Accelerator
Frank & the Backs
The Hague
A The Hague accelerator supporting startups and scale-ups with one-to-one mentoring from experienced entrepreneurs, stage-based programmes and access to business and expert networks.
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Useful if you are building or scaling a venture in the Netherlands and want practical help from someone who has run a company, including founders from outside the EU who need an accredited Startup Visa facilitator.
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About
Frank & the Backs is a cooperative of experienced entrepreneurs and former executives, called Backs, working from the Titaan hub in The Hague and supporting ventures since 2020. Its programmes are built around one-to-one work with a Back rather than classroom teaching, and run from a short early-stage programme, through twelve months of scaling support, to longer engagements for more mature companies. There is a separate route for established companies checking whether the Dutch and wider European market fits their product. Ventures taking part in a programme also reach the VentureNetwork of vetted business experts, a virtual coworking space and registered business address at Titaan, help with funding and pitch preparation, workshops and community events, and written guides to Dutch rules. Frank & the Backs is an accredited Dutch Startup Visa facilitator, and that support runs through its Next Valley programme. It describes the ventures it works with as impact-driven.
What they offer
- One-to-one mentoring from a Back (opens in a new tab)
Every venture in a programme is matched with an entrepreneur or former executive who works with the founder directly.
- VentureNetwork of business experts (opens in a new tab)
Vetted experts in areas such as intellectual property, legal and notarial services, accounting and tax, product design, marketing and sales, and finance and subsidies.
- Coworking space at Titaan
A virtual coworking space with a registered business address in the Titaan hub in The Hague.
- Soft-landing support for relocating founders (opens in a new tab)
Provided with ACCESS, a non-profit that offers practical services and guidance on settling in the Netherlands.
- Funding and investor preparation
Go or no-go decisions on raising, work on the business plan and financials, pitch deck and pitch training, and introductions to investors and business angels.
- Workshops, training and community events
Sessions on market entry, growth, investment and pitching, plus BackTalks and other networking events.
- Read Me guides to Dutch rules
Written guides for ventures in a programme on legal structures, tax, registration, settling in and the Startup Visa application process.
Programmes
- Inception (opens in a new tab)
A four-week individual programme for early-stage ventures working on their business plan, value proposition and pitch deck.
- Next Valley (opens in a new tab)
Twelve months of individual support for MVP-stage startups and scale-ups growing in the Dutch and European market.
- AcendX (opens in a new tab)
Twelve to eighteen months of weekly mentoring for more mature ventures scaling in the Dutch and European market.
- Partner Search (opens in a new tab)
For established companies checking whether the Dutch and other European markets fit their product, and looking for partners and customers.
- Startup Visa Application Support (opens in a new tab)
Guidance on the documents and the IND application for founders from outside the EU, as an accredited facilitator.
Good to know
- Recognised Startup Visa facilitator; IND and RVO remain responsible for official immigration and eligibility decisions.
- Startup Visa support runs through the Next Valley programme and has its own conditions, including proof of funds to cover a year of living costs.
- The additional services, including the VentureNetwork, the coworking space and the Read Me guides, are for ventures taking part in a programme; programmes are applied for and some charge a fee.
- Practical relocation and settling-in support is provided by ACCESS, a separate non-profit organisation, rather than by Frank & the Backs.
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