That’s the question we ask at every BeyondX event — and on October 31st, 2025, we explored it in true Halloween spirit. This time, our theme was “Spooky Failures.” Because every founder knows: failure can haunt you… but it can also shape you.
We kicked off the day with something a little different — Trick or Treat cards. Each card held a playful challenge like roast another founder’s startup social media page (trick) or help make a meaningful connection (treat). And it was very on-theme for the trick cards to have run out first!
Dozens of young founders from across the Netherlands and beyond shared their startup journeys, wild ideas, and early missteps — proving that behind every pitch deck, there’s a story worth telling.
The event was hosted by LaunchX and Unknown University alum Rachel K. Zhang, whose energy and humor kept the entire day flowing — from deep conversations to marshmallow-fueled laughs.
Our afternoon began with Forest Richter, Director at LaunchX, who reminded us why we were all there:
“I want to create a culture in my team where we can make many mistakes. Making a mistake is totally okay. Repeat mistakes are not — but making one and learning from it is extremely valuable.”
Forest’s words sparked an open discussion about how we define failure. One student shared how he had been called “stupid” in nearly every room he walked into — and how he has stopped fearing that label, now using it as motivation to prove people wrong.
Forest’s response?
“I intentionally try to be the dumbest one in the room. I want to work with and learn from people who are smarter than me.”
And that was the spirit of the day: embracing humility, curiosity, and the courage to learn publicly.
Next up was Sam Mirson, founder of Wild Founder Adventures — a name that perfectly fits his story.
At just 17 years old, Sam launched a 25+ nightclub in Sweden, later built a career in SaaS, and eventually left behind the “glimmering” success of tech to follow his heart: leading wilderness adventures for founders seeking clarity and purpose.
Sam’s talk was raw and real. He shared how he was once all but booed off stage during one of his first DJ performances — “rejection hits different when it’s art,” he said with a laugh.
How did he pick himself up after?
“I’ll be completely honest — it’s by surrounding myself with good, like-minded friends. They are the ones who picked me up. Our inner voice is often our worst enemy. The people around me reminded me who I am.”
Between sessions, founders huddled over hot chocolate, marshmallows, and candy. Conversations turned nostalgic as everyone shared the story of their first-ever business — from reselling their parents’ coconut water, to an Alibaba phone repair startup, a German-Australian travel venture, and even a high-demand bird breeding organization.
Only at BeyondX would a group of Gen Z founders bond over the ghosts of their entrepreneurial pasts.
Our second speaker, Richard Bierlaagh, founder of Port Sight Tax, took us deep.
He shared a defining story from when he was just 17 years old — the moment his father, a strong and seemingly unshakable man, came to him in tears. After two decades of building his company, it was going bankrupt.
That moment, Richard said, completely changed his view of leadership and strength.
“True leadership isn’t about always being strong. It’s about being real. When you allow yourself to be vulnerable, you give others permission to do the same — and that creates real trust.”
He explained how he now brings that same openness into his company culture — where it’s okay to fail, admit, and grow together. And he’s bringing that lesson home too, as he prepares for a new chapter: fatherhood. (His baby was due just six days after BeyondX NL!)
By the end of the day, it was clear that every “failure” we talked about wasn’t really an ending — but the beginning of something new.
Because failure isn’t spooky when you have people around you who lift you up, challenge you, and remind you to keep going.
We were especially grateful to be hosted at the beautiful Unknown University campus in The Hague — a truly inspirational space buzzing with impact founders and changemakers building the future every day.
So — to all the founders, dreamers, and doers who joined us: thank you for showing up bravely, laughing at your mistakes, and sharing your stories.
This Halloween, we didn’t just face our fears — we went beyond them.
Find all the pictures from BeyondX NL 2025 in our shared photo album. 👻
