Business Open

What Business Open does

Business Open (legal entity Business Open Nederland B.V., founded 2010 by Robbert Trimbos and headquartered at Groenendaal 23F, Rotterdam) is a Dutch business networking organization operating a membership-based community of 40+ local clubs with 600+ members across the Netherlands. It serves SME owners (MKB-ondernemers), freelancers (ZZP'ers), specialists, sales/account managers, and directors seeking warm leads, new customers, and durable business relationships. The core mechanic is structured, bi-weekly ~90-minute networking meetings (pitch rounds, a company presentation, and a "harvest round" for concrete appointments), predominantly hosted at golf courses, with branch exclusivity ensuring no direct competitors share a table.

The company operates as a service-based networking organization rather than a technology company, layering third-party digital tools on top of its in-person model: Speakap for member communication, the MijnBO member portal (attendance tracking, guest registration, club visits, training), Zoom for online club meetings, Teamleader (CRM), and Brevo/Mailblue for email marketing. Product surface spans the standard Business Open membership, Business Open Online, Business Open+ (24-month), a Junior membership for entrepreneurs under 30, the Business Open Duurzaam sustainable sub-brand, online clubs (Landelijk Online, Online International, Online Nexus), and recurring events (annual Congress, Business Open Cup, Nightgolf, XL Events).

The revenue model is subscription-recurring membership fees: €700/12 months (Online), €1,950/12 months (standard, incl. 7 vouchers), €3,400/24 months (Business Open+), €1,345–€1,395 (Junior), plus €80 trial memberships and €20 guest visits. Go-to-market is community-led and event-driven, executed through 12 regional directors who launch and manage local clubs, member referrals, and partnership tiers (Birdy, Eagle, Albatros) for multi-location businesses. Distribution is primarily domestic via local golf-club venues, complemented by online clubs including an English-language international club.

Name

Business Open

Legal name

Business Open Nederland B.V.

Website

https://businessopen.nl

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Business Open is a Dutch membership-based business networking organization running 40+ local clubs with 600+ members, offering SME owners, freelancers, specialists, and executives structured bi-weekly meetings—mostly at golf courses—with branch exclusivity to generate warm leads and referrals.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Business Networking Services

NAICS

Other Similar Organizations (except Business, Professional, Labor, and Political Organizations) (81399), Convention and Trade Show Organizers (56192)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Specialty Membership Clubs (Category-Focused) (CRAEADAI)

akta.pro secondary industry

Executive Summits & Invitation-Only Forums (MPAGAGAK)

Keywords

• Business networking services
• Professional membership clubs
• Entrepreneur referral networks
• Structured networking meetings
• Sustainable business communities

Headquarters

HQ city

Rotterdam

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. Membership Subscriptions: Annual membership fees charged to entrepreneurs for access to networking clubs. The standard membership includes 7 Business Open Vouchers valid for golf, events, training, and trial memberships.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Business Open operates a national Dutch entrepreneur networking organization that sells annual and multi-year membership subscriptions granting access to 40+ local business clubs that host structured bi-weekly networking meetings at golf courses across the Netherlands. Each meeting follows a fixed format (pitch round, company presentation, harvest round of concrete appointments) and is protected by branch exclusivity so no direct competitors sit at the same table. The organization complements memberships with annual events (Congress, Business Open Cup, Nightgolf, XL events), online clubs (Landelijk Online, Online Nexus, Online International), a sustainable sub-brand (Business Open Duurzaam), and a junior membership tier for entrepreneurs under 30.

Product overview

Business Open is a national Dutch entrepreneur networking organization offering a platform-plus-events architecture. The core offering consists of Business Open (standard membership), Business Open Online (digital-only membership), and Business Open + (24-month extended membership), all providing bi-weekly structured networking meetings with branch exclusivity. The sub-brand Business Open Duurzaam serves sustainability-focused entrepreneurs through dedicated sustainable clubs. Additional products include the Junior Membership for young entrepreneurs (€1,395), Business Open Vouchers (7 included with membership), the MijnBO member portal, trial memberships (€80 for 3 sessions), and charity partnerships. The company organizes recurring events including Nightgolf, the Business Open Cup (annual golf tournament), and the annual Business Open Congress. Partnership tiers (Birdy, Eagle, Albatros) provide scaled benefits for multi-location businesses. Online clubs include Landelijk Online, Online International, and Online Nexus serving location-independent entrepreneurs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Business Open Duurzaam: Sustainable business networking clubs for entrepreneurs committed to environmental and social responsibility.
• Business Open Online International
• Business Open Online Nexus
• Business Open Landelijk Online

