1999, Jeroen entered KPMG Corporate Finance Netherlands as an M&A Advisor. He built up his experience over the years, particularly within the consumer markets and the energy and natural resources sectors. In 2003, Jeroen established the Dutch Valuations practice for the firm, which grew from four FTE in 2003 to approximately 30 FTE in 2017. He was promoted to formally head the practice as Equity Partner in 2005. Jeroen became the Head of KPMG Corporate Finance Netherlands in 2014, responsible for M&A, valuations, and debt advisory. Between 2013 and 2015, he held the role of Head of EMA for KPMG’s Global Valuations Services. Jeroen served as lead partner on a number of major client cases, including Wolters Kluwer, Asics Europe, and the major Dutch PE firm Egeria. This varied work has allowed Jeroen to build expertise spanning a number of sectors, developing no fully-fledged focus on a particular industry. After a successful career with KPMG, Jeroen felt that it was time to embark on a new journey. He left the firm in 2018, deciding to start a valuation boutique that would allow him to enjoy more focus and entrepreneurship in his work, including the hands-on approach he was used to and passionate about in the beginning of his career. Jeroen established Value Drive B.V. on November 1st, 2019, with the aim of engaging in speciality valuations and disputes to support critical management decisions in the high-end market segment. Today, Value Drive combines decades of senior experience with the unique perspectives of its younger team members to deliver a seamless valuation experience to its clients. The firm has demonstrated the market’s demand in the Netherlands and the Benelux for a high-end, specialised valuation service that offers the quality of the Big 4 with the personalised approach of a boutique. Jeroen is a hands-on leader at Value Drive, spending at least 50% of his time on the engagement based on flexible accessibility by email, phone, and sometimes WhatsApp. There is always a younger, yet senior, team member involved in the case, typically 30 to 40 years old, who serves as both an outstanding modeller and a sparring partner based on their sectoral experience. All these team members have been working with Jeroen in their joint Big 4 setting for many years. This unique combination ensures that clients benefit from a varied perspective, propelled by specialist expertise and a united commitment to success. Based in Amstelveen, North Holland, Value Drive engages in specialty valuations and disputes to support critical management decisions in the high-end market segment. The company is characterised by pursuing effective valuation angles to resolve client issues, applying new approaches to strengthen common practice, and providing value-based advice based on factual information. With this approach, Value Drive offers a comprehensive suite of services that includes M&A valuations, including value impact analysis of strategic alternatives, purchase price allocation and goodwill impairment testing, and valuation of financing instruments. Its tax-related valuations include valuation of intellectual property transfers and marketbased royalty rates, company valuations for family succession, and asset valuations for the emigration purposes of HNWIs. Value Drive’s dispute resolution services cover about 50% of the business and comprise valuations related to commercial litigation and damage quantification, including acting as a party expert, serving as an arbitrator or mediator, appointment by the Dutch civil courts as an independent valuator, and procedures through the Dutch Chamber of Commerce. “Our core mission is to support critical management decisions by providing solid solutions to resolve client issues based on effective valuation angles which can withstand scrutinism,” said Jeroen. “We achieve this with a team of skilled people who provide positive energy and ambition, who dare to apply new valuation approaches to strengthen common practice iof and when required.” The Founder and Managing Partner of Value Drive, Jeroen Weimer is a seasoned former Big 4 Advisory Partner boasting more than two decades of experience in valuations, modelling, and corporate finance across industry sectors. He earned an MSc in Business Science from
9. Best High-Stake Valuation Advisors 2026 Value Drive’s internal culture is a significant driver behind the firm’s success. Boasting what they refer to as a “club culture”, dedicated to working hard - and playing hard too. Each member of the Value Drive team is quite competitive and shares a passion for the valuation profession, improving themselves professionally on a continual basis to provide the best possible services to their clients. At the same time, the team members love competing in sports, varying from cycling, kickboxing, swimming, running, and tennis, and celebrating after the hard work is done. “We can achieve this work-sports-play balance because we have been working with each other in different settings over a long period of time,” said Jeroen. “We have engaged in many different projects together, and all have our own different specialties, such as industry sector knowledge, modelling skills, and valuation experience. At the same time, we know how important it is to have a different, more physical mindset every now and then and reap the mental benefits thereof” Value Drive pairs this vast expertise with the selective utilisation of artificial intelligence. Though some have feared that the introduction of AI threatens the valuation profession, Jeroen believes that it presents opportunities as long as the valuation is focused and specialised. Through its practice, the team at Value Drive has learned that AI is extremely useful and efficient for certain applications, such as finding comparable companies and transactions for peer groups or analysing source documents, especially legal documents for dispute resolutions. On the other hand, the firm has also found that AI is not suitable for other areas of operation. This includes bankruptcy prediction, feasibility, the assessment of financial forecasts, and the detailed techniques to validate WACC calculations for public versus private companies. “In short,” he concluded, “AI is useful because it is generative in nature; it is not