Ben Stel

Ben Stel is the CEO of S&dB, a VC-backed Agtech startup based in the Netherlands. They previously served as Engagement Manager at Tridge in 2021, where they conducted market analysis, developed strategy, and supported customer acquisition as well as supply chain development and quality assurance. They co-founded Stel & van Koot (2016–2019), a start-up focused on sustainable tigernut sourcing in Ghana with Agro-Eco, secured investment, and set up export and cultivation pilots with local farming communities; the venture was selected as one of 20 of 150+ in the RVO StartUp program. From 2023 to 2025, they were a Business Manager in the Strategy and New Business team of the Arable Business Unit at Agrifirm. Education includes a Master of Science in Agroecology from Wageningen University & Research (2021–2023), a Bachelor of Science in Sustainable Value Chains from Van Hall Larenstein University of Applied Sciences (2014–2020), a Wageningen Minor (2018–2019), and a Havo qualification from CSG Dingstede (2009–2014).