About us

Istia is an initiative of Dirk Doppenberg, André Oost and Walther Siksma. Our backgrounds connect sports, events, media and software.

Dirk Doppenberg

Dirk breathes windsurfing. As a former top athlete (NED-51), he built up an impressive competitive career, including a Dutch speed record, a fifth place at the IFCA World Slalom Championships and podium finishes at Dutch championships.

In addition to his sporting achievements, Dirk was a team rider and brand representative of various windsurfing brands, and involved in the development and testing of windsurfing equipment.

As chairman of The Real Trip, one of the most famous windsurfing events in the Netherlands, he combines his passion for the sport with experience in competition organization and events.

At Istia, Dirk brings together his practical knowledge of competitive sports, participants and events to make competition organizations smarter, more accessible and more professional.

André Oost

André has been working on ERP implementations for over 25 years, from consultant to service delivery manager. Through companies of all sizes, he developed his vision of processes. As an entrepreneur, he set up distribution channels for sports nutrition and developed markets in the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany.

As a trained athletics trainer, André emphasizes technique, training structure and strength programs. As a passionate windsurfer, he uses that knowledge to train young people in windsurfing slalom. In business and sports, his working method is about the same thing: getting better step by step by understanding what you do.

At Istia, André ensures that the platform is in line with the practice of athletes and organizers, with processes that are right and technology that enhances the experience instead of getting in the way.

Walther Siksma

Walther works from Connectropy bv as an independent software developer, with software integration as a focus. He is also a windsurfer and photographer; Since 2012 he has been documenting events, sports and water sports (photography).

He has been involved in the Putten Sports Marathon, the Duo Marathon and The Real Trip for more than ten years from organizational, technical and photographic roles. As a result, he sees an event from different perspectives: behind the scenes, on the water and through the lens. He takes that experience with him in the development of Istia, with an eye for the coherence between administration, implementation and the experience of participants.

The organisation of your event as a starting point

We want software to match how an event really works. That's why a conversation about Istia starts with your organization: how do the registrations work, who needs what information and where does duplication of work arise? Based on these questions, we look at which parts of the platform suit your event.

Tell us what you are organizing and we will discuss how Istia can support you.