necessarily within the context of creation. For the creation of new ideas, the assessment of future scenarios, and the craftsmanship required for the resolution of specialised valuation issues, the human valuator still rules.” The Benelux’s valuation landscape in 2026 is being bifurcated across sectors by AI. Businesses that have integrated AI are being rewarded, and legacy models are being compressed. In the short term, the scale of AI investment – such as infrastructure, data centres, and talent – is competing directly with M&A budgets. Some companies are prioritising organic AI build-over-buy strategies. In private equity, sponsors are increasingly using continuation fund structures to extend holding periods for portfolio companies needing AI-driven product transformation before marketable exit, rather than accepting depressed multiples for non-AI-ready assets. Jeroen commented, “I believe that AI is acting as both a short-term headwind and a medium-term tailwind for valuation and M&A activity in the Benelux.” Looking to the future, Value Drive intends to continue on its growth trajectory whilst staying true to the boutique nature of its operations. In relation to M&A and tax-related valuations, 2026 showed an ever-increasing demand for dispute resolution, on which Value Drive will continue to deliver as the Best High-Stake Valuation Advisors 2026. Contact: Jeroen Weimer Company: Value Drive B.V. Web Address: www.valuedrive.nl
EU Business News- Benelux Enterprise Awards 2026 Best Cross-Sector Youth Employability Initiative 2026 – Belgium CAP-City is a Belgian non-profit organisation operating out of Borgerhout, Antwerp, where it empowers young people through communication, activation, and participation. The organisation works primarily with vulnerable young people, including early school leavers, NEET youth, and those with ADHD or ASD. Its partners and clients range from schools and youth organisations to businesses, local governments, and European networks. Founder Nigel Chantrain was on hand for more following CAP-City’s recognition in this programme. Building success and opportunity for the leaders of tomorrow, CAPCity offers young people the tools and the confidence they need to successfully navigate today’s society and labour market. This dynamic non-profit is committed to the development of young people, and it works towards a sustainable future by strengthening their skills and selfconfidence through a blend of workshops, training, and coaching. Its services also cover digital competence validation through Open Badges on the Antwerp City of Learning platform. Through these services, Nigel explained: “Our core mission is to bridge education, youth work, business, and policy, making cross-sector collaboration a reflex rather than an exception. We believe every young person has talent, and that society grows stronger when all sectors work together to make that talent visible and valuable.” Since opening its doors in 2023, CAP-City has grown from a small and relatively unknown organisation into a recognised cross-sector partner acknowledged by the Flemish Department of Work and Social Economy. It has built a network of more than 30 partners from across a range of sectors, earning itself recognition from local and regional institutions and constantly being invited to present its methodology to professionals and experts alike across the sector. Time and again, its work has been celebrated as both relevant and needed. The blend of network strength, institutional recognition, and digital infrastructure – all achieved in under two years – is what sets CAPCity apart. Many organisations specialise in one of these areas, but in bringing all three of them together, the team here are showing the strength, mission, and trust that partners, institutions, and young people all place in them. When it comes to young people especially, a big part of this trust stems from the fact that CAP-City starts with what they can do, not what they cannot. This resonates deeply with those young adults who often feel let down by traditional systems. For Nigel and the team here, all of this feeds into something much bigger, namely the significant trend that fragmented and single-sector approaches are no longer enough to address the challenges today’s young people face. With leaders increasingly acknowledging that school dropout, youth unemployment, and social exclusion require structural cross-sector collaboration, which is exactly the foundation CAP-City was built on, a synergy has emerged between this NPO and the wider environment, thus supporting its ambition. On the back of this, Nigel told us: “The future is both exciting and ambitious for CAP-City. We are at a pivotal moment in our development, transitioning from a promising young organisation into a structurally embedded ecosystem builder with lasting impact.” As a result, 2026 will see five new trajectories rolled out under its flagship ‘Learning Outside the Lines’ programme, as well as the expansion of its work with neurodiverse people and the delivery of its first cross-sectors future fair later this summer. This is just the beginning. “We have submitted several significant project proposals, including collaborations with Karel de Grote University of Applied Sciences and the local government, which could substantially scale our capacity and reach over the next two years”, Nigel added. “We want to establish a permanent physical location by 2027, aim to reach at least 3,000 young people through our trajectories and programmes by 2030, issue 5,000 Open Badges through Antwerp City of Learning, and grow into a recognised innovator within Flemish and European education, youth, and employment policy.” Ultimately, what CAP-City is building is a genuine learning ecosystem, an environment that elevates youth employability trajectories by outlasting any project and delivering the continuity that young adults deserve. Education, youth work, business, welfare, and policy have long operated as separate islands, and it is the young people who often fall between the gaps and pay the pay price. CAP-City exists to bridge these gaps permanently. “Every young person deserves a trajectory built around who they are: their talents, their pace, their context, and their potential. That is the ecosystem we are building. That is the future we are working towards.” Contact: Nigel Chantrain Company: CAP-City Web Address: https://cap-city.be/ May26100
