We Are Stewards
We Are Stewards is a Dutch foundation that educates, advises, and provides legal-structuring tooling for entrepreneurs, impact investors, and legal/tax professionals seeking to implement steward-ownership — an ownership model that structurally locks a company's mission into governance.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2019
- HeadquartersAmsterdam, Netherlands
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What We Are Stewards does
We Are Stewards, legally Stichting We Are Stewards, is a Dutch foundation established in 2019 and headquartered in Amsterdam, with operational workshop delivery across Utrecht and Amsterdam (Social Impact Factory venues). The organization is the leading Dutch specialist in steward-ownership — an ownership model in which voting and economic rights are structurally separated to lock a company's mission into governance, preventing mission drift through succession or external investment. We Are Stewards serves three principal customer segments: (1) progressive entrepreneurs and business owners seeking to safeguard company purpose, including both startup founders and owners of established businesses approaching succession; (2) impact investors seeking to deploy capital into purpose-locked structures; and (3) legal and tax advisors (notaries, fiscal lawyers) needing to implement steward-ownership through articles of association and shareholder agreements. Named engagements include transition and education work with Voys (telecom, ~€18–19M revenue), Sprinklr (horticulture startup), Donker Groep (€129M green-services group), and reference network members TBI (€2B construction group) and Triodos Bank.
The product portfolio is organized as a four-stage advisory funnel: inspiration via lectures and podcasts; exploration through one-on-one "Steward Sessions" and "Steward Start" consultancies; anchoring via "The Fundament" — full support designing the steward-ownership foundation, drafting articles of association, and structuring shareholder agreements in collaboration with lawyers; and impact scaling via introductions to purpose-aligned investors such as Fair Capital Partners and LifeTree Fund. Educational products include in-person workshops (€150/participant), specialized professional workshops for notaries and tax lawyers (€395, with KNB/NOB/NovA PE credits), online crash courses, an annual Copenhagen study trip (€1,500/participant), and an annual Berlin conference. Proprietary non-AI tooling consists of the Steward-ownership Canvas (a visual implementation framework), a self-built IRR Calculator for steward-owned investments, and standardized Model Documentation templates; thought-leadership assets include the Steward-Ownership Podcast, the "Toekomstbedrijven" book, and curated "Steward Stories" case studies.
The revenue model is a hybrid of unit-priced workshop/study-trip tuition, online course fees (some free in partnership with Avans Hogeschool), and bespoke consulting engagements delivered by a six-person core team led by founder Gijsbert Koren, supplemented by Jorick Wijnen (tax-law advisor) and Roy van den Heuvel (legal team member, hired 2025). Distribution is event-led and direct: workshops, international study trips, conferences, podcasts, blog content, and a Mailchimp newsletter, with LinkedIn as the principal social channel. We Are Stewards operates as a mission-driven foundation under Dutch law rather than a venture-backed company — there are no disclosed funding rounds, no parent company, and no subsidiaries — and is structured to capture value from stewarding the steward-ownership ecosystem rather than from software-platform economics.
We Are Stewards firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- We Are Stewards
- Legal name
- Stichting We Are Stewards
- Website
- https://wearestewards.nl
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2019
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- We Are Stewards is a Dutch foundation that educates, advises, and provides legal-structuring tooling for entrepreneurs, impact investors, and legal/tax professionals seeking to implement steward-ownership — an ownership model that structurally locks a company's mission into governance.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
We Are Stewards industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Stewardship and ownership advisory services
- akta.pro primary industry
- Governance & Board Effectiveness Advisory (BPAHAFAC)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Stewardship & Active Ownership (Engagement, Proxy Voting, Shareholder Advocacy) (FSAAALAD), Circular Economy & Sustainable Products (Reuse, Repair, Upcycling) (BPAGALAF)
Keywords
Where We Are Stewards is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Amsterdam
- HQ country
- Netherlands
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
We Are Stewards business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Workshop Revenue: In-person and online steward-ownership workshops generating revenue from participant fees. Workshops range from 150 EUR per participant for general workshops to 395 EUR for professional workshops targeting lawyers and notaries.
- Study Trips: International study trips, such as the Copenhagen study trip at 1,500 EUR per participant, including learning from Danish steward-owned companies and experts.
