Ik Ben Drents Ondernemer

What Ik Ben Drents Ondernemer does

Ik Ben Drents Ondernemer (trading as IBDO) is a non-profit business advisory organization that provides free, province-funded advisory services to entrepreneurs in the Province of Drenthe, Netherlands. Operating under the mandate and funding of the Province of Drenthe, the organization serves as the regional one-stop gateway for small and medium-sized enterprises seeking guidance on growth, innovation, financing, internationalization, sustainability, digitalization, family business succession, and starting a business. It covers 12 thematic areas with a team of 11 named advisors plus program managers, embedded in formal partnerships with all 12 Drenthe municipalities, four knowledge institutions (Hanzehogeschool, NHL Stenden, Drenthe College, Alfa College), regional development company NOM, MKB Fonds Drenthe, and major banks.

The organization's core products are structured advisory services rather than technology platforms. Key offerings include one-on-one advisor engagements, multi-session LAB programs (LAB E-commerce, LAB Familiebedrijven), the START program for new entrepreneurs, the Financieringstafel financing round-table that connects entrepreneurs to banks, risk-bearing investors, and crowdfunders, Proeftuinen pilot facilities, and hands-on subsidy/voucher administration for programs including the MKB Adviesvoucher, Digitaliseringsvoucher, kennisvoucher, SLIM, ISDE, and MIA. It does not develop proprietary technology; instead it curates and distributes knowledge, connects entrepreneurs to the regional ecosystem, and administers public funding instruments.

The business model is a free advisory service model funded entirely through the Province of Drenthe. There is no commercial pricing; the organization charges entrepreneurs nothing for advisory, programs, or subsidy guidance. Revenue mechanics are essentially a public grant relationship, with the province acting as the sole principal funder. Go-to-market is relationship-driven: advisors are embedded in the local business community, referrals flow from municipalities, knowledge institutions, and banks, and engagement is generated through LAB programs, knowledge events, and a library of over 30 published "Op Koers" case studies that serve as both proof of impact and demand-generation content. The geographic scope is strictly regional (Drenthe only), and customer segments span SMBs, family businesses, startups, and mid-market companies across agriculture, recreation, manufacturing, healthcare, and technology.

Name

Ik Ben Drents Ondernemer

Legal name

Ik Ben Drents Ondernemer

Website

https://ikbendrentsondernemer.nl

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Ik Ben Drents Ondernemer is a province-funded non-profit in Drenthe, Netherlands that provides free advisory services, structured LAB programs, subsidy/voucher guidance, and a financing round-table to SMBs, family businesses, and startups across the region.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Government-Funded Business Advisory Services

NAICS

Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services (541), Environmental Consulting Services (54162)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Circularity Consulting & Program Management (EPR, Design-for-Circularity, LCA) (EUAIANAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Education Access & EdTech for Equity (Low-cost Learning, Skills Platforms) (BPAGALAH), Circular Economy & Resource Efficiency (BPADALAM)

Keywords

• Business advisory services
• Entrepreneurship support
• Subsidy guidance
• SMEs Drenthe
• Business development programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Drenthe

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Provincial Government Funding: Ik Ben Drents Ondernemer is funded by the province of Drenthe. The organization provides free advisory services to Drenthe entrepreneurs. The province of Drenthe is the responsible party for processing any personal data shared with the organization, as stated in their privacy policy.
2. Subsidy and Voucher Administration: The organization administers and guides entrepreneurs through various subsidy programs and vouchers funded by the province of Drenthe and other regional bodies. These include the MKB Adviesvoucher, digitaliseringsvoucher, kennisvoucher, SPRILA-subsidie, LEADER-subsidie, ISDE, and MIA. Ik Ben Drents Ondernemer does not charge entrepreneurs for this guidance.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Ik Ben Drents Ondernemer is a province-funded advisory organization that provides free specialist knowledge, advice, and network connections to entrepreneurs in the Dutch province of Drenthe. Its core services include one-on-one advisory across 12 thematic areas (growth, innovation, financing, internationalization, sustainability, digitalization, family businesses, recreation and tourism, defense, etc.), structured multi-session learning programs (LABs), guidance with subsidy and voucher applications, and a financing round-table that connects entrepreneurs with banks, investors, and regional development companies.

