Opportunities for startups in 2020

AMSTERDAM - Over the next four years, the Dutch government will invest an additional 65 million euros in the Dutch startup and scale-up policy. Most of this money ends up in the urban agglomeration ‘Randstad’. The Leeuwarder Courant reported on 12 December that only 14 startups would be added in the north of the Netherlands versus 300 in the west of the country. In total, the Dutch economy would have around 4,311 startups, scale-ups and grownups. Most of the 108,000 jobs that are generated will be in the Amsterdam area.

These figures seem very low. They appear to be based on a very closely worded definition of 'startup' of the Chamber of Commerce: 'A startup is a company that has an innovative idea and makes a scalable and repeatable product or service using new technology." This definition explains why there seem to be so few startups, while hundreds of new companies registered with the KVK last year. Moreover, it does not do justice to all those companies that do have a new idea that is 'repeatable and scalable', but, for example, use existing technology.

And we've seen a lot of companies over the past year. Indeed, especially in Amsterdam that turns out to be a breeding ground for food startups. For example, we met the entrepreneurs of Sunt banana bread, of No sugar daddies chocolate paste, of Rosie & Riffy vegan cheese. Great companies that have emerged from the passion of entrepreneurs for an idea where they put all their effort and money in. Each of them wants to contribute to a better world, by responding to trends such as health and sustainability in their own way. And the fact that TEN the export network was allowed to contribute to this is great.

We advise all food startups throughout the Netherlands: use the support that is present and try not to figure out everything yourself. Some provinces have budgets available for internationalization, anyone can call on the RVO. Every starter we can recommend the SIB (Starters International Business) route that supports in preparing for internationalization and making a practical export plan for your business. And if you still have any doubts, ask a fellow startupper who has already done this trajectory and let them advise you. We would like to thank all (SIB) clients very much for the beautiful routes that we were allowed to perform together in 2019 and wish them a very happy and successful 2020!

About TEN the export network

TEN the Export network offers advice and support to food & beverage companies that dare to look across borders. We coordinate export activities, stimulate business development projects and set up new international routes. TEN professionalizes existing export activities and we are consultants working for the SIB program (Starters International Business Program of the RVO, Dutch Government) for SME companies. For more information: www.theexportnetwork.nl or contact us for an appointment: http://www.theexportnetwork.nl/contact/.