I've always dreamt of starting my own company growing up as a kid playing all the tycoon/strategy games.

Even threw a shot at entrepreneurism in the final days of my studies (followed a Pressure Cooker at Students Inc), but sadly that idea turned out rather unsuccessful (trying to make the perfect meal replacer similar to  Jake/Mana/Huel, but than using only unprocessed perfectly nutritionally balanced ingredients). It had one big problem though: it tasted horrible.

Then life took priority, and I started focusing on my career and I've gained a lot of insights having worked in within titanic firms like Avantor and Pfizer, which also burned me out.

During my burnout I took the time to reevaluate my personal values and desires.

It was around new years eve, that I was in high spirits being surrounded with my closest of friends I finally found a purpose, and when lying alone in bed the idea was born.

 2nd of January 2022

• Couldn't sleep, embraced my creative sleeplessness and then the Idea was born

February 2022

• Consulted a friend, a business consultant, about founding a start-up, and his own journey to subsidies and customers.

April 2022

• Azolla as a name was born. Met with the current owner of Azolla Holding, Max Spanjer, to find out if he used the brand (which he didn't).

He's an environmentalist banker who's laying down the groundwork for carbon credits via his investment fund Greenstar Capital, who showed interest in my idea.

May 2022

• 2e meeting met Max Spanjer's business partner, I suggested halting our current cooperation until I had a working Proof of Concept.

• Started sparring ideas to make my Proof of Concept with my friends, some of which are mechanical engineers and machining mechanics.

The lack of personal funds sadly made the process really difficult,  so I tried to get creative with 'Marktplaats', to no avail.

June 2022

• Halted current prototyping ideas with my rudimentary technical skills and current lack of funding, and decided to start my journey to become a Technician to gain both valuable technical knowledge, and to gain an income.

July 2022

• Started working as an Assistant Engineer at The Waste Transformers.

September 2022

• Start MBO4 'Technicus Mechatronica Systemen'  at the ROCvAmsterdam.

• Start MBO+ extra courses at Tetrix Techniek Opleiding.

November 2022

• Ended working at  The Waste Transformers, after their main (and only) technical staff left the start-up.

December 2022

• Started new job as 'Technicus' at SCW Systems

January 2023

• Start new study as MBO4 'Allround Operational Technicus' at the Friesland College.

March 2023

• First P&ID created

April 2023

• Proof of Concept Model V1.0 built as my skills and knowledge grew (as did my own funds), with a little help from my brother the carpenter (he's got his own company).

• Pitch at Founded by Friesland

• Website launched: www.azollasolutions.nl!

May 2023

• Proof of Concept Model V1.1 made with help of my brother, and my friend Oscar, but this had some terribly leaking connections

• Proof of Concept Model V1.2 reduced major leaks, tested the system at 3000 RPM for 15 minutes without any signs of overheating/pressure buildup.

• With the Proof of Concept being fully stress tested, design of the commercial Prototyping commences.

• Contacted the authorities about laws and exemptions regarding the placement of the future prototype.