Startup Visa

Do you want to start an impact business in The Netherlands? Does your business bring an innovative solution to Dutch market? Then you have come to right place. Impact Hub Amsterdam is one of the Startup Visa facilitators officially recognised by The Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO), which also evaluates each startup’s application.

The Startup Visa at a glance

Since 2015, a new regulation enables ambitious entrepreneurs from non-EU countries to apply for a temporary residence permit for the Netherlands, which offers you one year to bring an innovative business to the Dutch market. To obtain this permit, having a facilitator recognised by the RVO is essential.

To find out more, watch this short clip by Startup Amsterdam.

How does Impact Hub support my Startup Visa application?

  • We offer a comprehensive review of your business model, including feedback on topics such as feasibility, organisational setup and implementation timelines;
  • We advise you on Dutch market trends by drawing from our team’s vast experience in helping more than 1,000 enterprises start, grow and scale;
  • We invite you to join our Business Model Challenge to help you go from idea to successful startup;
  • We give you access to our collaborative co-working space and an Impact Hub membership, which includes free monthly business development workshops;
  • We introduce you to experienced legal professionals, who can help you with matters such as opening a Dutch bank account.

    • What kind of entrepreneurs are we looking for?

  • You have solid entrepreneurial skills as shown by previous experience;
  • You have a viable business plan, which you will be able to deliver within a year;
  • You can develop an impact-driven product or service that is currently not available on the Dutch market;
  • Your business has both financial and social / environmental goals, which you can describe in detail and quantify;
  • You already have a support network in The Netherlands. This is not a requirement, but it can significantly contribute to the success of your business.

    • Do you fulfil the criteria and would like Impact Hub to be your Startup Visa facilitator?

    Before you decide, please make sure you can answer yes to the three statements below:
    • My company is registered at the Dutch Chamber of Commerce or I am able to do this as soon as I arrive in The Netherlands. Click here for more info.
    • I have a Dutch bank account or can open one soon. You cannot open a bank account without a residence permit. As you may currently not have a permit, there are two ways to open an account: an authorised person can open an account connected to a PO box in your name OR a notary can open it for you - let us know if you need a notary!
    • You have sufficient funds on your (Dutch) bank account to cover the living costs of your first year in The Netherlands. Click here for more info.
    Have more questions? Read these FAQ.

    Ready to launch your impact business on the Dutch market with the Impact Hub as your Startup Visa facilitator?

    These are the next steps:
    • Fill in the application form
    • You will hear whether you have been selected and receive feedback within three weeks after the deadline (1 September 2019);
    • Meet with Impact Hub Amsterdam, either in person or over Skype if you are located abroad;
    • A decision will be made about whether we can act as your facilitator based on the criteria.

    Important dates:

    • 1 September 2019: Deadline Application Startup Visum

    Contact:

    Any questions? Contact Romee Erens, Program Scout at Impact Hub Amsterdam.

    Meet some of the entrepreneurs we have supported with their Startup Visa applications:

    Ajay Varadharajan (India) - GreenerU
    Ajay Varadharajan Ajay developed GreenerU, the first app that automatically tracks and measures the impact of all aspects of consumer lifestyles. By quantifying the sustainability performance of various consumer activities, the app makes it possible to compare these and recommend improvements that allow users to make greener and more affordable choices. GreenerU recently secured a partnership with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Dutch Good Growth Fund) to scale their sustainability app to India.

    Lyndsey Lewis (Canada) - Reflow
    Lyndsey Lewis Lyndsey is the founder of Reflow, which produces a range of high-quality recycled materials for sustainable 3D Printing. In doing so, they tackle two global challenges: plastic pollution and the exploitation of vulnerable people who earn their livelihood by collecting, sorting and cleaning the waste we collectively produce. By creating a high value product from the plastic materials gathered by these waste collectors, Reflow can improve these communities’ wages and working conditions.

    Lucas Jeffries (Australia) - Zero Waste Chef
    Lucas Jeffries Lucas is the Executive Chef at the Instock Foundation, which aims to reduce food waste and create awareness of the issue by using products that would otherwise remain unsold. Their goal is to help people value food more in a number of ways, such as through a good dining experience in one of their restaurants or through one of their masterclasses. Lucas is first and foremost a chef, but also an author and consultant, with over fifteen years in the hospitality industry in various roles.