Product overview

Ik Ben Drents Ondernemer is a business support and advisory organization for entrepreneurs in the province of Drenthe, the Netherlands. Rather than a unified software product, it offers a portfolio of consultancy services and structured LAB programs. Its core offerings include advisory services across eleven thematic areas (Growth, Innovation, Financing, Internationalization, Digitalization, Sustainability, Family Businesses, Starting a Business, Recreation & Tourism, Defense, and Entrepreneurial Skills), supported by a team of eleven named advisors. Key programs include LAB E-commerce (a three-session program on webshop decisions) and LAB Familiebedrijven (a four-session program for family business succession and strategy). The organization also assists with subsidy applications through various voucher programs (MKB Adviesvoucher, Digitaliseringsvoucher, SPRILA, ISDE, MIA, SLIM, kennisvoucher) and connects entrepreneurs with financing through its Financieringstafel round-table. Additional offerings include Proeftuinen (pilot/test facilities) and the START program for startup entrepreneurs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Adviesdiensten (Advisory Services) Specialist advisory support for Drenthe entrepreneurs covering growth, entrepreneurial skills, innovation, financing, internationalization, greening, digitalization, family businesses, starting a business, recreation and tourism, and defense. Delivered by a team of eleven named advisors. Free of charge.
• LAB E-commerce A structured three-session LAB program that helps entrepreneurs make informed decisions before starting or improving a webshop, covering platform choice, self-build versus outsourcing, logistics, payment methods, legislation, VAT rules, international sales, online marketing, and AI-driven personalization.
• LAB Familiebedrijven A four-session program for Drenthe family business owners and successors to work on themes such as succession, ownership, family roles, and long-term strategy, including intervision between sessions.
• Subsidies en Vouchers Advisory support and assistance with subsidy applications and voucher programs including the MKB Adviesvoucher (economic resilience), Digitaliseringsvoucher (digitalization), SPRILA-subsidie (charging infrastructure), ISDE (sustainable energy investment), MIA (environmental investment deduction), SLIM-subsidie, kennisvoucher (knowledge voucher), and LEADER-subsidie. The service is provided free of charge to entrepreneurs.
• Financieringstafel (Financing Table) A financing round-table that brings entrepreneurs with specific financing questions together with various financiers, including banks, risk-bearing investors, regional development companies, and crowdfunders.
• START Programma A startup program for entrepreneurs in the early stages of their business, providing structured guidance on business planning, growth, and financing.
• Proeftuinen (Pilot Facilities) Experimental and pilot facilities where entrepreneurs can test new approaches, technologies, or methods in collaboration with knowledge institutions and other partners.

Quantifiable outcome

• Hundreds of entrepreneurs helped with sustainability measures alone (Harald Zegeren)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers15 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

23 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Drenthe CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDrenthe College is a vocational education institution in Drenthe. As a partner, it contributes knowledge and student resources to joint initiatives with Ik Ben Drents Ondernemer.
• Alfa CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAlfa College is a vocational college in Drenthe. It partners with Ik Ben Drents Ondernemer to provide educational resources and student collaborations for Drenthe entrepreneurs.
• Hanzehogeschool (Hanze University of Applied Sciences)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHanzehogeschool in Groningen collaborates with Ik Ben Drents Ondernemer on innovation and knowledge sharing. Joint initiatives include student projects with entrepreneurs.
• NHL Stenden HogeschoolcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNHL Stenden is a university of applied sciences with a campus in Drenthe. They partner on student entrepreneurship projects, including digitalization initiatives for local businesses.
• All Drenthe Municipalities (Assen, Emmen, Hoogeveen, Meppel, and 12 others)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAll 12 Drenthe municipalities partner with Ik Ben Drents Ondernemer. They refer entrepreneurs to the organization and collaborate on local economic development initiatives. Specific municipalities include Assen, Emmen, Hoogeveen, Meppel, Coevorden, Borger-Odoorn, Aa en Hunze, Westerveld, De Wolden, Hardenberg, Midden-Drenthe, Noordenveld, and Tynaarlo.
• MKB Nederland NoordminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMKB Nederland Noord represents small and medium-sized businesses in northern Netherlands. They partner on policy advocacy and entrepreneur support.
• VNO-NCW NoordminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVNO-NCW is the largest employers' organization in the Netherlands. Their northern branch collaborates with Ik Ben Drents Ondernemer on network events and entrepreneur support.
• Rabo Ondernemersprijs (Rabobank / Hanzehogeschool / Rijksuniversiteit Groningen)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBypoint won the Rabo Ondernemersprijs competition organized by Rabobank, Hanzehogeschool, and Rijksuniversiteit Groningen in 2020. The award included a €10,000 start budget and served as a springboard for Bypoint's growth.
• IT Hub HoogeveenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIT Hub Hoogeveen is a partner in the LAB E-commerce program. It hosts LAB sessions and contributes expertise on technology and e-commerce topics.
• Proeftuin Ron PetersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProeftuin Ron Peters tested Ferr-Tech's product for six months, discovering that a specific dosage enabled a particular water crop. This led to Ferr-Tech's first major customer in the United States.
• CES (Consumer Electronics Show)minorOthersFerr-Tech won the CES Innovation Award, recognizing their FerSol product for sustainable water treatment. CES is a prestigious global technology event.
• Netherlands Business Support Offices (NBSOs)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNBSOs are Dutch government trade offices abroad that help Dutch entrepreneurs do business internationally. Inducon uses these connections, facilitated through Ik Ben Drents Ondernemer advisor Han Smidt.
• DC TerraminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDC Terra is an educational institution that co-invests in ImpactSIM Nederland's simulation location in Meppel. They aim to offer simulation-based learning for Healthcare and Nursing students.
• SNN (Samenwerkingsverband Noord-Nederland)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSNN referred De Vrolijke Noot to Ik Ben Drents Ondernemer for financing guidance. SNN is the regional authority for structural funding in northern Netherlands.
• Circulair WesterveldminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCirculair Westerveld is a circular economy network in Westerveld municipality. De Vrolijke Noot collaborates with this group as part of their circular farming initiative.
• NICE (Noordelijk Innovatielab Circulaire Economie)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNICE is the Northern Innovation Lab for Circular Economy. Vreugdenhil was connected to NICE through Ik Ben Drents Ondernemer for the further development of their circular business model.
• Flynth Adviseurs en AccountantsminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerFlynth is an accounting and advisory firm that assisted Groentotaal A. de Boer with the financial and legal aspects of their family business succession.
• BuzzcoreminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBuzzcore is a company from Assen. Via Socium partners with Buzzcore on a societal trajectory for early school leavers, jointly applying for subsidies through Ik Ben Drents Ondernemer.
• Regio Campus / Hogeschool WindesheimminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegio Campus connects learning, innovation, and entrepreneurship in southwest Drenthe and northwest Overijssel. Four construction management students from Hogeschool Windesheim are mapping Jatin Chaletbouw's product portfolio.
• NHL Stenden Hogeschool (Minor Students)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThree NHL Stenden students in their minor program are implementing digitalization components (online marketing) for Narline restaurant, aiming to improve their online visibility.
• EMS-program (Entrepreneurial Mentorship)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerImpactSIM Nederland was connected to the EMS (Entrepreneurial Mentorship) program through Bert Zigterman of Ik Ben Drents Ondernemer.
• Gezonde MarkeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerImpactSIM Nederland was connected to the Gezonde Marke platform for healthcare institutions through Ik Ben Drents Ondernemer, helping them build contacts with healthcare organizations.
• Gesloten (formerly Diaconessenhuis, Meppel)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerImpactSIM Nederland and IR Games use space in the former Isala hospital (Diaconessenhuis) in Meppel, managed by Gesloten, which provides space for innovative healthcare and education initiatives.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• RVO (Rijksdienst voor Ondernemend Nederland): The Dutch national enterprise agency, implementing government programs for entrepreneurship, innovation, sustainability, and internationalization. Comparable as a public advisory body that administers subsidy programs (overlapping with MKB Adviesvoucher and ISDE) but operates nationally rather than regionally.
• Kamer van Koophandel (KvK): The Dutch Chamber of Commerce, providing nationwide business registration, information, and advisory services to entrepreneurs. Comparable as a primary public-facing entry point for SME support across the Netherlands, with overlapping advisory functions though operating at national rather than regional scale.
• Invest-NL: The Dutch national investment institution, providing financing to Dutch businesses in sustainability, innovation, and SME growth. Comparable in financing-matchmaking function (overlapping with Ik Ben Drents Ondernemer's Financieringstafel) but operating as a national investor rather than regional advisory body.