- Educational Programs: Crash courses and online workshops on steward-ownership principles and implementation, with some programs offered free in collaboration with academic partners like Avans Hogeschool.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Standard Workshop - 150 EUR per participant |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Professional Workshop for Legal/Tax Professionals - 395 EUR |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Copenhagen Study Trip - 1,500 EUR per participant |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels6 records
We Are Stewards product offering
Product offeringCore offering
We Are Stewards is a Dutch foundation (Stichting We Are Stewards) that helps entrepreneurs and investors implement steward-ownership structures for their businesses. The organization delivers workshops, online courses, consulting engagements, legal templates, and proprietary tools (Canvas, IRR calculator, model documentation) to enable companies to protect their mission and become independent of outside investors.
Product overview
We Are Stewards is an advisory and educational organization that helps companies transition to and implement steward-ownership. Their core offerings include interactive workshops (in-person and online), advisory consultations (Steward Start, The Fundament), and practical tools (Steward-ownership Canvas, IRR Calculator, Model Documentation). They support the entire journey from initial exploration through legal implementation, and complement their services with content including a podcast series, annual conferences, study trips, and a published book. The organization primarily serves progressive entrepreneurs, investors, and increasingly legal professionals (notaries, tax lawyers) seeking to implement steward-ownership structures.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 100 steward-owned companies now operating in the Netherlands
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use We Are Stewards
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
We Are Stewards technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
We Are Stewards partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- Avans HogeschoolminorCollaboration with Centre of Expertise Brede Welvaart & Nieuw Ondernemerschap at Avans Hogeschool on the 'Goed Geld Verdienen' (Good Money Earning) research project. Jointly developed workshop on value creation combining ecological, social, and participatory dimensions. Researchers Jonneke de Koning and Marlon Burgerhof co-facilitate workshops.
- PurposecorePurpose is a key international partner of We Are Stewards. Purpose works from Germany, USA, and LatAm on steward-ownership development. We Are Stewards is explicitly listed as a partner of Purpose on their website. Collaboration includes hosting international events, sharing knowledge and resources, and joint development of steward-ownership frameworks.
- Golden Share FoundationcoreGolden Share Foundation is a foundation specifically established to safeguard steward-ownership structures of affiliated companies through priority shares (gouden aandeel). We Are Stewards works with this foundation to help companies implement and maintain their steward-ownership structures. Companies like Time to Momo and Sprinklr are affiliated with this foundation.
- Stichting SleipnircoreStichting Sleipnir manages economic ownership for multiple Dutch companies including Odin, The Shore, and Zeevonk. The foundation 'neutralizes' company capital ensuring it remains dedicated to purpose. We Are Stewards works with Sleipnir as a model for steward-ownership implementation through foundation structures.
- Social Impact FactoryminorSocial Impact Factory provides venue space for We Are Stewards workshops in both Utrecht (Kromme Nieuwegracht 3) and Amsterdam (Kauwgomballenfabriek). Partnership enables regular workshop delivery in accessible locations.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
We Are Stewards competitors and assessment
Company assessmentMarket position
Strengths4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
We Are Stewards social profiles
Digital presenceWe Are Stewards financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
We Are Stewards leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
We Are Stewards funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
We Are Stewards M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about We Are Stewards
What does We Are Stewards do?
We Are Stewards is a Dutch foundation (Stichting We Are Stewards) that helps entrepreneurs and investors implement steward-ownership structures for their businesses. The organization delivers workshops, online courses, consulting engagements, legal templates, and proprietary tools (Canvas, IRR calculator, model documentation) to enable companies to protect their mission and become independent of outside investors.
Is We Are Stewards a public or private company?
We Are Stewards is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was We Are Stewards founded?
We Are Stewards was founded in 2019. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is We Are Stewards based?
We Are Stewards is headquartered in Amsterdam, Netherlands, in the Europe region.
How does We Are Stewards make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Workshop Revenue is the primary driver. The others are study Trips and educational Programs.
Does We Are Stewards have an API?
No public API is recorded for We Are Stewards.
What industry is We Are Stewards in?
We Are Stewards's product category is Stewardship and ownership advisory services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAHAFAC, Governance & Board Effectiveness Advisory, with a secondary code of FSAAALAD, Stewardship & Active Ownership (Engagement, Proxy Voting, Shareholder Advocacy).