Meet Ledgnd Ramon van de Vrie

Ramon studied Commercial Economics at the University of Applied Sciences in Vlissingen but spent much of his time in Rotterdam and later even in Hong Kong. There, he interned at a certification lab for LED lighting, the place where the first seed for Ledgnd was planted.
“Hong Kong was a real eye-opener for me,” he recalls. “The freedom, the mentality, the speed of innovation. I felt: this is the kind of world where I can make an impact.”

During his minor in psychology, Ramon began doubting whether to continue studying or take the leap right away. “I could either go for a master’s in innovation management or just do it. I thought: let’s give it a try. If I fail, I’ll learn from it. And if it works, it’ll be something truly my own.”

That entrepreneurial mindset was there from an early age. Coming from a family of entrepreneurs, Ramon always knew he wanted to start something himself. “I figured when you’re young, you’ve got little to lose and a lot to learn. So why not take the risk? That time in my life was all about guts and growth.”

The idea for Ledgnd didn’t come from a business plan, it grew from curiosity and a strong desire to create real value. During his internship in Hong Kong, Ramon worked extensively with lighting and plant science. He realized it wasn’t just about the lamp or its specs, but how light, climate, and plant interact.
“You can give two growers the same lamp and still get completely different results. It’s all about insight and application,” he explains.

That realization became the foundation: there was a need for an independent advisor who could help growers make decisions tailored to their crops, greenhouses, and business goals.

Back in the Netherlands, Ramon met Joris Elstgeest while writing his graduation thesis on LED in greenhouses. The connection was instant. “We both saw the same thing: growers didn’t just need a lamp, they needed clarity, direction, and someone who truly thought along with them.”
And so Ledgnd was born: less technical, more human.

As Ledgnd grew, one pattern became clear: switching to new lighting strategies or energy models changes the entire growing process. Growers needed more real-time insight into what was happening in their plants, not after the fact, but during cultivation.
“The greenhouse world was changing fast,” says Ramon. “Climate, energy costs, new lighting methods, everything was connected. Growers were making big decisions based on gut feeling and data scattered across different systems. We thought: that can be better.”

That thought became MyLedgnd: a platform that brings together light, climate, crop, and sensor data in one clear dashboard. Not to complicate, but to simplify.

In the early days, Ramon often had to convince experienced growers to try something new: LED lighting as a smart growing tool. “That was pretty nerve-wracking. You’re young, talking to people with decades of experience and you’re trying to teach them something new. But if you truly listen and think along with their challenges, they take you seriously. That’s when trust grows.”

That curious, solution-driven mindset still fuels him today. “I’ve never seen this as just ‘sales’. I want to understand what’s happening inside a greenhouse and what a grower really needs. That’s what makes this work so fulfilling, you’re genuinely helping someone move forward.”

As CCO, Ramon focuses on sales, strategy, and the ongoing development of MyLedgnd, though he doesn’t really see himself as a manager.
“I don’t feel more important than anyone else. We’re in this together. Everyone should be able to speak up. I’d rather break down barriers than build them. That’s the only way to keep growing.”

He spends much of his time with growers. “That’s what I love most. Every grower has their own story, often family businesses filled with pride, hard work, and innovation. I learn something new from them every day. Being able to help them with our knowledge and that’s what gives me energy.”

Ramon is niet iemand die snel opgeeft. “Er komt altijd een elfde keer,” zegt hij met een lach. “Als een teler tien keer nee zegt, dan denk ik: oké, wat heb ik gemist? Hoe kan ik het beter uitleggen? Dat doorzetten zit gewoon in me. Je moet willen creëren en blijven geloven in wat je doet.”

Dat optimisme is wat hem kenmerkt zowel in werk als daarbuiten. “Ik ben eigenlijk altijd vrolijk. Natuurlijk zijn er uitdagingen, maar ik probeer alles positief te bekijken. Dat maakt het leven een stuk leuker.”

What makes him proudest? Without hesitation: the team. “We’ve built a group of people, each with their own strengths. Everyone feels at home here and can truly be themselves. That’s something worth protecting, because you grow faster when you really use each other’s perspectives.”

According to Ramon, that shared drive is the secret behind Ledgnd. “We all want to build something we can be proud of and you can feel that every single day.”
“You need people with the same spark. People who pull together, lift each other up. That’s how we’ve grown: step by step, with guts, teamwork, and a lot of learning along the way.”

In the coming years, Ramon wants to keep building a future where data, technology, and plant science come even closer together.
“My dream is that one day, we’ll be able to predict how a crop will develop and not just based on light, but on every factor that affects plant growth. That way, we can help growers work more efficiently and sustainably.”

But always with practice as the foundation. “Technology is great, but it has to stay understandable. In the end, it’s all about what the grower can actually do with it.”

Finally, his message to new colleagues: “Stay curious and don’t be afraid to make mistakes, it’s the only way to grow. And most of all, enjoy what you do. Because when you have fun at work, you can feel it in everything.”