Digitale Werkplaats Fryslân

What Digitale Werkplaats Fryslân does

Digitale Werkplaats Fryslân (DWF) is a non-profit educational initiative founded around 2021/2022 in Leeuwarden, Friesland, Netherlands. It operates as a bridge between students from NHL Stenden Hogeschool (HBO) and Firda (MBO) and SMB entrepreneurs in the Friesland province, helping the latter address digital transformation challenges. The organization serves a horizontal segment of Friesland-based SMBs across diverse industries including retail, education, hospitality, manufacturing, tourism, and services, with documented engagements spanning at least 15 named SMBs such as Syntri ERP, Zangles Friesland, Woonwinkel Rustiek, Loofy's, and Curly Samples.

The core offering is project-based consulting delivered across four service pillars: Online Marketing & Sales, Security, Software & Automatisering, and Data Science. Work is executed by student teams under faculty coordinator supervision, producing tangible deliverables such as prototype websites, social media handbooks, research reports, ERP/API integrations, and AI implementation recommendations. The organization operates from the Media Innovatiecampus (MICA) in Leeuwarden and runs event-driven matching through pitch events, a digitale scan (digital maturity self-assessment tool), and partner referrals.

DWF has no commercial revenue from customers; all services are provided free of charge. The cost base is funded through educational institutions and regional partners, including Provincie Fryslan, Gemeente Leeuwarden, Rabobank, VNO-NCW MKB Noord, and MKB Cyber Campus. The organization is part of a broader Dutch network of approximately 20 digital werkplaatsen coordinated under Katapult. A five-person core team (coordinators from NHL Stenden and Firda, a marketing/communications lead, and a partner from MKB Cyber Campus) oversees operations, supported by rotational student project teams.

Name

Digitale Werkplaats Fryslân

Legal name

Digitale Werkplaats Fryslân

Website

https://digitalewerkplaats.frl

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Digitale Werkplaats Fryslân is a non-profit educational initiative in Leeuwarden, Netherlands, that connects HBO and MBO students from NHL Stenden and Firda with SMB entrepreneurs in Friesland to deliver free digital transformation consulting across marketing, cybersecurity, software, and data science.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Digital Transformation Consulting Services

NAICS

Computer Systems Design and Related Services (54151)

SIC

Services-Computer Integrated Systems Design (7373), Services-Computer Programming Services (7371)

akta.pro primary industry

Professional & Business Services Marketplaces (Freelancers, SMB Services) (BPAMAHAG)

Keywords

• Digital transformation consulting
• Student entrepreneur collaboration
• Cybersecurity advisory services
• Software automation consulting
• Data science advisory

Headquarters

HQ city

Leeuwarden

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, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Educational Institution Support (Free Service): The Digitale Werkplaats Fryslân operates as a non-profit educational initiative supported by NHL Stenden Hogeschool, Firda, and regional partners. Services are provided free of charge to SMB entrepreneurs in Friesland as part of the educational curriculum and regional digitalization support programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Digitale Werkplaats Fryslân operates a non-profit digital workshop that connects MBO and HBO students from NHL Stenden Hogeschool and Firda with SMB entrepreneurs in Friesland to address digital transformation challenges. Services are delivered free of charge across four pillars: Online Marketing & Sales, Security, Software & Automatisering, and Data Science, producing tangible deliverables such as research reports, prototype websites, social media handbooks, and AI implementation recommendations.

Product overview

Digitale Werkplaats Fryslân is a digital consultancy that connects MBO and HBO students from NHL Stenden and Firda with SMB entrepreneurs in Friesland. The organization offers four core service pillars: Online Marketing & Sales (social media, advertising, website optimization), Security (cybersecurity awareness and protection), Software & Automatisering (process automation, custom software development), and Data Science (AI implementation, data analysis). Rather than a software product company, it functions as a bridge between students seeking practical experience and businesses needing digital transformation support. Services are delivered through student projects, internships, and group assignments under faculty supervision.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Online Marketing & Sales Consultancy service helping SMB entrepreneurs in Friesland with social media strategy, website optimization, app development, advertising campaigns, and digital customer reach.
• Security Cybersecurity consultancy helping SMB entrepreneurs become aware of and protect against digital threats related to software, networks, and hardware.
• Software & Automatisering Software development and business process automation services helping SMB companies work faster and more efficiently through digital solutions, custom software, and workflow automation.
• Data Science Data analysis and AI consultancy services helping SMB businesses leverage their data for better decision-making and targeted growth strategies, including AI implementation recommendations and generative AI use cases.