Regional players

• Horizon Flevoland: Development agency for Flevoland province, supporting SMEs and innovation in that region. Comparable as a regional Dutch SME support organization but operating in a geographically distinct area (Flevoland) with different sector focus (agriculture, logistics).

Direct peers

• Oost NL: The development agency for East Netherlands (Gelderland, Overijssel), supporting SMEs with financing, innovation, and internationalization. Comparable as a provincially-mandated SME support organization with similar structure of advisors, programs, and partnership networks, but serving a different Dutch region.
• BOM (Brabantse Ontwikkelings Maatschappij): The development agency for North Brabant province, supporting SMEs with financing, innovation, and international growth. Comparable as a regional Dutch development organization with similar mandate to stimulate local entrepreneurship through advisory, financing connections, and ecosystem building.
• InnovationQuarter: The regional development agency for South Holland (Zuid-Holland), focused on innovation and SME growth. Comparable as a Dutch regional development organization providing advisory, financing connections, and innovation support to local entrepreneurs, but serving the Randstad rather than Drenthe.
• NOM (Invest in Northern Netherlands): The regional development company for Northern Netherlands, investing in and supporting companies across Drenthe, Groningen, and Friesland. Closely comparable as both organizations share overlapping mandates for SME support, financing connections, and partnerships with Ik Ben Drents Ondernemer (NOM is listed as a core partner).
• SNN (Samenwerkingsverband Noord-Nederland): The regional authority for structural funding in Northern Netherlands (Drenthe, Groningen, Friesland), managing EU and national subsidy programs. Comparable as a regional body that refers entrepreneurs to Ik Ben Drents Ondernemer for advisory, while SNN handles funding administration - a complementary rather than competing relationship.
• ROM InWest: Regional development agency for North Holland (Noord-Holland), supporting SMEs with financing, innovation, and internationalization. Comparable as another Dutch provincially-mandated SME support organization with similar advisory and financing matchmaking functions, but serving a different region.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/ikbendrentsondernemer
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ikbendrentsondernemer
• Instagraminstagram.com/ikbendrentsondernemer

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 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 Ik Ben Drents Ondernemer