Erasmus Enterprise, based at the Erasmus University Rotterdam (EUR) campus, is a bustling community of entrepreneurs known for leveraging regional expertise in incubation and acceleration to nurture a diverse group – students, graduates, academics, employees, professionals, and alumni – into the world of entrepreneurship and startups.
Yes!Delft is the leading tech incubator in Europe from TU Delft. It provides over 200 portfolio startups with mentorship, expert knowledge and access to investors and partners.
Even though the partnership was only recently formalized, there has always been a close relationship between ScaleNL, Erasmus Enterprise and Yes!Delft. In September, the ScaleNL team participated in the festive Opening of the Entrepreneurial Year at the Erasmus Enterprise Hub. There, our Co-founder, Michael Dooijes, took part in a panel discussion on what it means to be an entrepreneur while sharing some insights about entrepreneurship in the US. The team also met and reconnected with founders, as well as various thought leaders from the Dutch tech startup landscape. Not long after, Ernst Hoestra, CEO of Erasmus Enterprise, joined the ScaleNL Team on the West Coast for one week. Together, they met various stakeholders and partners across our LA and San Francisco networks including investors, (academic) accelerators, (C)VCs and tech startup entrepreneurs. Slowly but steadily, the informal collaboration blossomed into a formal relationship.
Ernst Hoestra formally inked the partnership at the Consulate General of the Netherlands in San Francisco alongside the ScaleNL team represented by Michael Dooijes, Kaoutar Ashour (Program Director), as well as Dirk Janssen (Consul General) and Agnes Koppelman (Dep. Consul General). We are excited about the potential of this powerful partnership which, in tandem with tech incubator Yes!Delft, will empower Dutch tech startups and scale-ups with invaluable mentoring, strategic advice, and an abundance of industry knowledge to fuel their growth journey.
In the press release from the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, CEO Ernst Hoestra shared his vision, stating, “To achieve success, our entrepreneurs need not only a clear growth mindset but also access to a nurturing ecosystem. With Holland in the Valley, we can tap into the world’s most innovative and entrepreneurial ecosystem. Our aim is to assist visionary founders in tackling the significant challenges our global society faces. At Erasmus Enterprise and YES!Delft, we nurture entrepreneurship and facilitate transformative venture development to make a lasting impact on sustainability and society.”
As of October 2023, we are thrilled to announce Erasmus Enterprise and Yes!Delft officially became a part of our vibrant ecosystem, joining our other corporate partners like Rabobank, De Brauw and Wilson Sonsini.
The ScaleNL team eagerly looks forward to this partnership’s positive impact on the Dutch startup landscape. Stay tuned for the incredible ventures and collaborations stemming from this fusion of expertise and passion for innovation.
