Hans Constandt holds a bachelor’s degree in medicine and master’s degrees in biotechnology and information sciences. He spent three years at the University of Ghent as a postgraduate researcher in bioinformatics. His career includes roles as a senior IT analyst and data architect, where he worked with various companies, both large and small, to implement innovative strategies for data integration and digital transformation.

Hans spent 11 years at Eli Lilly, serving as an account manager, global senior business consultant, and global knowledge management lead across multiple domains and departments. During this time, he delivered portfolio analysis tools utilizing linked data and semantic search technologies.

He also completed a master’s degree in innovation and entrepreneurship from Vlerick Business School, as well as an entrepreneurial accelerator program at MIT. His entrepreneurial journey has seen him involved in several startups as a founder, mentor, board member, and advisor.

A strong advocate for open data and FAIR data principles, Hans is a vocal proponent of linked data, frequently participating in hackathons, panels, talks, and workshops globally. As a passionate entrepreneur and public speaker, he is committed to the idea that smarter data can have a transformative impact on life sciences, healthcare, and beyond.

To date, Hans has founded three companies and is actively involved in four others. He is on a mission to drive digital transformation across industries and challenge traditional paradigms.

Under his leadership, his company has garnered numerous accolades, including recognition as a “Gartner Cool Vendor” and winning the “EY Scale-Up of the Year 2018” among European startups across all sectors. He has raised over €10 million in funding, is scaling his company at a rapid pace with global recognition, and aims to triple revenues annually.