Lianne Van den Boogaard’s Post

Last year, as part of my internship at Novel-T, I researched the success rates of over 100 Twente-based startups that received a €40k pre-seed loan. Speaking with such a wide range of founders, hearing why some ventures failed and what factors contributed to others’ growth, was enlightening. Their grit and determination show that what many say is true, Twente is a region that punches above its weight in the startup world. That’s why it’s so exciting to celebrate 40 years of the TOP loan. For many scale ups and SMEs, €40k might not be a game-changer, but for early-stage founders, it can be the lifeline that shapes their entire journey. As many in the ecosystem know, this loan was once available regionally, but it’s now limited to companies with a strong connection to the University of Twente, an institution that recognized its significant impact on emerging startups, and set up their own version. My hope is that one day it will again receive regional or even national support, so that more promising companies can benefit from this critical resource.

📈 Reflecting on a Year of Growth with ZAAI As an entrepreneur, I know firsthand how crucial networking and support are when you’re building something meaningful. My journey with the Zaai Amstelveen program began in January 2024, and as the year comes to an end, I’m reflecting on the progress I’ve made despite all of my health challenges. 🌟 What a transformative Growth Year 2004 has been 🌟 ✅ I repositioned myself as a coach for the English-speaking market, reaching a broader audience. ✅ Graduated as a New Age psychologist, expanding my expertise to align with my mission of empowering others. ✅ Co-founded GrowthYears.com – a platform for personal growth, focusing on helping individuals redefine their goals and values mid-career. GrowthYears.com is built on the idea of investing in yourself. Whether you’re taking a mid-career break or simply seeking clarity, it’s a space designed to help you reconnect with your values, redefine success, and make empowered choices for your future. It’s a mission that resonates deeply with my own values as a coach and entrepreneur. I can confidently say the ZAAI program has been pivotal in shaping this journey. Thank you to all who made this journey possible Wendy Masselink Jennifer Boterman Robert Schulze Michel Hoekstra Arno Jongman Kirsten Verhoef Jelena van Baaren Anja de Die and my fellow-Zaailingen Snezana Perovic Victoria Walker Marvin The Saro Pieniazek Maria (Mariyka) Zelkovskaya Szonja Zsiros Antje Scholten-Scheepstra Yaremys Luces Sylvie Toole Prerna Goel Milena Soellner Sherly Fam Lev Aarti Mulder-Jibodh and many more 🌟If you’re a starting entrepreneur looking for guidance, community, and clarity, I highly recommend checking it out. Visit www.zaaiamstelveen.nl and register before December 15th, take the first step toward your entrepreneurial dreams! #Entrepreneurship #PersonalGrowth #Networking #Coaching #ZAAI

🚀 Exciting Milestone for Our New Investment Firm in Belgium! We are thrilled to announce the official (public) launch of MK3 Partners, a new investment firm based in Belgium, driven by a bold vision to empower family businesses, entrepreneurs, and SME's and to create lasting value. As part of this exciting journey, we have successfully completed our first acquisition: Cematec NV. A true testament to our commitment to identifying and partnering with exceptional companies, their founders and teams. This marks the beginning of a promising next chapter, not just for us but also for the businesses and people we will work alongside. Our mission is clear: partner with strong entrepreneurs, professionalize family businesses, and ensure a long-term future whilst providing succession options to the owners. Combining strong foundations and an ambitious outlook, we are ready to make a meaningful impact in businesses and all of their stakeholders. We are grateful to our trusted advisors, investors, and all who have supported us in achieving this significant milestone. Rest assured, this is just the start... We have some more projects in the works. We can’t wait to share more about our upcoming acquisitions as we continue to grow and scale. Curious about us? Trends did a great job in writing it all down and explaining who we are, what we stand for, and what we aim to achieve. Here’s to building a future of opportunities! 🐺💼🚀 Niels, Yarno & Gil Founding Partners

🚀 It's always great when a quality outlet like FDmagazine publishes an article based on research conducted by one of our clients. 💡 Mollie carried out an insightful study on the growing pains and challenges faced by start-ups and scale-ups. 📈 This article is definitely a must-read! 📰✨ #Startups #Scaleups #BusinessGrowth #Entrepreneurship #Innovation #GrowthChallenges #MarketResearch #TechStartups #BusinessInsights #FDMagazine #Mollie #MustRead #GrowthHacks #BusinessSuccess #FutureOfBusiness"

Cursus Slim innoveren 2024. - #Ondernemers en #directeuren van #MKB bedrijven in #Rotterdam-#Rijnmond opgelet! Een unieke kans om concreet aan de slag te gaan met #innovatie binnen jouw bedrijf! Dit programma biedt een raamwerk om vanuit een idee stapsgewijs een kansrijk nieuw product of dienst te ontwikkelen voor jouw bedrijf dat een bijdrage kan leveren aan #omzet, #winstgevendheid, #toekomstbestendigheid en #duurzaamheid.

Great news for Invest-NL and our continued efforts on Blended Finance! While we are on the topic... This coming thursday I will be speaking at the Euroforum event "Financiering van de Energietransitie" about blended finance; its definition, where it is applied and what is its perspective. Looking forward seeing you there! 🌻 😎 #energytransition #blendedfinance #ahoy #rechargeearth #euroforum #investnl

A closer look into 10 years of innovation, supporting more than 1,600 startups and creating the largest startup community in Europe without taking equity. 🚀 Read all about it in Trends Kanaal Z ✅ Thanks for the shout-out 🎉

Are you a #startup or #SME, and can you benefit from an expert's view on how to grow your company or develop your idea further? The next round of the Innovation Brokerage Scheme opens on January 20, 2025. This subsidy offers up to 10k € (80% contribution) for SMEs in the #energyindustry who need specialist support. Please reach out to Martin Weissmann to learn more. #innovation #renewableenergy #subsidy

Thanks to VLAIO for featuring my journey and supporting GOFLUO's growth from the very start. Your belief in our vision and mission has been instrumental in our growth progress. Excited for what the future holds! 🔛 ✅ #Gratitude #Partnership #GrowthJourney #VLAIO #GOFLUO

🚀🚀Big news, as Maurik de Groot, lecturer and researcher at the Research Group Entrepreneurship at Hogeschool van Amsterdam, has published his article on the sales role of entrepreneurs in Holland Management Review (HMR)! Curious about what kind of sales behavior you exhibit as an entrepreneur? Then fill out the questionnaire on page 77. Contact Maurik if you want to discuss the results or find out what his research could mean for you. #entrepreneurship #sales #ondernemerschap #salesrol #ondernemers #entrepreneurs