Originally from India, she moved to the Netherlands for her master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering at TU Delft. After completing her studies, she first joined the startup Synext at Yes!Delft, TU Delft’s startup incubator, where she worked on energy recovery from waste steam. “They offered me lab space, office facilities and a strong network of fellow entrepreneurs, as well as support in fundraising and business development. Everything an early-stage startup needs. During this project I became intrigued by nano liquids, the suspensions of nanoparticles that improve heat transfer. I developed this technology further, got the Startup Visa and started my own company.”

Building a company from scratch is never easy, especially in the deep-tech sector. “We faced technical challenges, such as developing stable nano suspensions. That means ensuring that the nanoparticles in our products remained evenly dispersed and did not settle over time. We have now perfected the formula and expanded our work into nano oils for immersion cooling in data centers and transformer oils. In addition, we’ve also had financial challenges during the COVID-19 crisis. It was tough, but it strengthened our team and helped us develop solid products. During that time we participated in various funding programs, including MKB, Climate-KIC, and NWO Takeoff. The Netherlands offers a great environment for startups, especially in high-tech industries. There are multiple funding opportunities, and the business culture is open to innovation.”

Sana has built a diverse and inclusive team, with employees from India, Ukraine, the Netherlands, Honduras, and the Czech Republic. “Our work culture is open and independent, with flexible hours and a strong emphasis on collaboration. We love discussing cultural differences, especially when it comes to food and the weather. The Dutch winters took some time getting used to. I think it’s impressive how locals love to complain about the weather year-round but continue cycling in rain, wind, and snow. And then they say ‘Je bent niet van suiker’ (You’re not made of sugar).”