The Business Accelerator is Polder's structured growth programme for startups and companies that have established their Dutch entity and are ready to scale. It combines market strategy, business development, digital presence, investor readiness, and grant access into a coherent, time-bound engagement.
What to expect
A consultation with Polder will determine which accelerator components are most relevant for your stage and sector — and what realistic milestones look like over three months.
Dutch buyers are consensus-driven, relationship-first, and sceptical of aggressive sales tactics. Understanding how decisions are made — and having the right introductions — is the difference between a pipeline and a waiting room.
The Netherlands has a dense network of accelerators, corporate innovation labs, industry associations, and government funding bodies. Companies with ecosystem presence close deals and raise funding faster than those going it alone.
Dutch R&D incentives are among the most accessible in Europe. A tech company spending €200K/year on development can recover €40–60K through WBSO alone. Most companies leave this on the table because the application process feels complex. Polder manages it.
Dutch and EU investors have specific expectations around financial modelling, due diligence documentation, and pitch structure. Polder prepares you for the room — not just the deck.
We begin with a thorough analysis of your target market in the Netherlands: competitor landscape, customer segments, pricing benchmarks, and where your product sits in the market. This feeds directly into the go-to-market strategy and ensures your positioning is credible to Dutch buyers.
Based on the market analysis, Polder develops a go-to-market plan tailored to the Dutch context — including the most effective sales channels, partnership models, and messaging that resonates with Dutch decision-makers. This is not a generic strategy deck; it is built around your specific product and target customers.
Polder actively supports pipeline development: identifying the right contacts, making warm introductions through the Polder network, preparing outreach materials, and coaching on Dutch business culture and negotiation norms. The goal is qualified conversations — not cold email volume.
A credible Dutch digital presence — website, SEO, LinkedIn, and targeted content — is often the first thing a Dutch prospect checks before agreeing to a meeting. Polder assesses your current digital presence, identifies gaps, and coordinates improvements aligned with your go-to-market strategy.
For companies with technical development activities, Polder identifies applicable grants and R&D incentives — starting with WBSO — and manages the application and reporting process. This runs in parallel with the growth programme and delivers tangible financial return during the engagement period.
If fundraising is on the roadmap, Polder prepares the financial model, investment deck, and due diligence package to Dutch and EU investor standards. This includes introductions to relevant angel investors, venture funds, and Dutch government funding bodies (RVO, InvestNL).
Throughout the programme, Polder provides regular reporting on pipeline, grant status, and strategic progress — and adjusts the focus based on what's working. After the structured programme, ongoing advisory retainer options are available.
Yes. The accelerator is designed for companies that already have a Dutch legal entity (BV or equivalent). If you're still in the formation phase, Polder can run company establishment and accelerator prep in parallel so you're ready to start immediately after incorporation.
The standard engagement is three months — intensive enough to deliver measurable results in pipeline, partnerships, and grant access. Some clients extend to six months when the scope includes fundraising or larger BD targets. The duration and scope are agreed at the start of the engagement.
The accelerator is sector-agnostic, but the Polder network is strongest in tech, SaaS, fintech, logistics, and sustainability. The market analysis and BD support are calibrated to your specific sector and customer profile.
WBSO is a Dutch R&D tax credit that reduces the wage tax and social security contributions on hours spent on technical development. For a company with €150K in annual development salary costs, WBSO can reduce the effective cost by €30–50K per year. Polder manages the application and quarterly reporting.
Yes. If talent acquisition is part of your growth plan, Polder can coordinate with the employee services track to manage permit applications and onboarding for your new hires in the Netherlands.
A consultation with Polder will determine which accelerator components are most relevant for your stage and sector — and what realistic milestones look like over three months.
This intake is designed to prepare a useful response within one working day.
This usually takes less than two minutes.