Regional funds offer valuable opportunities

A meeting of the regional funds. What can you expect then? Stories from those funds, of course! And free coffee. But... will you make room in your calendar for that? Mwah, you can read those stories on the websites (see the box) and the coffee always tastes better at home. You'd rather hear experiences, get inspired, talk to people who work with the funds. No sooner said than done: the funds offered - according to the invitation - "an afternoon full of inspiration, new contacts and opportunities to grow. See, that appeals.

The crowd pleaser was Bob de Jong, although there were people in the room who were still in the cradle in 2006 (Turin Olympics, gold at the 10 km). If you ever have the chance: come and listen to his story. That's why we're not giving away everything, just the message: listen to your gut. And that end goal - gold - is nice and all, but cut it into manageable pieces. Stay in the now. Then what comes next will come naturally. Oh yes: and have fun! No fun? Find it! And last but not least: vary, think and do - and move - out of the box. Bob won gold by taking all these life lessons to heart.

Niels Doorduin of the Gezondheidsgilde compares entrepreneurship to elite sports. An entrepreneur’s mental resilience, in particular, is put to the test. Stress seems to be just part of the deal. But that doesn’t have to be the case, Niels argued. He then took the audience on a journey into the wonderful world of empathy and explained how much less stress it brings. Physical well-being is just as important. Niels encouraged the audience to indulge in sweet treats. Delicious! As it turned out, it was 100 percent healthy! The message: healthy, delicious, and nutritious go hand in hand. Niels’ company, Gezondheidsgilde, aims to make people aware of the cause-and-effect relationship: living healthily leads to energetic entrepreneurship.

On stage, the moderator interviewed Felix van der Gun of Flixit, Erik Pijlman of Recell, and Tjapko Uildriks of Dopple—three entrepreneurs who seized opportunities by utilizing the services of regional funds, with impressive results. Felix develops software for retail stores—large chains—to promote local sales campaigns. His unique selling point: local recognition. And, of course, the foundation: the right data. He collaborates with the Groninger Groeifonds and the NOM. Felix received funding to accelerate Flixit’s growth and improve the product. He concluded: “The advice I received was incredibly helpful to me as a very young entrepreneur.”

Erik produces cellulose for the construction industry (fibers) and the chemical industry (sugars). His USP: circularity, meaning a low carbon footprint. He has been working with the FOM and the NOM since the company’s founding. The expertise in water technology from Friesland is a welcome asset; the experience with green chemistry comes from Drenthe and Groningen. Recell receives advice from the regional funds, and they develop plans together. The FOM and NOM’s network has proven to be very useful. Erik: “The collaboration provides a stable foundation.”

Tjapko has developed earplugs for the industrial and construction sectors. His secret: advanced Bluetooth technology. This allows users to communicate without having to remove the earplugs. And that’s a good thing, because: removing them means it’s not safe. Because it’s an innovative product in a strictly regulated niche (safety), it took a lot of patience to pass all the tests. In other words: a lot of money. Since Dopple also works on large contracts with multinational companies, funding was needed. The Drenthe SME Fund helped with that.

• Groninger Groeifonds – helps businesses grow

• Frisian Development Agency – for entrepreneurs with growth ambitions

• Drenthe SME Fund – give your ambition a chance