Growing Emmen

What Growing Emmen does

Growing Emmen (ondernemersbroedplaats) is a non-profit entrepreneurs' incubator founded in 2018 and based at De Bukakkers 20 in Emmen, Drenthe, Netherlands. It operates as a physical hub combining coworking space, dedicated private offices (avg. 19 m²), six bookable meeting rooms (2 to 50 persons), a podcast studio, and a dedicated medical-examination facility, layered with a community membership programme (€450/year or €37.50/month) serving roughly 225-250 entrepreneurs across the Zuidoost-Drenthe region. Beyond the physical infrastructure, Growing Emmen runs the 'Vliegende Start' 7-month accelerator programme (€210 fee, €750 knowledge budget, 6 group sessions) in partnership with the municipalities of Emmen, Coevorden, and Borger-Odoorn, alongside Menso Ondernemen, UWV, OKB, and NHL Stenden Hogeschool.

Its business model is a mix of recurring subscription revenue (community membership at ~€450/year and flex 24/7 access at €180/month), dedicated office rental (~€23/m²/month), usage-based fees for meeting rooms and the podcast studio (€20-€82.50/hour), and one-time programme fees for Vliegende Start. Customer acquisition is community-led and event-driven: approximately 75 events per year (Startersdag, club evenings, Oploskoffie Friday sessions, Wandeling Wednesdays, Growlands festival) feed a referral funnel supplemented by municipal, educational (NHL Stenden, Drenthe College, Hondsrug College), and institutional partners (Menso, UWV, OKB, Ondernemend Emmen, VNO NCW). Self-serve booking is available to non-members via growingreserve.nl (i-reserve.net). Customer segments span pre-starters and starters, freelancers/ZZP'ers, established SMB owners, professional service providers (coaches, mediators, medical examiners), and municipal/institutional partners. The technology stack is a web-based booking platform plus a community app; no proprietary software, data assets, or AI components are disclosed. Funding, revenue, and ownership structure beyond KvK registration 71925864 are not disclosed in the available sources.

Name

Growing Emmen

Legal name

Growing Emmen

Website

https://growingemmen.nl

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Growing Emmen is a non-profit entrepreneurs' incubator and coworking hub in Emmen, Netherlands, serving roughly 225-250 regional entrepreneurs through flexible workspaces, dedicated offices, meeting rooms, a podcast studio, and a 7-month Vliegende Start accelerator programme backed by three municipalities and NHL Stenden.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Coworking & Business Incubator

NAICS

Professional and Management Development Training (611430)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Facilities Support Management Services (8744)

akta.pro primary industry

Entrepreneurship & Small Business Workforce Programs (EDAAAOAM)

akta.pro secondary industry

Youth Business Incubators & Accelerators (EDAMAHAC)

Keywords

• Entrepreneur coworking space
• Business incubator services
• Flex workspace rental
• Startup accelerator program
• Community membership network

Headquarters

HQ city

Emmen

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Community Membership: Annual or monthly subscription giving entrepreneurs access to the network, events, circles, monthly free flex day, and discounts on workspaces. Sold per person (individual membership).
2. Flex Workspace Rental: Day tickets, strippenkaarten (credit bundles), and 24/7 flex subscriptions for shared desk space. Revenue from ad-hoc and recurring rental of flex workstations.
3. Meeting/Conference Room Rental: Hourly rental of named rooms (Kiem, Goede Grond, Het Ei, Eureka, Het Nest) and the podcast studio. Revenue from businesses, coaches, doctors, and event organizers who need professional meeting spaces.
4. Dedicated Office Rental: Monthly rental of private enclosed offices (avg. 19m2) with 24/7 access. Available only to community members. Revenue from established entrepreneurs seeking a permanent base.
5. Vliegende Start Trajectory: A 7-month accelerator programme for (pre-)starters, run in partnership with municipalities and Menso. Participants pay a one-time fee of €210 (ex. VAT) for coaching, intervision sessions, and membership.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Growing Emmen is a physical entrepreneurs' incubator (ondernemersbroedplaats) located at De Bukakkers 20 in Emmen, Netherlands, providing flex workspaces, dedicated private offices, and bookable meeting rooms ranging from 2 to 50 persons, alongside a podcast studio and a medical examination room. It operates a community of over 225 entrepreneurs with annual membership, regular networking events, and a 7-month 'Vliegende Start' startup acceleration program delivered in partnership with the municipalities of Emmen, Coevorden, and Borger-Odoorn.

