Stichting MKB Financiering

What Stichting MKB Financiering does

Stichting MKB Financiering (SMF) is an independent Dutch non-profit foundation established in 2018 to professionalize the non-bancaire (alternative) SME financing sector and improve entrepreneurs' access to appropriate financing outside traditional banking. The organization operates as a sector connector and standard-setter rather than a commercial enterprise, bringing together alternative financiers (crowdfunding platforms, direct lenders, leasing companies, factoring providers, credit unions), financing advisors, entrepreneurs, and government stakeholders through the annual MKB Financieringscongres, workshops, and the SMF Academy launched in 2026.

SMF's core products and initiatives are research, education, and ecosystem infrastructure rather than technology platforms. The FinancieringsGids, launched in 2024 in collaboration with the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Dutch Banking Association (NVB), RVO, and KVK, is an online financing guide that attracted more than 300,000 entrepreneurs in its first year and connected over 20,000 to advisors. The SMF Academy, launching in 2026, delivers structured training on Wwft compliance, anti-money laundering, fraud prevention, AI in credit assessment, and responsible financing. Annual research conducted jointly with De Nederlandsche Bank (DNB) — now in its fifth cycle — provides the market data backbone for policy and sector benchmarking. Quality marks (Erkend MKB Financier, Erkend Financieringsadvies MKB) and associated codes of conduct, originally developed by SMF, were transferred on 1 January 2026 to a newly established independent foundation, Stichting Finankeur.

SMF's business model is non-commercial. The foundation is funded by government subsidy from the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate (EZK) and, historically, by certification and membership fees from certified financiers and advisors — the latter stream now residing with Finankeur. SMF operates with a lean 1–10 employee structure from Amsterdam and pursues a community-led go-to-market focused on knowledge dissemination, research collaboration, and policy advocacy rather than revenue capture. Its strategic positioning as a neutral, government-backed convener gives it disproportionate influence over a non-bancaire financing market that represents 18% of new MKB financing volume and 59% of new credits under €25,000 in the Netherlands.

Name

Stichting MKB Financiering

Legal name

Stichting MKB Financiering

Website

https://stichtingmkbfinanciering.nl

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Stichting MKB Financiering is a Dutch non-profit foundation that professionalizes the alternative SME financing sector through research, education, the FinancieringsGids platform, and the SMF Academy, serving financiers, advisors, entrepreneurs, and government stakeholders in the Netherlands.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Amsterdam

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Government subsidy: SMF receives government support from the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate (EZK) for operations and special initiatives. In December 2025, the ministry announced €2 million in support for the establishment of Finankeur as an independent quality assurance organization.
2. Membership and certification fees: Revenue generated from certification and membership of financiers and advisors under the Erkend MKB Financier and Erkend Financieringsadvies MKB quality marks. Note: These quality marks were transferred to Stichting Finankeur as of January 1, 2026.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Stichting MKB Financiering is an independent Dutch non-profit foundation that professionalizes the non-bancaire SME financing sector. It provides market research, educational programs (SMF Academy), quality certification marks, codes of conduct, networking events, and the FinancieringsGids online guide to connect Dutch SMEs with appropriate alternative financiers and advisors.

Product overview

Stichting MKB Financiering (SMF) is an independent foundation that serves as a central coordinating body for the Dutch non-bancaire SME financing sector. Its portfolio consists of several interconnected products and initiatives: the FinancieringsGids (Financing Guide) serves as a digital platform helping entrepreneurs find appropriate financing; the SMF Academy provides educational programs for sector professionals; the quality marks (Keurmerk Erkend MKB Financier and Keurmerk Erkend Financieringsadvies MKB) and associated Gedragscodes (Codes of Conduct) certify and set standards for financiers and advisors (now managed by Stichting Finankeur since January 2026); and annual research on the non-bancaire financing market provides market intelligence. The organization also facilitates workshops and congresses for knowledge exchange. Together, these offerings create an ecosystem that professionalizes, transparentizes, and supports access to non-bancaire financing for Dutch SMEs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• FinancieringsGids (Financing Guide) Online digital guide helping Dutch entrepreneurs navigate the financing landscape and find appropriate non-bancaire financing options, featuring a choice-help tool that matches them with suitable financiers and advisors. Developed in partnership with KvK, NVB, RVO, and the Ministry of Economic Affairs.
• SMF Academy Educational platform providing training programs for professionals in the non-bancaire financing sector, covering Wwft and customer due diligence, fraud prevention, anti-money laundering, AI in credit assessment, data quality, responsible financing, and practical front-office/back-office modules. Launched in 2026 with FOI as a development partner.
• Onderzoek Non-bancaire Financieringsmarkt (Market Research) Annual research initiative (now in its fifth year) providing comprehensive market data on the Dutch non-bancaire financing sector, including new financing volumes, outstanding financing, default rates, and sector diversity. Conducted in collaboration with De Nederlandsche Bank (DNB).
• MKB Financieringscongres and Workshops Annual MKB Financieringscongres congress plus educational workshops and seminars on topics such as AML regulations, AI in financing, and supply chain finance. Brings together financiers, advisors, entrepreneurs, and policymakers for knowledge exchange and networking.
• Keurmerk Erkend MKB Financier (Quality Mark) Quality certification mark for non-bancaire SME financiers ensuring transparency, responsible lending practices, and compliance with established codes of conduct. Founded by SMF in 2019; managed by Stichting Finankeur as of January 1, 2026, with over 20 financiers certified.
• Keurmerk Erkend Financieringsadvies MKB (Quality Mark) Quality certification mark for SME financing advisors ensuring professional standards and quality advice for entrepreneurs seeking financing. Founded by SMF; managed by Stichting Finankeur as of January 1, 2026.
• Gedragscodes (Codes of Conduct) Behavioral codes for financiers, short-term commercial credit, and financing advisors that establish professional standards for the non-bancaire financing sector. Developed by SMF; transferred to Stichting Finankeur as of January 2026.

