We are thrilled to announce that Dr. Melanie Rieback, an acclaimed cybersecurity expert, social entrepreneur, and accomplished academic, will be joining Startup Iceland as a speaker and mentor. With her impressive background and dedication to driving positive change in the tech world, Dr. Rieback will provide invaluable insights and guidance to our community of aspiring entrepreneurs and innovators.
The Visionary Behind Radically Open Security: Dr. Melanie Rieback is the CEO and Co-founder of Radically Open Security, the world’s first not-for-profit computer security consultancy. Her commitment to disrupting the cybersecurity industry has led to a unique, socially-driven business model that prioritizes transparency, openness, and collaboration. The company’s trailblazing approach has earned them the prestigious recognition of being the 50th Most Innovative SME by the Dutch Chamber of Commerce (MKB Innovatie Top 100) in 2016.
Fostering Post-Growth Startups with Nonprofit Ventures: As a passionate advocate for sustainable and socially responsible entrepreneurship, Dr. Rieback also co-founded Nonprofit Ventures, an incubator focused on supporting “post-growth” startups. The incubator aims to nurture ventures that prioritize long-term stability and impact over rapid growth, emphasizing the importance of building a sustainable and inclusive economy.
An Accomplished Academic and Innovator: Before venturing into entrepreneurship, Dr. Rieback was an Assistant Professor of Computer Science at the Free University of Amsterdam. Her dedication to advancing the field of computer science and cybersecurity has earned her numerous accolades, including being named “Most Innovative IT Leader of the Netherlands” by CIO Magazine (TIM Award) in 2017, and one of the “9 Most Innovative Women in the European Union” (EU Women Innovators Prize) in 2019.
A Role Model for Women in Tech: Dr. Rieback’s exceptional accomplishments have placed her among the most successful and inspiring women in the Netherlands and Europe. She has been featured twice in Viva Magazine’s (Viva400) list of the 400 most successful women in the Netherlands (2010 and 2017) and recognized as one of the fifty most inspiring women in tech by Inspiring Fifty Netherlands in 2016, 2017, and 2019.
Join Us in Welcoming Dr. Melanie Rieback to Startup Iceland: We are incredibly honored to have Dr. Rieback join Startup Iceland as a speaker and mentor. Her wealth of knowledge, combined with her commitment to social impact and innovation, will inspire and empower our community to think differently and strive for meaningful change. We look forward to the wisdom and expertise she will bring to our growing network of entrepreneurs and innovators.
