We Are Stewards

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.

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

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

• Steward ownership consulting
• Ownership transition advisory
• Purpose driven business services
• Governance structure consulting
• Mission protection advisory

Headquarters

HQ city

Amsterdam

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core 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

Named customers5 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

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Avans HogeschoolminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 February 2025Collaboration 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.
• PurposecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPurpose 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 FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGolden 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 SleipnircoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStichting 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 FactoryminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSocial 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

Market position

Strengths4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/26201320

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 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 We Are Stewards