Start-up requirements and facilitators

What is a ‘facilitator’?

You can think of the ‘facilitator’ as a mentor who also has a more official role. The facilitator must have a minimum of two years experience in guiding start-ups and they must also agree a specific plan for your start-up. This means that their support is tailored to you, whether that is in operational management, marketing, research; investment acquisition or anything else.

Facilitators are accredited and recognised by the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO).

Where can I find a facilitator?

There are several facilitators in the Northern Netherlands recognised by the RVO:

LaunchCafe, Groningen
Inqubator, Leeuwarden
Startup Visa Groningen (a collection of facilitators, including Groningen Seaports, Inditopia, Campus Groningen, Venture Lab, Inqubator Leeuwarden and LaunchCafe)

A list of other RVO-accredited facilitators is available here.

Requirements

Collaboration with a facilitator
This must be enshrined in a signed document.
A step-by-step business plan
Registration of both the entrepreneur and the facilitator in the Dutch Chamber of Commerce (Kamer van Koophandel)
Provable financial means to live and reside in the Netherlands
This is adjudged to be 70% of the standard amount for single persons under the Minimum Wage Act (or €1.250,12 per month, including holiday allowance; €15.001,44 per year for 2020). The entire 12-month’s worth must be in a Dutch bank account at the time of application.
An MVV (entry visa) may be required; these can usually be acquired at your local Dutch embassy.
Exceptions to this are entrepreneurs having the nationality of Australia, Canada, Japan, Monaco, New Zealand, South Korea, USA or Vatican City. If you already have an MVV, this can be transferred to a start-up permit.