Fontys ICT alumni Jente ('23) and Martijn ('20) are building a successful app for whisky enthusiasts in their spare time

What starts as a shared interest can sometimes develop into a serious digital product. For Jente Penterman (who graduated in 2023 from Fontys ICT with a degree in ICT & Media Design) and Martijn Fleurkens (who graduated in 2020 from Fontys ICT with a degree in ICT & Media Design), it started with curiosity about whisky and the question of why it is so difficult to get an overview of that world. They are now working together on Distilld, an app that helps users discover whisky based on taste.

Both are alumni of Fontys University of Applied Sciences ICT and studied ICT and Media Design in Eindhoven. During their studies, they not only developed programming skills and knowledge about building web applications, but also a strong interest in interaction design and user experience. That combination still forms the core of Distilld.

A complex world requires a clear user experience
Whisky is often seen as a drink for an older audience, but new generations are also discovering this spirit. At the same time, the range on offer is enormous. With thousands of different bottles, varying countries of origin and a wide variety of flavours, cask ageing and production methods, it is easy to lose track.

Information is scattered across websites, forums and shops, and often written from the perspective of experts. For many users, this leads to choice overload. Not because they lack interest, but because it is difficult to translate information into personal preference. This frustration gave rise to the idea for Distilld: an application that does not start with brands or prices, but with the user and their taste.

Building with the user in mind
Interaction design plays a central role within Distilld. The app is structured in such a way that users gain insight into their preferences step by step, without the need for prior knowledge. Taste profiles, visual recognition and clear interactions make complex information manageable.

The interest in interaction design that Jente and Martijn developed during their studies is clearly reflected here. Every screen and every functionality is designed from the user's perspective: what does someone see, what do they expect, and what next step feels logical? These choices are supported by data, user research and testing. This way of working is closely aligned with how they view digital products in their professional roles.

Entrepreneurship alongside a full-time job
Distilld was set up as a passion project and is being developed alongside regular jobs. Jente Penterman works as Senior Product Owner at Enexis Netbeheer, where he focuses on digital products and connecting user needs with organisational and IT issues. Martijn Fleurkens works as a Senior Engineer and Accessibility Lead at ABN AMRO Bank, where he focuses on building scalable and accessible web applications.

The insights gained from these positions strengthen the work on Distilld. Think of testing assumptions, processing user feedback and continuously improving interactions. Distilld thus functions as a product in which theory, practice and personal interest come together.

From study project to living product
Whereas projects during the course often have a clear beginning and end, Distilld is a product that is constantly evolving. Functionalities are refined based on usage, new ideas are tested and sometimes rejected. Not by adding everything, but by increasingly aligning with what users need.

This approach is paying off. Distilld now has more than 13,000 users, has earned a spot in the top 50 of the App Store rankings, and was named Whisky App of the Year 2025. Jente and Martijn also appeared with their story in newspapers such as the Brabants Dagblad, Algemeen Dagblad, Eindhovens Dagblad, and De Ondernemer.

Want to know more? Check out their profiles on LinkedIn (and the updates) or download the Distilld app from the App Store and/or Play Store.📲