Start your business in the Netherlands
Are you ready to make your business idea a reality with our support?
Program Overview
We offer a full incubator program for entrepreneurs with a refugee background, taking you from early stage business idea to the start of your company. The program consists of three steps:
- Digital Pre-Incubator
- Core Incubator Program
- Aftercare Program
1. Digital Pre-Incubator
September 2020 – November 2020
The focus during this part of the program is on learning and open to anyone with a refugee background. Here we focus on delivering you with valuable content on Business & Entrepreneurship Literacy, Digital Skills, and Cultural Understanding. Everything will be based on self-paced online learning, which means that you can take your time to get everything done from wherever you are.
2. Core Incubator
November 2020 – March 2021
Those who successfully complete the pre-incubator program and complete a strong business concept are selected to join the incubator. The emphasis will be on actually getting your business off the ground. You will be teamed up with one business coach and two student consultants helping you to accelerate your progress. Dedicated experts, corporates, and masterclasses are completing this program.
Month #1
The core incubator program starts with a matchmaking event where you will meet your business coach and student consultants, who will be composing your team for the next 4 months.
The goal is to quickly define your critical assumptions and set-up experiments to start testing your business.
Months #2 & #3
The goal in these months is to find a problem-solution fit.
Month #4
The goal of this month is to have a first, real, customer and deliver a strong pitch on Demo Day.
Months #5 to #10
The goal during these months is that you become a self-dependent entrepreneur.
3. Aftercare Program
March 2021 – August 2021
After successful completion of the incubator you have the chance to be selected for the aftercare program. In the aftercare program, you will get prolonged support by the Forward Incubator team for a limited amount of time per month in order to further help you grow your business.
Our Recipe for Success
01. To ensure your success you will work with a team of four
02. You will attend workshops organised by professional institutions
03. You will get professional coaching by successful entrepreneurs
04. From day one you are a member of a vibrant startup community
Forward Team
More than seven full time members of the Core Forward Incubator Team will assist you with your business on a weekly basis by providing you with strategic guidance and regular feedback. They have experience in setting up businesses in a wide range of sectors, from international trade to social enterprises.
Accredited Training
Trainers will give you workshops in the program. We have trainers that give workshops on lean startup, business plan writing, marketing, legal and tax, pitching, finance, investments, personal skills, cross cultural communication, and negotiation.
Business Coaches
Our program offers 1 on 1 coaching by one of the 30 selected experienced professionals. Coaches will provide you with strategic guidance, network, and personal feedback.
Student Consultants
Student consultants will work with you for 8-12 hours a week for three months. You will have weekly meetings with them, where you discuss progress and challenges. They will assist you on topics like marketing, finance, sales and much more.
Expert Support
Forward Incubator offers an expert support network that can help you with challenges on a variety of topics: law, finance, sales, and marketing. Example experts are: Sthree, DLA Piper, Mazars, Dentons, Heidrick & Struggles, Heineken, Philips and many more.
Municipalities
Forward Incubator facilitates the relationship between you and your municipality. This means that we keep in touch with your case manager and assist in filing a BBZ-social welfare application.
Our Past Participants
Forward Incubator has over 2 years of experience with helping entrepreneurs with a refugee background to set up their business in the Netherlands. We have successfully launched over 30 businesses thus far. Listen to what our previous participants have to say about our program:
Blaise - Participant 2019
“After this program someone feels like they have been in the Netherlands for 10 years; because whatever questions you may have, you know who you can ask.”
Murat - Participant 2019
“The program increased my self esteem for a new beginning in Netherlands. I am introduced to many new people through the program.”
Sign up for our program
Our next incubator programs will take place starting:
- October 2020 in Amsterdam
- October 2020 in Rotterdam