Product overview

Growing Emmen is a physical entrepreneurial incubator and coworking space (ondernemersbroedplaats) in Emmen, Netherlands, operating as a unified service platform rather than a software product. Its core offerings consist of flexible workspace solutions — flex desks (Flexwerkplek), dedicated private offices (Eigen Kantoor), and bookable meeting rooms ranging from 2 to 50 persons (Kiem, Goede Grond, Pokon, Het Ei, Eureka, Het Nest) — alongside a podcast studio. These are complemented by a structured startup acceleration program (Vliegende Start Traject), annual community membership (Growing Community Lidmaatschap) with networking benefits and an exclusive app, and events such as the Growlands festival and regular club evenings. The space also offers a medical examination room, holiday workspace rental, a reception service (Balie Babbelaars), and a knowledge base powered by the Dutch Chamber of Commerce. The model is built around 'Samen Sterk Ondernemen' (Entrepreneur Stronger Together), connecting 225+ entrepreneurs in a shared physical and community environment.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Growing Community: The membership community of entrepreneurs associated with Growing Emmen
• Vliegende Start
• Growlands
• Groeistuipen
• Oploskoffie
• Growing Circles

Products and services

• Flexwerkplek (Flex Workspace) Shared hot-desk workspace in a communal setting, available for half-day (€20) or full-day (€40) rental. Includes high-speed internet, coffee/tea, printing (up to 25 sheets/day), a second monitor, lockers, and access to the shared Nest common area. Available to both members and walk-in non-members.
• Eigen Kantoor (Dedicated Private Office) A lockable private office averaging 19 m² with 24/7 access, fiber internet (1 GHz up/down, WiFi and wired), reception service, coffee/tea, printing/scanning, free parking, and a registered business address. Priced at €23/m²/month plus community membership; only available to community members with 2-month cancellation notice.
• Vergaderruimtes (Meeting Rooms) Bookable meeting and event spaces of varying capacities: Kiem (2-person, €20/hr), Goede Grond (4-person, €20/hr), Pokon (6-person, €22.50/hr), Het Ei (8-person, €32.50/hr), Eureka (15-40-person, €45/hr), and Het Nest (50-person, €55/hr weekday / €82.50/hr evenings/weekends). All rooms include WiFi, AV equipment, flipover, and complimentary coffee/tea. Available to both members and external businesses, coaches, and event organizers.
• Podcaststudio (Podcast Studio) A soundproofed podcast recording room equipped for up to 3 persons, with plug-and-play setup (laptop with HDMI required). Rental at €27.50 per hour. Used by entrepreneurs, coaches, and the in-house Groeistuipen podcast.
• Keuringsarts Faciliteit (Medical Examination Room) A professionally equipped space for medical examinations (keuringsartsen), available for daily or longer-term rental on a flexible basis without long-term commitment, from €20/hour. Includes reception service, post handling, and access via i-reserve booking. Designed for medical examination doctors needing flexible, accessible facilities.
• Vliegende Start Traject (Flying Start Program) A 7-month structured startup acceleration programme delivered in a peer group of like-minded entrepreneurs, with an experienced business coach, 6 joint sessions with content and intervision, a €750 (incl. VAT) knowledge & advice budget, and 7 months of Growing Emmen community membership. One-time fee of €210 (ex VAT). Restricted to entrepreneurs registered or resident in Emmen, Coevorden, or Borger-Odoorn municipalities.
• Growing Community Lidmaatschap (Community Membership) Annual community membership priced at €450/year (ex VAT) or €37.50/month, providing access to a network of 225+ entrepreneurs, an exclusive community app, one free flex day per month, discounts on flex work and room rental, monthly community events and circles, and a personal intake session. Minimum 6-month commitment, 1-month cancellation notice. Sold per individual person.
• Growlands Festival An annual members-only festival celebrating the anniversary of Growing Emmen, featuring food trucks, workshops, networking, and themed activities. Open to community members and their guests (introducees).

