Amsterdam, North Holland, Netherlands
Merlijn started his entrepreneurial journey at just 15 and quickly made his mark in advertising. After gaining experience as a creative concepter and creative director, he founded KOKORO advertising agency in 2013. The agency's success led to its acquisition by a major digital player in 2018. Together with Micha Commeren, he launched Tom Orrow in 2019, an innovative online platform agency. Their partnership expanded when they started investing in promising ventures through For Ever Ventures in 2020. Driven by a deep passion for sustainable innovation, Merlijn made a bold career shift into the field of sustainable aviation. He joined E-Flight Academy, Europe’s leading sustainable flight school, where he reached a significant personal milestone: becoming the ninth person in the Netherlands to earn a pilot’s license for electric aircraft. Since then, Merlijn has been flying both electric and conventional single-engine aircraft, combining his skills as a pilot with his commitment to advancing sustainable aviation. As an active board member of the Electric Flying Connection (EFC), he plays a key role in advancing electric aviation in the Netherlands. His latest and most ambitious adventure, NRG2fly, aims to revolutionize sustainable aviation by building a nationwide network for electric aircraft operations, targeted for completion by 2026. 🎧 https://open.spotify.com/episode/75T1SZxtYbdGVXjYNcHtg9
At NRG2fly we want to convince as many airfields as possible that smart electrification can extend their viability and future-proof their long-term business. Our dream is to seamlessly power all types of electric planes and vehicles at any airfield with sustainable energy 🔋🔌✈️
E-Flight Academy is world’s first flight school (ATO) with the focus on electric aviation. With our battery-powered aircraft, we fly 90% of lessons without emissions. I started E-Flight Academy because for me, it is the best way to contribute to sustainable aviation. And yes, it is electriflying!
The Electric Flying Connection (EFC)'s mission is to revolutionize transportation by building a network of organizations dedicated to creating a value chain for electric flying. We understand that there is a lot of work to be done to connect all players involved and build this innovative value chain. From the development of new electric planes or the refurbishment of existing planes with electric planes to the upgrade of regional airports to mobility hubs powered by renewable energy, and the establishment of state-of-the-art infrastructure and standards for charging electric planes with green energy.
Ouder die zich op vrijwillige basis stevig inzet voor het Smartphonevrij opgroeien van kinderen.