Bio
Tijs Nieuwboer is the core organizer behind TAG, the community layer underneath Amsterdam's startup ecosystem. A self-taught developer who couldn't write a single line of code 2.5 years ago, he learned to code on a trip to Bali and now ships entirely by voice — dictating code through Wispr Flow inside Cursor. He describes himself as a 'vibe coder' and treats AI tooling as a force multiplier for people who build with conviction rather than credentials.
His most vivid proof point: during the 2025 Amsterdam Marathon, Tijs ran 42km with a MacBook in his backpack, AR glasses on his face, and a Nintendo Switch controller in hand — dictating 31,058 lines of code by voice to build Hypes, a voice-based accountability app, in real time. The stunt went viral, earned him a national television appearance in the Netherlands, and landed a full case study on the Wispr Flow website.
Tijs's real superpower is turning builder energy into spectacle. In June 2026 he co-organized the MEGATHON — billed as the biggest hackathon Amsterdam has ever seen — drawing 700–900+ builders, ~150 startups, a €100K+ prize pool, and a 50-hour global livestream during Amsterdam Tech Week. He's also building Firestarter, an AI-powered Chief Growth Officer product, alongside co-founders. His next move: hosting hackathons inside company offices, where winners walk away with real clients.
Projects
Amsterdam's builder community — the cultural layer underneath the startup ecosystem, running weekly meetups, ship sprints, and demo nights.
The biggest hackathon Amsterdam has ever seen — 700–900+ builders, ~150 startups, €100K+ prize pool, and a 50-hour global livestream during Amsterdam Tech Week 2026.
An AI-powered Chief Growth Officer product running 74 commercial tools across CRM, marketing, sales, and account management — piloted with 15 companies, full launch planned September 2026.
A voice-based goal accountability app with an AI 'hype man' — built entirely by voice while running the Amsterdam Marathon.