Products and services

• Business Open (Standard Membership) 12-month Business Open membership priced at €1,950 including 7 Business Open Vouchers, branch exclusivity in a chosen local club, and access to the national network of 40+ clubs across the Netherlands. Designed for small and medium-sized business owners who want to generate warm leads through structured bi-weekly meetings.
• Business Open Online 12-month online membership priced at €700 for entrepreneurs who want to network digitally without branch exclusivity, including online networking meetings and direct network growth.
• Business Open + (24-month Extended Membership) 24-month extended membership priced at €3,400 including 7 Business Open Vouchers, branch exclusivity, and the most favorable pricing in the portfolio.
• Junior Lidmaatschap (Junior Membership) Special membership tier priced at €1,345 for entrepreneurs aged 30 or younger who are active for a maximum of one year, designed to bring young founders into the Business Open network (without vouchers). Maximum one junior member per club.
• Trial Membership (Proeflidmaatschap) Three consecutive introduction meetings priced at €80 including access to Speakap, the MijnBO portal, online networking training, and one opportunity to visit another club.
• Business Open Duurzaam Sub-brand of sustainable business networking clubs for entrepreneurs committed to environmental and social responsibility, sharing the same branch-exclusivity and bi-weekly structure as regular Business Open clubs but with sustainability as the binding factor.
• Business Open Online International English-language online business club for ambitious entrepreneurs worldwide, meeting via Zoom every two weeks as part of the Business Open international online offering.
• Business Open Landelijk Online National online business club for ambitious entrepreneurs building their network online, meeting every two weeks via Zoom with Dutch entrepreneurs worldwide.
• Business Open Online Nexus Online networking club meeting on Thursday mornings, providing a regular weekday slot for online networking within the Business Open portfolio.
• MijnBO Member Portal Personal online member environment allowing members to track attendance, register guests and substitutes, visit other clubs, access network training, and manage search queries.
• Business Open Congres (Annual Congress) Annual national congress featuring keynote speakers, workshops, networking, and celebration of network achievements, held at The Awarehouse of Interface in Scherpenzeel.
• Business Open Cup (Annual Golf Tournament) Annual golf tournament bringing together members from across the network to compete in 18-hole competitions, 9-hole Best Ball formats, and beginner clinics.
• Business Open Nightgolf Annual night-time networking event held on golf courses requiring no golf license, featuring colored balls and a Best Ball format accessible to all skill levels.
• Business Open XL Events Large-scale networking events organized by individual Business Open clubs, featuring guest speakers and expanded networking opportunities beyond the standard bi-weekly meetings.

Quantifiable outcome

• 100,000+ business opportunities generated annually through the network
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and flagship.

• Zicht, Risico- en VerzekeringsadviseurscoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 5 September 2023Eagle Partnership established in September 2023. Business Open provides tailored networking training for Zicht's team and introduces them to entrepreneurs in their extensive network. This partnership supports Zicht's networking effectiveness and creates new business opportunities.
• Golf Clubs (Various)coreOthersBusiness Open hosts networking meetings at various golf courses across the Netherlands. Golf clubs provide venues for bi-weekly meetings and optional golf activities. Locations include Golfbaan Westwoud, Golfclub Kromme Rijn, Kras Stadion FC Volendam, and many others.
• SpeakapcoreTechnology or IntegrationInternal communication platform used by Business Open for member-to-member communication. Members receive access to Speakap upon joining.
• Interface (The Awarehouse)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnnual congress venue hosting Business Open events since 2013. The Awarehouse in Scherpenzeel fits the sustainable character of the network.
• Diergaarde BlijdorpminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRotterdam zoo hosting Business Open Duurzaam Rotterdam meetings. Venue known for sustainability focus on waste, construction, energy, and food.
• Green Key VenuesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSustainability-certified venues partnered with Business Open Duurzaam clubs for environmentally conscious networking events.
• Birdy Partners (Multiple)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerMulti-location membership program for companies active in 3+ Business Open clubs. Benefits include 10% discount, partner page listing, and optional in-house networking training. Current Birdy Partners include Claassen Moolenbeek & Partners, Nefkens, and Your Adviesgroep.
• Eagle Partners (Multiple)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerPremium partnership level offering in-house networking training, online club membership, and 5 extra congress participants. Requires 3+ memberships.
• Albatros Partners (Multiple)flagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerHighest partnership tier with four in-house networking training sessions, 10 congress participants, 4 BO Cup participants, and main congress sponsorship.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Others

• Meetup: Digital platform enabling professional and interest-based group meetups; an adjacent, technology-enabled alternative for entrepreneurs seeking networking, but not a membership club operator.

Broad incumbents

• Toastmasters International: Membership organization with local clubs and dues-based model; overlaps in club-based professional development and networking, though focused on public speaking.
• Junior Chamber International (JCI): Membership organization for young entrepreneurs and professionals with local chapters and events, overlapping with Business Open's junior membership and community-building focus.
• YPO (Young Presidents' Organization): Membership peer network for executives and business leaders, comparable in premium dues-based access to curated networking, though targeting larger-company leaders.
• Rotary International: Global membership organization of professionals meeting in local clubs; comparable community-and-events model blending business relationships with a good-cause element, similar to Business Open's charity partnerships.

Regional players

• The Networking Company: Netherlands-based business networking operator running clubs and events for entrepreneurs, competing directly in Business Open's home territory.
• Open Coffee: Dutch informal entrepreneur networking meetups; competes for the same Netherlands-based SMB and freelancer networking audience, though less structured and non-membership.

Direct peers

• BNI (Business Network International): Global structured referral-networking organization running weekly local chapters with category exclusivity, directly mirroring Business Open's branch-exclusive club model for entrepreneurs and SMBs.
• Vistage: Membership-based peer advisory and executive networking groups for business owners, comparable in its recurring-fee, curated-group model targeting entrepreneurs and directors.
• Entrepreneurs' Organization (EO): Global membership network of entrepreneurs offering peer forums and events, overlapping with Business Open's community-led networking and congress-style gatherings.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/business_open
• Facebookfacebook.com/BusinessOpen
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/business-open

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 Business Open