Amsterdam-based Picnic, an online supermarket, has achieved its first profit in the Netherlands at the end of the last year, thanks to its robotised distribution centre in Utrecht.Michiel Muller, Picnic’s co-founder and director attributes this to improved efficiency, reports FD.nl.The Dutch company didn’t disclose the exact profit amount it made, however, based on its performance in the last four weeks of 2023, it is projected to have a gross operating result (EBITDA) of €4M by the end of the year, adds the report.‘We have always said that we want to grow quickly first and then automate. It is great that this is now leading to profitability in the Netherlands,’ he says to FD.nl.The announcement comes around eight months after raising €355M in a fresh round of funding from its shareholders, including German supermarket chain Edeka, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Trust, and well-known Dutch family businesses.The Dutch company invested in robotised distribution centres in Utrecht and Dordrecht in recent years.- A message from our partner -Currently, 30 per cent of the groceries ordered at Picnic in the Netherlands are automatically processed by robots, claims the report.While the Netherlands operations achieved profitability, the overall group still operates at a loss. The company reported a loss of €220.6M for the previous year and €208.7M for 2022.The Dutch company’s net turnover increased by 34 per cent to €1.2B, with turnover in the Netherlands reaching €796M, a 28 per cent increase.Muller stressed that the significant growth outpaced the loss, and the results were not unexpected. Even, the shareholders are aligned with this strategy and have understood the company’s financials, claims Muller to FD.nl.Picnic: Supermarket on wheelsFounded in 2015 by Michiel Muller, Frederik Nieuwenhuys, Joris Beckers, and Bas Verheijen, Picnic quickly became a household name in the Netherlands, and their small electric vans a familiar sight.Before its launch in late 2015, Picnic operated in stealth for three years with a team of 30 specialists, focusing on streamlining the delivery of groceries to homes without unnecessary intermediaries.With Picnic, the customer can choose the most convenient delivery time, tracked through the Picnic shopping radar down to the minute.The innovative distribution method incurs such low costs that delivery is offered free of charge, and the groceries are competitively priced.The company expanded to Germany in 2018 and entered the French market in 2021

As the community convenes at KubeCon + CloudNativeCon Europe in Paris, CNCF welcomes continued investment from organizations around the worldPARIS, March 20, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- KubeCon + CloudNativeCon Europe – The Cloud Native Computing Foundation® (CNCF®), which builds sustainable ecosystems for cloud native software, announced today that 45 new members have joined the Foundation. Together with hundreds of organizations spanning continents and industries, these new members will help drive cloud native innovation to respond to the diverse and pressing challenges organizations face."Every quarter it is inspiring to see the number of diverse organizations who are contributing to and leveraging cloud native technologies, and who endeavor further involvement with the community," said Chris Aniszczyk, CTO of the CNCF. "Without the investment from these forward-thinking companies, we would not be able to achieve what we have thus far in building an incredible ecosystem around Kubernetes, responding to challenges we didn't even know existed when we started in 2015. We look forward to working together with these new members."About the newest Silver Members:8gears Container Registry is a Harbor-based container image management solution provided and operated by the respective project's maintainer and contributors.Container Registry is a Harbor-based container image management solution provided and operated by the respective project's maintainer and contributors. AOE 's Cloud & DevOps expertise enhances your IT through advanced Kubernetes consulting, offering knowledge transfer, training, operations, and implementation services, enabling you to adeptly manage container orchestration and future-proof your business.'s Cloud & DevOps expertise enhances your IT through advanced Kubernetes consulting, offering knowledge transfer, training, operations, and implementation services, enabling you to adeptly manage container orchestration and future-proof your business. Apollo GraphQL is the maker of Apollo GraphOS , a platform that enables API platform teams to connect their APIs and deliver a self-service graph that can power any number of applications.is the maker of , a platform that enables API platform teams to connect their APIs and deliver a self-service graph that can power any number of applications

Read this article in:The startup scene in the Netherlands is dynamic, as indicated by the Quarterly Startup Report.In Q3 2023, the Dutch startup ecosystem secured €420M in venture capital funding. The report reveals that nearly €1.4B has been invested in 2023, slightly above the 2020 level.Dealroom, a database management company in Amsterdam, reports that there is also a €1.3B in new capital raised by Dutch VC funds, set to be deployed in the next 3 to 5 years.Notably, the new Amsterdam-based NATO Innovation Fund, with a €1B fund, focuses on security-related startups. With an additional €400M in new VC funds, Dutch VCs had a relatively strong quarter.Amsterdam’s startup ecosystemAmsterdam, the capital city of the Netherlands, stands out with a thriving ecosystem, offering a conducive environment for tech innovation.Renowned tech giants, high quality of life, work-life balance, and access to international talent contribute to Amsterdam being ranked among the top 3 startup ecosystems in Europe, according to the 2023 Global Startup Ecosystem Report (GSER).The city hosts around 4,000 startups employing 196,000 people. Supported by government initiatives like startup visas and a vibrant coffee culture, Amsterdam currently boasts 12 unicorns, solidifying its position as the fourth-largest startup hub in Europe.These unicorns, with market capitalisations exceeding $1B, contribute to Amsterdam’s vibrant tech landscape, making it an attractive destination for job seekers seeking innovative career prospects.Today, we bring you the list of Amsterdam-based unicorns currently hiring. Check them out below.Note: Certain details of these startups, such as founders’ names and the funding raised, have been sourced from Dealroom.Ali Nikam | Image credit: bunqBunqFounder/s: Ali NikamBunq is a challenger bank seeking to revolutionise traditional banking by enabling users to share accounts and make global payments using Maestro and Mastercard.It expanded into 30 European markets without relying on venture capital funding. By April 2021, deposits surpassed €1B, and in July 2021, the company secured €193M in a Series A round with Pollen Street Capital, valuing the company at around €1.6B.Currently, the company has 47 open positions