New York: Speed, Clarity & Commercial Focus
The week opened in New York with a clear emphasis: commercial readiness.
From the first roundtable session, founders were challenged to rethink how they present themselves in a US context. Conversations quickly moved beyond product functionality toward value proposition, urgency, and ambition.
Through roundtables, AMAs, and curated meetings with partners including J.P. Morgan, EY, and Key Search, founders were challenged to refine their narrative and clarify their US ambition. Conversations centered on decisive leadership, hiring the right local team, and communicating vision with confidence. An intimate Founder Dinner with NYC tech leaders added candid perspectives on the realities – and expectations – of building in the US market.
Boston: Talent, Science and Ecosystem Power
Midweek, the cohort continued to Boston, where the emphasis shifted from speed to ecosystem depth. Anchored by institutions such as Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard University, the city offered founders insight into how academia, corporates, and venture capital intersect. Sessions included an inside look at innovation at Philips Labs and practical discussions on navigating the US funding landscape. The highlight of the week was Netherlands Innovation Night, where nearly 500 guests: operators, investors and ecosystem leaders gathered to see the cohort pitch – a powerful moment of visibility and momentum, made possible with support from FrieslandCampina and The HEINEKEN Company.
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Key Takeaways and Impact
Expanding to the United States is less about market entry and more about a mindset shift and sustained presence. Throughout the week, founders experienced firsthand that clarity and confidence are not optional – they are expected. Hiring locally is not a tactical step, but a strategic commitment that signals seriousness and long-term intent. Vision must precede metrics; ambition attracts partners, talent, and capital even before traction fully materializes. Perhaps most importantly, ecosystems matter: sustainable scale in the US is built through trusted relationships, consistent visibility, and a willingness to engage. For many founders in the cohort, this realization marked the true beginning of their US chapter – helping them lay the foundations and build the network required for a strategic and sustainable US market entry.
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ScaleNL is the first public-private organization that helps promising Dutch Tech startups scale to the US. With its comprehensive toolbox, ScaleNL offers a platform, education, mentorship, access to funding, and flagship programs like the ScaleNL Accelerator, to equip founders with the resources and connections they need to succeed in the US.
ScaleNL Accelerator East Coast is an immersive 12-week program designed to empower (deep)tech startup founders on their journey toward US market entry. Throughout our hybrid program, the founders engage in weekly expert sessions that cover topics such as fundraising, elevator pitching, devising effective go-to-market strategies, and mastering sales techniques, among others. As the program unfolds, the entrepreneurs culminate their experience with a 5-day trip to the vibrant tech landscapes of New York and Boston. During this trip, the founders have the opportunity to pitch in front of US-based VCs.
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