Quantifiable outcome

• Vliegende Start participants rate the programme average 8 or higher across all editions.
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers18 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• NHL Stenden HogeschoolcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Partnership since 2019 focused on entrepreneurship in education. NHL Stenden students receive guest lectures, office safaris, access to events, and the Build Your Business Day. Growing Emmen's atelier at Parallelweg is used by students. A student entrepreneurship community is developed through the Center for Entrepreneurship (CFE) with 1-on-1 coaching and membership. Partners co-develop entrepreneurship curriculum and events.
• Menso OndernemencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMenso Ondernemen executes government regulations (Bbz, IOAZ, municipal debt relief) for entrepreneurs in Emmen, Coevorden, and Borger-Odoorn municipalities. They co-designed the Vliegende Start trajectory with Growing Emmen, providing coaching and financial support for (pre-)starters. Menso has had office space within Growing Emmen since its early days, directly embedded in the community.
• Gemeente Emmen (Municipality of Emmen)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerMunicipality of Emmen collaborates with Growing Emmen to provide a vibrant entrepreneurs' hub with good facilities, a large diverse network, and stimulating events for entrepreneurs, particularly starters. The municipality supports the Vliegende Start programme and refers entrepreneurs.
• Gemeente Coevorden (Municipality of Coevorden)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerMunicipality of Coevorden provides 10 community memberships per year for entrepreneurs from their municipality. Working together on a strong ecosystem for entrepreneurship in Zuidoost-Drenthe. Additionally exploring the creation of a similar incubator in Coevorden itself using Growing Emmen's experience.
• Gemeente Borger-OdoorncoreGTM or Marketing PartnerMunicipality of Borger-Odoorn collaborates with Growing Emmen to connect entrepreneurs across Zuidoost-Drenthe. They are a partner in the Vliegende Start trajectory.
• UWVminorGTM or Marketing PartnerUWV is a partner in the Vliegende Start trajectory, contributing to the support ecosystem for (pre-)starters.
• Ondernemersklankbord (OKB)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerOndernemersklankbord participates as a partner in the Vliegende Start trajectory, providing entrepreneurial advice and coaching.
• Ondernemend EmmenminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCollaboration on knowledge sharing, internationalisation, and connecting entrepreneurs through networking.
• IBDOminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCollaboration on building a good ecosystem in Drenthe for entrepreneurs and starters in particular.
• Drenthe CollegeminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEducation partner collaborating on entrepreneurship development in the region.
• Het CoachhuisminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMembers of Het Coachhuis can book rooms at Growing Emmen, creating a channel through which coaching professionals access workspace.
• VNO NCW - MBK NoordminorGTM or Marketing PartnerInterest organisations collaborating with Growing Emmen to improve the entrepreneurial climate in the region.
• Hondsrug CollegeminorGTM or Marketing PartnerVO (secondary education) school collaborating on strengthening entrepreneurship in education and better connections between education and entrepreneurs.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• YES!Delft: Major Dutch university-linked startup incubator and accelerator. Comparable to Growing Emmen because both combine workspace, structured accelerator programmes, mentor networks, and partnerships with educational institutions and municipalities to support early-stage entrepreneurs in the Netherlands.
• Seats2meet: Dutch community-led coworking chain. Comparable to Growing Emmen because of the explicit community-over-real-estate ethos, open network events, partnerships with municipalities, and emphasis on serendipitous encounters between entrepreneurs — a model philosophically aligned with Growing Emmen's 'elkaar sterker maken'.
• Impact Hub Amsterdam: Part of the global Impact Hub network, Impact Hub Amsterdam is a mission-driven coworking and innovation community. Comparable to Growing Emmen because it integrates workspace, community events, accelerator programming, and partnerships aimed at entrepreneurs with a social/mission orientation.
• B. Amsterdam: Dutch innovation campus combining workspace, community, events, and venture programmes under one roof. Comparable to Growing Emmen because of the integrated model of physical workspace + curated community + accelerator/incubator offerings and event programming.

Emerging players

• Rockstart: Dutch sector-focused accelerator (energy, agrifood, health, etc.) running cohort programmes for early-stage startups. Comparable to Growing Emmen in running structured accelerator trajectories with coaching and community for founders, though Rockstart is a venture-backed for-profit that also takes equity.
• Venture Café Rotterdam: Rotterdam-based innovation community organising weekly programming to connect entrepreneurs, corporates, and investors. Comparable to Growing Emmen in its event-led community model (Venture Café hosts Thursday Gatherings analogous to Growing Emmen's Startersdag, club evenings, and Oploskoffie), though without a primary physical workspace.

Broad incumbents

• HNK (Het Nieuwe Kantoor): Dutch flex-office operator with a national footprint of multi-tenant office locations. Comparable to Growing Emmen in providing flex and dedicated office space to entrepreneurs and SMBs, but is a commercial real-estate-driven operator without the community, accelerator, and municipal partnership focus.
• Tribes: Established Dutch premium coworking operator with multiple locations. Comparable to Growing Emmen in offering flex offices, meeting rooms, and event programming, but operates at larger scale, serves corporate clients as well as SMBs, and is a more commercial offering than a community/mission-led incubator.
• Mindspace: Premium coworking and flex-office operator with multiple Dutch and European locations. Comparable to Growing Emmen in offering design-led workspace and meeting rooms to entrepreneurs, but at significantly higher price points and with a corporate/SMB focus rather than a community-led non-profit model.

Regional players

• Vechtclub XL: Creative incubator and coworking space in Utrecht, Netherlands. Comparable to Growing Emmen as a regional non-profit / hybrid incubator providing workspace, community, and programming to entrepreneurs, but serving a different geography (Utrecht vs. Drenthe) and a more creative-sector audience.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/p/DbKqnxLIk8Q
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/growingemmen

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 Growing Emmen