Michel Holshuijsen (NL)

Michel Holshuijsen was born at the Sint Franciscus Gasthuis in Rotterdam-North.
From an early age, he developed a sharp eye for branding, marketing, and creative processes, always searching for the balance between strategy and imagination. Music has been a constant source of inspiration and energy along the way.

Over the years, his entrepreneurial spirit has led him through a wide range of projects and companies, spanning e-commerce, software, music, and websites. Where many choose between tech or creativity, Michel thrives at the intersection of both worlds. In recent years, he has specialized more and more in marketing and the tech sector, while at the same time cultivating a growing fascination for art and the broader creative industries.

Collaboration with his childhood friend Aran Abe has been a recurring theme in his journey. In 2020, the two ventured into the music industry together, an adventure they have since developed into an increasingly professional endeavor. Aran focusing on music, Michel on marketing. Today, they are once again combining their strengths through Cultural Bridges, a foundation dedicated to fostering cultural exchange between Japan and the Netherlands. Together with Sander Heideveld and Peter Jelle Idzenga, they shape projects that connect the creative and business worlds, including partnerships with ADE.

Outside of entrepreneurship, Michel is always on the move: he swims, mountain bikes, plays basketball and baseball, hits the gym, and occasionally unwinds with gaming or building Lego. For him, this mix of energy, creativity, and playfulness feeds directly into his work.

With his broad experience, passion for marketing and tech, and his personal affinity with Japanese culture and music, Michel brings a fresh and connecting perspective to this panel.