Facilitator for startups
Last checked on: 6 March 2026
One of the conditions of the startup residence permit is that you work together with a business mentor: a facilitator. The startup entrepreneur and the facilitator must establish their partnership in a (signed) agreement.
The facilitator provides the startup entrepreneur with a tailor-made package of support depending on the specific needs of the startup entrepreneur. The facilitator may, for example, help with operational management. They may also help with marketing, research and investing acquisition for setting up an innovative business.
Conditions
The facilitator must meet the following conditions:
- The facilitator must have experience in guiding innovative startups.
- The facilitator must be financially stable.
- The facilitator may not, in any case, be in receivership or bankrupt and must have no negative equity.
- The facilitator may not have a majority interest in the startup company.
- The facilitator may not be a family member up to the third degree. This means they cannot be child, parent, grandparent or aunt/uncle of the startup entrepreneur.
Recognised facilitators

42workspace
A curated coworking space and community for tech and digital entrepreneurs, freelancers, digital nomads, and startups.

Antler
A global startup generator breaking down the barriers to entrepreneurship for the world's most brilliant and determined people to build a global business from scratch.

Brightlands Campus Heerlen Management & Development B.V.
The Brightlands Smart Services Campus incubator programme focuses on growing and thriving AI startups. Within the ecosystem, startups and scale-ups are coached to the next stage. They can take part in events and master classes and get help with market and investor access.

Brightlands Chemelot Campus
Incubate. Accelerate. Validate. Scale.

Builders
Builders' mission is to provide great entrepreneurs with proven models and infrastructure to create companies that will shape the future of work. They partner with co-founders who have the right drive and mindset to transform visionary business ideas into tangible realities.

CIC
Connecting innovators to make things happen.

Crosspring
Love to grow tech start-ups and scale-ups.

Dockwize
Your innovation hub for impactful solutions in the water, energy, and food transitions.

DutchBasecamp
Based in Amsterdam, we support founders building B2B startups, especially in regulated sectors and critical infrastructure. We help international entrepreneurs move beyond launch and toward market readiness through operational setup, EU compliance, market access and scaling across Europe.

Erasmus Centre for Entrepreneurship
The leading centre for entrepreneurship in Europe founded by entrepreneurs more than 100 years ago.

Frank & the Backs
Frank & the Backs supports impact-driven scale-ups in achieving successful growth by leveraging a network of seasoned professionals and C-level executives, known as Backs, who provide essential expertise and experience to the ventures.

Glass Frog Ventures
Glass Frog Ventures is a group consisting of 4 experienced entrepreneurs and Business Angels. They joined forces to invest in early stage growth companies.

HighTechXL
A venture-building accelerator that builds teams of entrepreneurs and tech talents around the most advanced technology in the world, like technology from CERN, TNO, Philips, and other global innovators.

HSD Campus
HSD Campus is the national innovation centre for the Dutch Security Cluster. It has IT labs, education and training facilities, flexible office spaces and meeting rooms.

IMK - Instituut voor Midden- en Kleinbedrijf
The Institute for SMEs (IMK) is a leading authority in the Netherlands with a century of expertise. IMK offers auditing, business analysis, and business coaching. We provide a strong network and support to startups and established companies and empower businesses to achieve sustainable growth and long-term success.

Inqubator Leeuwarden
Setting up and growing your business.

NOM - Investerings- en ontwikkelingsmaatschappij Noord-Nederland
Whether your startup needs funding, the perfect business location, or help to get your ideas investor-ready, NOM brings you further.

Novel-T
Programs and support for starting and accelerating innovative business cases.

Orange Sports Forum
For ambitious sports startups and scale-ups that view the Netherlands as the best place for starting, growing, and internationalising their business.

Planet B.io
Planet B.io offers a unique ecosystem for scale-ups focused on industrial and food biotechnology.

PortXL
The future of maritime innovation starts here.

Rockstart
A global accelerator and venture capitalist with follow-on-growth funding. On a mission to empower founders to drive positive change on a global scale.

Space Business Innovation Centre Noordwijk
Supporting startups using space technology and/or data for every stage of the entrepreneurial journey.

Startdock
Startdock offers a tailor-made support package for you and your startup because it takes a community to grow a company.

StartLife
StartLife supports innovative agrifoodtech startups to shape sustainable food systems.

Stichting Aerospace Innovation Hub
With Aerospace Innovation Hub @TU Delft and Aerospace Innovation Hub @The Terminal01, we offer a vibrant, innovative community with focus on sustainable aviation, drones, space and composites.

TNW Amsterdam
A global brand that informs, inspires, and connects people who love tech through media, events, and services. Part of the Financial Times group.

Unusual Space
Unusual Space is where ideas thrive and dreams take flight. We empower entrepreneurs and startups, fostering growth, innovation, and opportunities. Focusing on digitalization and technology, Unusual Space offers a tailor-made program to sharpen your skills, build connections, and turn your vision into reality.

UtrechtInc
This university-linked startup incubator focusses on early stage, scalable technology startups in health, sustainability and education.

VU StartHub B.V.
VU StartHub focuses on knowledge-driven VU-originated startups which add value to the Dutch economy and make the world a better place. We only assist VU students and VU-alumni.

Water Alliance
Water Alliance is a founding partner of WaterCampus. WaterCampus is Europe’s largest innovation-ecosystem on water technology and located in the north of the Netherlands. It is a unique water tech partnership of public and private companies, government agencies and knowledge institutes.

We are changemakers
We offer an accessible platform for peer-to-peer learning, do-it-yourself courses, events and much more to help anyone develop an impactful business. Our 12-month incubator programme Basecamp is designed to support social and impact-driven entrepreneurs from idea to actual impact. We unite a diverse community of changemakers from across the planet.