In the “Meet the Startup Board Member” we profile a member of our ScaleUpBoard alumni community. Today we are speaking with Class 11 alumni, Claartje Ypma.
Claartje is an experienced Managing Director with a demonstrated history of working in the med-tech industry. She is the Founder & CEO of Augmedit, which develops Augmented Reality software that allows surgeons to improve their medical procedures. In previous roles, Claartje was Founder / VP of a US based subsidiary of a Dutch med-tech company, later assuming the role of Managing Director in the Netherlands. She also acted as a Founder & President of a non-profit organization that conducts R&D to neurosurgical devices.
Claartje believes that maintaining a healthy work-life balance is essential to professional success and personal well-being. In her spare time she enjoys sports like coastal rowing and yoga, as well as traveling, art, music, and reading.
Learn more about Claartje and her experience in the ScaleUpBoard program below!
Meet… Claartje Ypma!
What is your headline? 
Results-driven Leader | Entrepreneurial Mindset | Relationship Builder
What are you passionate about professionally?
I am passionate about improving the quality of care for patients.
Which sessions of the ScaleUpBoard program did you find the most insightful?
I thoroughly enjoyed the entire program, which featured a diverse range of topics. However, the sessions on The Art of Scaling particularly caught my attention due to the valuable insights they provided on the transition from startup to scale-up and the key factors for success. Additionally, I found the learning circle discussions to be incredibly enriching, as the diverse backgrounds and perspectives of the participants truly embodied the essence of a learning circle. This experience underscores the critical importance of having a board that is both diverse and inclusive.
How do you want to add value to a board?
With over 17 years of experience in the Med-tech industry, including more than a decade as a CEO and founder, I possess a wealth of entrepreneurial expertise and hands-on knowledge of the MedTech landscape that I can use to help and coach other entrepreneurs.
If you are on or have been on a board or in an advisory position, how did you encounter the opportunity? If not, what type of board role are you seeking?
Through my personal network, I have been invited to serve on a board. While my current focus and dedication is directed towards Augmedit, I am open to taking on additional board roles where I can leverage my hands-on experience to assist CEO’s and founders in starting and scaling their companies.
What is the best piece of advice some gave to you?
A seasoned entrepreneur once shared with me the best advice he had ever received, which was to never work with unpleasant people. I wholeheartedly concur. It is crucial to collaborate with individuals both within and outside of your company and board whom you admire or respect. When working with people who drain your energy, it becomes challenging to be an effective leader or board member.
What do you want your impact to be through your work?
I strongly believe that the integration of Extended/Augmented Reality with Artificial Intelligence can significantly enhance surgical preparation and performance, leading to fewer preventable errors and ultimately, improved surgical outcomes. Moreover, this technology has the potential to generate substantial cost savings and promote shared decision-making for patients. My objective is to facilitate the widespread adoption of this critical technology in the field of surgery.
Want to learn more about Claartje? Connect here!
Scale your impact as a board member
The next ScaleUpBoard class is kicking off in Spring of 2024 in Amsterdam. You can find all of the details here. Get in touch with Jan to save your seat:
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