HardListCo-Founder
Apr 2025 — Present
Co-founded and curates an index of ambitious European hardware startups, helping technical talent discover companies working on strategically important problems.
Pepijn Vloemans co-founded HardList, curating ambitious European hardware startups, and writes The Principle of Optimism on technological progress. Previously led communications at Farmless and Fastned and co-founded the Tien Procent Club.
Pepijn Vloemans co-founded HardList, curating ambitious European hardware startups, and writes The Principle of Optimism on technological progress. Previously led communications at Farmless and Fastned and co-founded the Tien Procent Club.
Career
Tien Procent ClubCo-Founder and Board Member
Feb 2022 — Present
Co-founded a Dutch community working to make effective giving mainstream.
Principle of OptimismWriter
Sep 2019 — Present
Writes a newsletter about progress, technological optimism, and other underrated ideas.
FarmlessHead of Communications
Jan 2023 — Nov 2025
Led communications while also contributing to public affairs, operations, hiring, onboarding, workplace design, and the employee stock-option program.
De Groene AmsterdammerFreelance Writer
Feb 2009 — May 2023
Wrote long-form reporting and essays on technology, food, energy, and environmental progress.
FastnedHead of Communications
Jun 2019 — Nov 2020
Led communications after earlier work spanning public affairs, marketing, policy, and investor communications.
NRCFreelance Writer
Oct 2010 — Feb 2015
Wrote commentary and essays for the Dutch newspaper.
Uitgeverij QueridoAuthor
Apr 2011 — Jan 2015
Published three books between 2012 and 2014, spanning African travel writing, consumer culture, and essays.
De CorrespondentFreelance Writer
Jan 2014 — Dec 2014
Contributed essays on technology, climate, and political economy.
Wetenschappelijk Bureau GroenLinksResearcher
Nov 2011 — Jun 2013
Researched and wrote for Bureau de Helling, GroenLinks’ scientific think tank.
Cosigns Received
Featured Media
linkedin.com
Introducing HardList V2
Vloemans introduces HardList V2 and argues that formidable founders building full-stack companies are Europe’s fundamental constraint.
pepijn.substack.com
My time at Farmless, the insanely ambitious Dutch Protein Company
A detailed account of three years building Farmless’ story, team, operations, and culture at the frontier of fermentation.
groene.nl
Landbouw zonder land
A reported essay on the shift toward electric, vertical, and cellular agriculture.
pepijn.substack.com
The Principle of Optimism
Essays on progress, technological optimism, effective giving, food, energy, and other underrated ideas.