Home Âť Articles Âť The vibrant startup community of Groningen, Friesland, and Drenthe

The vibrant startup community of Groningen, Friesland, and Drenthe

Startups coming to the North of the Netherlands are finding a thriving community of like-minded entrepreneurs that are working on exciting business ventures, many of which make the world a better place.

Article
startups

If you're looking for a startup scene that's buzzing with energy, innovation, and serious ambition in the Netherlands, then Groningen, Friesland, and Drenthe should be on your shortlist. Whether you're looking to launch your own startup or curious about what it's like to work at one, this article will give you a behind-the-scenes look at the vibrant startup ecosystem in Groningen, Friesland, and Drenthe. We'll cover the culture, opportunities, key players, and what makes the North such a fertile ground for innovation.

Working for a startup

Some aspects of startup life are shared across companies and countries. Whether it's a SaaS startup in San Francisco or a med tech startup in Groningen, startup working culture can often be described as creative and chaotic. You'll likely have the room to leave your own mark with the flexibility to try different roles within the company. However, that means the environment could be considered a bit more chaotic (especially for early hires) when compared to companies that have had the time to establish themselves for a bit longer.

While not a formal requirement, early startup hires often bring an entrepreneurial mindset to the table. They're typically drawn to a venture because they believe deeply in the product, the mission, or the vision of the founder leading it.

Working for a startup quick guide:

  • Early employees may receive equity (1% or more company ownership could lead to an essential employee visa)
  • Networking at startup events is crucial in the North's closely intertwined ecosystem, helping individuals establish themselves and find opportunities
  • Startups often share candidates across their networks, increasing job prospects within the community

The North versus everywhere else

So what makes working at a Northern startup different? In a nutshell, the answer to this question can be broken down into 4 parts:

  1. Specialised industry focus
  2. Less "cutthroat" culture
  3. Cost-of-living advantage
  4. Strong (international) talent pipeline

What does this mean for you?

Special focus

There are around 400 startups that excel in knowledge-intensive areas (think medical startups and ones working on clean tech). Many are university spinoffs, focusing on translating knowledge honed in the labs into societal applications.

Cost of living

While life in the North is getting more expensive as more people see the benefits of living here, so far, the cost of living is generally lower compared to the Randstad area. This could mean better work-life balance for you, depending on your case and what you value.

The culture

The culture here is often described as being "less cutthroat" compared to areas like Amsterdam. Don't mistake this as code for 'less ambitious. What this means instead is, for instance, conversations at networking events feeling more personal, with less aggressive pitching.

Strong talent pipeline

The region benefits from a good pipeline of students from its universities, providing skilled research scientists and lab technicians. Many internships convert into full-time jobs. Almost all startups in the North use English as their main language. Many are also founded by internationals.

Michelle Ferguson - software engineer

"There are also many events for startups, which is fortunate because Powerchainger itself is a startup. We seem to be attending such events and competitions practically every month. It’s interesting to see how much energy is invested in growing startups."

Read more
Michelle Photo 1 (2)

Your own startup

The Northern provinces are quietly becoming a launchpad for bold ideas. Whether you’re bootstrapping from your student flat in Groningen or scaling a green tech prototype in Friesland, the North offers a uniquely supportive environment for early-stage founders ready to build something meaningful.

We spoke with three people who shared their expertise, focusing on each of the three provinces.

Groningen

Max Papo from Founded, a municipality-led initiative to help entrepreneurs, told Make it in the North that they are currently focusing on three main pillars:

  • Access to the market
  • Access to talent
  • Access to capital

Max thinks of Groningen as a large village where many people know each other and are rather helpful. It’s common for the established entrepreneurs to try and help newcomers to grow their business. Groningen is also a popular student city which could prove useful to startups aiming to recruit local and international students.

It’s common for the established entrepreneurs to try and help newcomers to grow their business.

Max Papo
Max Papo Founded in Groningen

Below are some links to get you started in Groningen

Overall, Max says that a number of startups are maturing over the years which leads to a growing startup scene. And although the situation is always evolving, it still is aiming to improve.

Drenthe

Next we also heard from Dènis Assen who is the owner of Growing Emmen, an entrepreneurial community. 

Dènis is in charge of taking care of the community which is approximately 220 members strong. They’re mainly entrepreneurs who are at various stages of their respective projects. He says that the community, where people know each other by name, is even closer than that in Groningen.

Within this network there are business developers, finance teams, coaches, and access to capital available. It’s based in a campus 100m away from the central bus station and has co-working spaces available. 

According to Dènis, Drenthe is currently focusing on ‘green chemistry’. However, Growing Emmen, which is a private initiative, isn’t focusing solely on one area and embraces diversity. 

Dènis noticed that internationals can become quite lonely and tackled the issue by organising frequent social events with an emphasis on having fun. He views fun as central to a successful business. Every last Thursday of the month is being dedicated as an international day for English speakers.

Below are some links to get you started in Emmen:

Friesland

Lastly we spoke with Bertwin Kampman who is the Public Lead of Founded, another municipality-led initiative to help entrepreneurs.

Bertwin says the startup ecosystem in Friesland is developing well, especially when compared to the fragmented situation in the past. He also said that while things are more centralised in Groningen, startups are more spread out in Friesland.

Friesland is currently focusing on digital startups, water-technology, agricultural innovations, and the circular economy.

Bertwin explained that startups can expect to find a support system in Friesland for all phases of development.

Below are some links to get you started in Friesland.