Quantifiable outcome

• Multiple SMBs have received concrete deliverables including research reports, prototype websites, social media handbooks, and AI implementation recommendations.

Named customers14 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability7 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core, key and supporting.

• NHL Stenden HogeschoolcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary educational partner providing HBO-ICT, Media Design, and Marketing students. Students work on real-world digital challenges from SMB entrepreneurs. Coordinators Hans van Gestel, Martin Molema, Hielke Wolters manage the collaboration from NHL Stenden side.
• FirdacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMBO educational partner providing ICT students for projects. Bert Annink serves as coordinator from Firda side.
• MKB Cyber CampuscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional cybersecurity expertise partner. Erik Miedema represents MKB Cyber Campus. Partners collaborate on cybersecurity workshops, events, and knowledge sharing about digital security for SMBs.
• Provincie FryslankeyStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvincial government partner supporting digitalization of SMBs in Friesland. René Zijlstra, Economic Advisor, was involved in establishing the Digitale Werkplaats and serves on the steering group.
• Gemeente LeeuwardenkeyStrategic or Co-development PartnerMunicipal partner providing support and connections to local entrepreneurs in Leeuwarden, the main city in Friesland.
• RabobanksupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerRegional banking partner that co-organizes lunch meetings and workshop carousels with the Digitale Werkplaats, bringing together entrepreneurs for digital knowledge sharing.
• VNO-NCW MKB NoordsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerBusiness association partner that co-organizes events and provides networking opportunities for entrepreneurs interested in digitalization support.
• Toeristische Alliantie FrieslandsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerTourism alliance partner collaborating on AI in the hospitality sector project, where students created AI implementation reports for tourism businesses.
• DigiLink DrenthesupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerRegional digital werkplaats partner in Drenthe. Collaborates on joint events, Promotiedagen presence, and knowledge sharing across Northern Netherlands digital werkplaatsen.
• WOO-GroningensupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerWerkplaats Online Ondernemen Groningen partner. Collaborates on joint events, Lunch & Learn sessions, and shares knowledge about online entrepreneurship.
• ConnectsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerICT event organization that hosts major technology conferences in the North. The Digitale Werkplaats participates with booths at CONNECT events to engage with entrepreneurs and students.
• Media Innovatiecampus (MICA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInnovation campus facility in Leeuwarden where the Digitale Werkplaats is physically located. Students and entrepreneurs meet, brainstorm, and work on projects at this shared workspace.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• NHL Stenden Hogeschool: Core educational partner that supplies HBO students for DWF projects and employs several DWF coordinators. Functions as a talent and content enabler rather than a direct competitor.
• Provincie Fryslân: Provincial government partner supporting DWF's SMB digitalization mission. Comparable as the regional public-sector actor that sets and funds digitalization policy for the same SMB segment.
• Rabobank Regio Friesland: Regional bank partner co-organizing Lunch & Learn and workshop events with DWF. Comparable as a regional SMB-facing institution that cross-referrals customers into DWF services.
• Firda: MBO educational partner that supplies ICT students for DWF. Functions as a talent pipeline enabler, with a coordinator embedded in DWF operations.
• Media Innovatiecampus (MICA): Innovation campus in Leeuwarden that physically hosts DWF. Comparable as a regional innovation hub providing co-location, community, and access to media/digital startups in Friesland.

Broad incumbents

• Katapult: The overarching Dutch network organization that supports the 20+ digital werkplaatsen including DWF. Directly comparable as the parent body that funds, coordinates, and disseminates the digital workshop model across the Netherlands.
• VNO-NCW MKB Noord: Northern Netherlands employers' and SMB association, listed by DWF as a marketing/GTM partner. Comparable as a regional SMB support and digitalization advocate with overlapping entrepreneurial membership.

Emerging players

• MKB Cyber Campus: Regional cybersecurity expertise hub and active DWF partner (Erik Miedema). Comparable as a regional SMB-focused digital security initiative in the Northern Netherlands that complements DWF's security service pillar.

Direct peers

• Werkplaats Online Ondernemen Groningen (WOO-Groningen): Direct peer digital werkplaats serving SMBs in Groningen via the same student-entrepreneur matching methodology. DWF lists it as a collaboration partner for joint Lunch & Learn sessions and knowledge sharing.
• DigiLink Drenthe: Sibling regional digital werkplaats in the neighboring Drenthe province operating the same student-to-SMB digital enablement model. Explicitly identified by DWF as a collaborating peer for joint events and Promotiedagen.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/digitale-werkplaats-frysl%C3%A2n

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 Digitale Werkplaats Fryslân