These are the important dates you need to know and block off in your calendar.

• Applications are now open until August 19th
• The Selection Day will take place in Amsterdam one of the following days – August 28/29/30.
• The program starts on September 30th and runs until mid-December.
  • Sessions will be held virtually or in person on Tuesdays and Thursdays, mostly in the afternoon and evening.
  • There will be a 4-day face-to-face summit in London on Oct. 1-4.
  • The trip to the USA will take place from December 1 to 7.
  • After the USA trip, all founders are required to participate in a day of studio recordings for the showcase livestream taking place approx. one week after the studio recordings in/around Amsterdam

Apply today!

10 companies are selected to join the program.

We will invite 15-20 teams to Selection Day in Amsterdam, where they will pitch to valuable stakeholders of the ecosystem and receive a lot of insightful feedback. A professional selection committee will make the final selection of ten companies that will join the program.

We are accepting applications for our next batch, apply here!

A selection committee during our Selection Day consisting of advisors and partners with experience in scaling to the US, investing in startups and building companies will judge the top 15-20 applicants based on their pitches. Each team will receive a lot of valuable feedback from this event. A team can attend the selection day only in person, unfortunately dial-in pitching is not possible.

During Selection Day, you will pitch to our independent Selection Board in Amsterdam. Based on the input and feedback, the Selection Board will select the 10 companies that will join the program.

As long as your decision to go to the US is intentional and strategic, we encourage you to apply! Tech startups should meet the following eligibility requirements:

• Your startup is a tech-first company with an innovative and scalable solution
• Your product is connected to one or more Sustainable Development Goals
• Your startup has reached at least product-market fit in the Netherlands and is ready to scale
• You have a financial runway until at least mid-2025 (for the current EC24 program)
• You are already planning to expand to the US and/or raise funding in 2024-2025. You may have even taken some steps to make this happen. (For the current EC24 program)
• We welcome startups from any vertical to apply for the program.

Still have doubts about whether your business is a fit? Email us.

We’re looking for companies that we can really help.

More specifically, digital-first, scalable businesses that have proven they have a market for their solution. All tech, all sectors, different stages. As long as you have planned to expand to the US and we can help you, you have a chance and should apply!

Still have doubts about whether your business is a fit? Email us.

The program is designed for founders. Throughout the program, we ask that one founder be fully committed and present as the main participant. They will attend all sessions, travel to the US at the end of the program, and be the main point of contact for our team, their coach and their lead mentor.

Other members of the leadership team can join certain sessions where relevant. 

The program is funded by the Dutch government to help Dutch tech pioneers scale in the US.

You will need to cover your own travel and accommodation costs when we travel to the US for 1 week. We will provide some guidance on different types of accommodation to suit different budgets, as well as share partner discount codes and promotions where applicable.

We recommend that you have enough runway to join the program and until you can raise more funding and have a budget internally to invest in your expansion to the US.

No other costs are involved for you to join the program.

As one of the ten companies participating in the program, our goal is to get you ready to expand into the US market. Together, we’ll take stock of your current situation, make a plan of what to focus on, and get it done in time for our trip to the US.

Program phases include

1. Introduction to get to know your business and set up a plan of where to focus in the coming weeks to establish US market readiness.
2. Adapting your business and business strategy to the US market: local product-market fit, US-friendly marketing and sales, business model, etc.
3. Preparing your finances and investment plan for the US.
4. Business trip to the US to meet local partners, launch customers, investors, etc. and pitch your launch at The Showcase.

Our goal is for your company to be successful in its growth into the US market. We have the network, resources and time to focus on the individual needs of each company.

The government recognizes that startups are a driving force of the Dutch economy.

For example, as job creators: 250 000 new jobs in the last 3 years alone. Scaling up your Dutch company abroad will also grow your home base in The Netherlands. 

That’s why our goal is to help you grow your business abroad, and help you reach your full unicorn potential.

Apply now!

You are invited to join the ScaleNL Ecosystem! Here’s the application form.