Winners EY Entrepreneur Of The Year 2025

The winners of EY Entrepreneur Of The Year 2025 have been announced. Matthijs Welle of Mews wins in the Entrepreneur Of The Year category, Henry Jonker of Novades wins in the Emerging Entrepreneur Of The Year category, Rob and Jurgen Banken of Banken Champignons Group win the Family Business Legacy Award and Cathelijne Lania of A Beautiful Story wins the Social Impact Award 2025. The prestigious award was presented last night at Studio 21 in Hilversum and honours entrepreneurs who make a difference. This year's finalists show how entrepreneurship can contribute to innovation, sustainability and growth in sectors in flux.

EY is organising the 29th edition of the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year election in the Netherlands this year. The programme is part of a global initiative in more than 60 countries and is the world's most prestigious entrepreneurial award. The local winner of the Entrepreneur Of The Year category (Matthijs Welle for the Netherlands) automatically competes in next year's EY World Entrepreneur Of The Year election in Monaco.

With the election, EY puts innovative entrepreneurship on a pedestal. The programme encourages entrepreneurs to get the best out of themselves, their customers and employees. Well-known previous winners include Pieter Zwart (Coolblue), Colette van Eerd (Jumbo), Henk-Jan Beltman (Tony's Chocolonely) and Ali Niknam (Bunq).

“This year's nominees are changemakers who are shaping their own future as well as the future of others. With guts, vision and perseverance, they turn inspiring concepts into successful businesses that make an impact in their sector and society,” says Marita de Hair, programme leader EY Entrepreneur Of The Year 2025.

The winners of 2025

Matthijs Welle, Mews - EY Entrepreneur Of The Year 2025
With Mews, Matthijs Welle is transforming the world of hospitality. His platform automates the entire hotel experience, from check-in to payments, and now serves 12,500 hotels in 85 countries. By cleverly combining technology, data and hospitality, Mews makes the hotel experience easier and more personal. The jury praised Welle's guts, speed and ability to reinvent a traditional industry.

Henry Jonker, Novades - EY Emerging Entrepreneur Of The Year 2025
Henry Jonker shows how innovation and sustainability can go hand in hand. With Novades, he gives rejected raw materials from the food industry a second life as high-quality ingredients for animal feed. What started as an idea at the kitchen table grew into an international company with 15 employees and its own software platform. According to the jury, his creativity and perseverance make him a true entrepreneur pur sang.

Rob and Jurgen Banken, Banken Champignons Group - EY Family Business Legacy Award 2025
Brothers Rob and Jurgen Banken prove that family businesses can combine the power of tradition with innovation. Since 1956, Banken Champignons has grown from a local nursery to an international player with more than 550 employees. By continuously investing in technology and sustainable processes, the family business remains a leader in mushrooms and mushroom specialities. A strong example of entrepreneurship that creates value across generations.

Cathelijne Lania, A Beautiful Story - EY Social Impact Award 2025
With A Beautiful Story, Cathelijne Lania shows how creativity and social justice can reinforce each other. Her jewellery brand has been creating fair economic opportunities for makers in Nepal and Tanzania and pioneering fair gemstone trading for almost two decades. Each piece of jewellery tells a story of craftsmanship, connection and dignity. A tangible symbol of meaningful entrepreneurship.