Quantifiable outcome

• Non-bancaire financing now represents 18% of new MKB financing volume
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Stichting FinankeurcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Independent quality assurance organization established to manage the quality marks Erkend MKB Financier and Erkend Financieringsadvies MKB. These quality marks and associated codes of conduct were transferred from SMF to Finankeur as of January 1, 2026. Supported by Ministry of Economic Affairs with €2 million over five years.
• De Nederlandsche Bank (DNB)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on annual research into the non-bancaire financing market. DNB and SMF jointly conduct the fifth annual market survey covering both bancair and non-bancaire financing data.
• Kamer van Koophandel (KvK)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership on FinancieringsGids (Financing Guide), joint events including KVK Ondernemersdagen, and the KvK gids voor bedrijfsfinanciering launched in 2019.
• FOIminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in developing SMF Academy educational programs. FOI collaborates with SMF on professional development content for the non-bancaire financing sector.
• AchmeaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost of MKB Financieringscongres 2026 at Achmea Congrescentrum in Zeist. Provides facilities and hospitality for the annual congress.
• Dutch Banking Association (NVB)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Nationale Convenant MKB-Financiering and FinancieringsGids initiative. Collaboration between bancair and non-bancaire sectors for improved SME access to financing.
• MKB-NederlandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Nationale Convenant MKB-Financiering representing SME interests and advocating for improved financing access.
• Vastgoed NederlandminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on webinars and knowledge sharing about non-bancaire financing in real estate sector. SMF voorzitter Ronald Kleverlaan spoke at Vastgoed Nederland webinar for 1,400 members.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• MKB-Nederland: Dutch association representing the interests of SME employers and entrepreneurs across the Netherlands. A core SMF partner in the Nationale Convenant MKB-Financiering and a natural peer as a convening industry body serving the Dutch SME ecosystem.
• Nederlandse Vereniging van Banken (NVB): Dutch Banking Association representing banks operating in the Netherlands. NVB partners with SMF on the Nationale Convenant MKB-Financiering and FinancieringsGids, and is structurally comparable as a sector-wide industry association engaging government and members on financing policy.
• Holland Fintech: Dutch fintech industry association connecting fintechs, banks, and policymakers. Comparable to SMF as a Netherlands-based industry body professionalizing an emerging financial sector through events, knowledge sharing, and policy advocacy.
• Nederlandse Vereniging van Participatiemaatschappijen (NVP): Dutch Private Equity & Venture Capital association representing the Dutch PE/VC industry. Comparable as a Dutch industry association serving alternative capital providers, with similar policy advocacy, member certification, and market research functions.
• European Microfinance Network (EMN): European network supporting microfinance institutions serving underbanked entrepreneurs. Closely comparable to SMF as a sector-level professionalization body, with similar emphasis on quality standards, research, and policy engagement in the SME/alternative finance space.

Broad incumbents

• Qredits: Dutch microfinance institution providing loans and advisory services to SMEs underserved by banks. Comparable as a Dutch SME-financing ecosystem player serving the same entrepreneur segment SMF's FinancieringsGids and certifications support.
• British Business Bank: UK government-backed economic development bank supporting SME access to finance. Mission-comparable to SMF's ecosystem professionalization role, though operating at much larger scale as a direct financing institution rather than an industry body.
• European Investment Fund (EIF): EU-level financial institution supporting SME access to finance through guarantees, securitization, and fund investments. Operates in the same SME financing ecosystem SMF helps professionalize, though at supranational scale and with direct capital deployment.
• KfW: German state-owned development bank supporting SMEs, entrepreneurship, and innovation. Comparable as a government-backed institution driving SME access to finance in a European market, though KfW itself deploys capital rather than serving as an industry professionalization body.

Others

• Rijksdienst voor Ondernemend Nederland (RVO): Dutch government agency supporting entrepreneurs with information, financing instruments (e.g., BMKB), and partnerships. A direct SMF partner on the FinancieringsGids and a comparable public-sector actor in the Dutch SME financing ecosystem.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/StMKBFin
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/stichtingmkbfinanciering

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Stichting MKB Financiering