Aug22136 11. Best MVNE Solutions Provider 2026 & OSS/BSS Solution of the Year: EMS Effortel is a global telecom technology provider helping mobile operators, MVNOs, enterprises, financial institutions, retailers, government organisations, and digital service providers launch, transform, and scale next-generation connectivity businesses. Following Effortel’s recognition we spoke with Nikolay Stoyanov, Marketing Director at Effortel, about the company’s vision, its awardwinning EMS platform, and the future of digital telecommunications. Headquartered in Belgium and serving customers across Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia, North America and Latin America, the company has built its reputation on delivering flexible, cloud-native OSS/BSS platforms that simplify telecom operations while enabling organisations to innovate faster. By combining deep industry expertise with modern software architecture and a customer-centric approach, Effortel has become a trusted technology partner for businesses looking to turn connectivity into a strategic competitive advantage. Nikolay shared: “Telecommunications has evolved far beyond simply connecting people. Today, connectivity underpins digital business models across banking, retail, government, healthcare, transportation, and countless other industries. Success is no longer defined by network infrastructure alone, but by how quickly organisations can innovate, automate operations, and create exceptional digital experiences. At Effortel, our mission is to provide the technology foundation that makes this transformation possible.” Effortel delivers an integrated OSS/BSS ecosystem that combines commercial, operational, and network management capabilities into a single platform, allowing organisations to eliminate complexity while accelerating innovation. At the centre of this ecosystem is EMS (Effortel Mobile Suite), the company’s flagship cloud-native OSS/BSS platform. Rather than operating as a collection of disconnected applications, EMS unifies billing, convergent charging, customer relationship management, subscription management, order orchestration, product catalogue management, mediation, authentication, analytics, automation, resource management, point-of-sale capabilities, and real-time event processing into one fully integrated solution. This unified architecture enables operators to manage the complete subscriber lifecycle from customer acquisition through billing, charging, provisioning, customer engagement, and ongoing service management without relying on multiple disconnected platforms. The result is greater operational efficiency, lower integration costs, faster deployments, and a significantly improved customer experience. A defining characteristic of EMS is its modern architectural foundation. Built using cloudnative principles and a hybrid integration model, the platform combines synchronous APIs with asynchronous event-driven communication to provide both real-time responsiveness and large-scale operational efficiency. EMS integrates seamlessly with mobile core networks, charging systems, payment providers, CRM applications, eSIM vendors, digital channels, self-service portals, and third-party enterprise systems through industry-standard technologies including REST APIs, Kafka, JMS, SOAP, SMPP, Diameter, SS7, SFTP, XML, and numerous other telecom protocols. Another major differentiator is EMS’s multi-tenant design, enabling multiple operators, MVNOs, enterprise brands, or subsidiaries to operate securely within the same platform while maintaining complete logical separation of data, services, and business processes. This significantly reduces infrastructure costs while providing the scalability required by rapidly growing organisations and MVNE environments. One of the core principles behind EMS is flexibility through low-code configuration. Instead of relying on lengthy development cycles whenever products, pricing models, customer journeys, or business rules change, Contact: Alexandra Gitsova Company: Effortel Web Address: www.effortel.com AIM-Jun26098 operators can configure new commercial offerings through dynamic product catalogues, reusable workflows, configurable business logic, and intelligent automation. This dramatically reduces time-to-market while allowing telecom providers to respond much faster to changing customer expectations and competitive market conditions. The platform’s convergent charging capabilities further strengthen this operational model by supporting prepaid, postpaid, hybrid charging, subscription management, balance management, real-time charging, and flexible billing models within a single environment. Combined with powerful event management and workflow automation, EMS enables operators to deliver highly personalised customer experiences while maintaining complete operational control. Today, Effortel supports operators and digital brands across multiple continents, helping organisations reduce infrastructure investments, accelerate product launches, improve operational efficiency, and create entirely new digital revenue streams through intelligent connectivity services. Looking ahead, Effortel expects artificial intelligence to become one of the most influential drivers of telecom transformation. AI-assisted customer engagement, predictive analytics, autonomous operational workflows, intelligent service orchestration, and real-time business decision-making will increasingly become standard capabilities across nextgeneration telecom platforms. For Nikolay Stoyanov, the future extends well beyond telecommunications. “We’re entering an era where connectivity becomes an invisible layer of every digital business. Telecommunications is no longer a standalone industry, it is becoming the foundation upon which digital banking, retail, mobility, healthcare, government services, IoT ecosystems, and countless new business models will be built. Our ambition is not simply to provide software, but to become the technology partner organisations trust to launch, transform, and scale those connected services. That vision continues to drive every innovation we deliver at Effortel.”
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Jul22493 13. professional goals in the Netherlands, Learn2speak Dutch’s services are a musthave. The company strives to engage with students on a deeper level, going beyond a more conventional language lesson to help shape their understanding of some of the wider factors that will define their life and career in the Netherlands. Effie enthused: “Our philosophy is not simply to teach students Dutch, but to help them understand how to learn effectively, build confidence, and continue growing independently. This mindset is at the heart of both our teaching approach and our company culture.” Additionally, Effie and her team are committed to learners’ development in ways most others may not consider. Effie shared: “Mental wellbeing and emotional support are also very important to us. Relocating to a new country and adapting to a different culture can often be emotionally challenging and isolating. “For this reason, we regularly collaborate with psychologists and organise group sessions for our students, where they can openly discuss challenges related to integration, stress, confidence, and life as an expat in the Netherlands. We believe that successful integration is not only about learning the language, but also about feeling emotionally supported and connected.” Awarded for its combination of personalised coaching, blended learning, proprietary educational materials, and commitment to supporting both the professional and personal integration of expats, Learn2speak Dutch takes its place in the spotlight within our Benelux Enterprise Awards 2026 with its title of Best Dutch Language Coaching Service for Expats & Professionals 2026. Contact: Effie Alexiadou Company: Learn2speak Dutch Web Address: learn2speakdutch.com Learning a language is an incredibly rewarding experience, and it can have an awful lot of benefits for a person’s career, too. Although Dutch may not be the first language many people think of when it comes to this prospect, for those who have recently moved to the Netherlands, have lived in the country for a while but seek a better understanding of the language, or for whom Dutch is not their native language, it can be a really worthwhile investment. There to support all of these groups is Effie Alexiadou, the woman at the helm of the award-winning coaching business Learn2speak Dutch. In 2012, Effie Alexiadou moved to the Netherlands with her husband. The move has been everything she hoped and then some, but one thing she has come to believe is that people looking to follow in her footsteps (or who have already made the move) will only truly feel at home here if they have a good command of the Dutch language. This is why she offers simple, accessible Dutch courses and resources for non-native speakers. Effie explained: “As an expat myself, I understand first-hand the challenges of learning Dutch and adapting to life in a new country. After learning the language and becoming a certified Dutch teacher, I developed a teaching approach that helps students learn Dutch in a way that is practical, structured, and time-efficient.” Students also get a Dutch grammar book that Effie herself Best Dutch Language Coaching Service for Expats & Professionals 2026 has written in clear and accessible language for both English- and Greek-speaking learners, ensuring the utmost clarity and ease. The purpose of Learn2speak Dutch’s language courses are first of all help people feel at home in the Netherlands as quickly as possible, but also to support their development in a professional sense, increasing their chances of success in the Dutch labour market. Since almost everyone in the Netherlands speaks Dutch, it is taken for granted in most circles, so not being able to do so is seen as a big disadvantage. Delivered through a blended learning approach, Learn2speak Dutch effortlessly combines live lessons with access to Learn2speak Dutch’s online academy, guaranteeing practical and learner-centred methodology ultimately helping students to gain confidence and make real progress in everyday life and professional situations. Therefore, Learn2speak Dutch’s reputation is more than that of a course provider, it is a lifeline for individuals searching for a personalised coaching experience. “Rather than focusing only on grammar and theory, we place strong emphasis on communication, confidence-building, and real-life language use. Our goal is not simply for students to ‘study Dutch,’ but to actually feel comfortable using the language in their everyday lives, workplaces, and social environments.” For those looking to develop themselves in a professional sense and achieve their
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