What TechGrounds does

TechGrounds (Stichting Techgrounds) is a Dutch nonprofit foundation established in 2019 by Viktor Bos and Ruben Nieuwenhuis in Amsterdam Zuidoost, with the mission of activating hidden talent — particularly women, people aged 40+, and culturally diverse individuals — into sustainable IT careers. The organization operates a four-stage product portfolio: the free Guide (a self-paced IT market overview), Pathways (a paid IT-orientation platform covering all 10 IT domains with 6 learning blocks, programming basics, career planning tools, and a curated set of external training partners), Workready (a €250 ex VAT, three-month employability program covering soft skills, personal branding, LinkedIn optimization, and networking), and AI-ready (a €500 ex VAT, four-week AI literacy program teaching the use of ChatGPT, Copilot, Zapier, Canva AI, and prompting techniques). Programs are delivered 100% online through a browser-based platform supported by live webinars, Q&A sessions, Slack peer channels, and IT Navigator tools.

The business model blends earned revenue from paid programs with substantial subsidized delivery through GreenFox EFRO packages, MDT (Maatschappelijke Diensttijd), UWV referrals, and four municipal government partners (Amsterdam, Almere, Utrecht, Rotterdam). Distribution runs through a community-led and event-driven go-to-market — free orientation days (IT-oriëntatiedag, AI-oriëntatiedag), free advisory conversations (adviesgesprek), and a loopbaanprofessionals referral network — supplemented by direct engagement with 120+ employer partners that hire graduates, including Squerist, Fluido, MediaMonks, Nextview, Rabobank, Deloitte, Capgemini, Accenture, and ABN AMRO. Founding corporate partners (Rabobank, Deloitte, Booking.com, LinkedIn, Accenture) and the municipality of Amsterdam anchor the financial base.

Cumulative impact metrics reported by the company include 20,000 people helped discover IT careers, 10,000 reskilled, 1,400 Pathways participants since 2020, 500+ IT professionals placed, 35% female participants, 55% aged 40+, and a 97% conversion rate from Pathways participants choosing to pursue IT. The organization holds a 2023 European Commission Regiostars Award and 2023 MT/Sprout Inclusive30 recognition, and has stated an ambition to activate 50,000 hidden talents within five years.

Name

TechGrounds

Legal name

Stichting Techgrounds

Website

https://techgrounds.nl

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

TechGrounds is a Dutch nonprofit foundation that runs online IT orientation, employability, and AI literacy programs (Pathways, Workready, AI-ready) to help women, people aged 40+, and culturally diverse candidates transition into IT careers, distributing through 120+ employer partners, four municipalities, and UWV.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

IT Career Reskilling Services

NAICS

Computer Training (611420), Technical and Trade Schools (61151), Human Resources Consulting Services (541612)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Employment Agencies (7361)

akta.pro primary industry

Career Services & Job Placement Platforms (Jobs, Recruiting, Employer Networks) (EDAFAMAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Mentoring, Coaching, Alumni Networking & Peer Support Platforms (EDAFAMAN), Internship/Apprenticeship Matching & Work-Based Learning Platforms (EDAFAMAL), Digital Outplacement Platforms & Virtual Career Transition (BPACAOAL)

Keywords

• IT career orientation
• Career reskilling programs
• AI literacy training
• Employability coaching
• Tech talent placement

Headquarters

HQ city

Amsterdam

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Paid Training Programs: Techgrounds generates revenue primarily through paid educational programs: Pathways (IT orientation, self-paced ~10 hrs/week), Workready (employability, ~8 hrs/week over 3 months), and AI-ready (AI literacy, ~3 hrs/day over 4 weeks). Programs are priced at €250–€500 ex. VAT, with subsidized options for eligible participants (under 30, residents of Rijnmond/Haaglanden) that are fully free.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

TechGrounds is a Dutch nonprofit foundation that delivers an end-to-end IT career pathway for career changers. Its core paid offerings are Pathways (an IT orientation platform covering all 10 IT domains, programming basics, and career planning), Workready (a three-month employability program covering soft skills, personal branding, LinkedIn optimization, portfolio building, and networking), and AI-ready (a four-week AI literacy program with 10+ tools). These are supported by free top-of-funnel offerings — the Guide (a 2–3 hour IT primer), free IT-oriëntatiedag and AI-oriëntatiedag sessions, and personal advisory conversations — that funnel participants into the paid programs.

Product overview

TechGrounds offers a portfolio of IT career orientation and employability products designed to guide individuals from discovery through employment in IT. The core offerings include: Pathways (IT orientation platform for discovering suitable IT domains and training providers), Workready (employability and job search training), and AI-ready (AI literacy training). These are complemented by free products including the Guide (free IT market overview) and IT-orientatiedag (free orientation sessions). The products are designed as a learning pathway: Guide for initial discovery, Pathways for detailed orientation and career planning, optional retraining at external providers, and Workready for job placement support. Some programs may be subsidized for eligible participants through partnerships with municipalities, UWV, or MDT programs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Pathways IT orientation platform that helps individuals discover whether a career in IT suits them, learn about the 10 IT domains, acquire programming basics (Python, JavaScript, HTML, CSS), and find the right training provider and career path. Includes 6 learning blocks, career-planning templates, educator-matching tools, live webinars, Q&A sessions, and Slack peer communities, with 1 year of access to the full learning environment.
• Workready Three-month employability training program that helps IT career changers with job-search skills, personal branding, interview preparation, networking, and soft skills to secure IT employment faster. Includes live sessions, masterclasses, self-study, personal coaching, and networking events with IT employer partners. Priced at €250 ex. VAT (€302.50 incl. VAT).
• AI-ready Four-week AI literacy training program that teaches participants AI fundamentals, practical tools (including ChatGPT, Copilot, Zapier, Canva AI), prompting techniques, and responsible AI use without requiring technical background or coding skills. Includes expert trainers and live weekly sessions. Priced at €500 ex. VAT (€605 incl. VAT), often fully subsidized via partner programs.
• Guide Free online introductory guide providing an overview of the IT labor market, helping users understand IT terms, professions, and opportunities within approximately 3 hours.
• IT-oriëntatiedag (IT Orientation Day) Free 90-minute online session where participants learn about IT careers or AI applications, meet advisors, hear success stories from alumni, and discover pathways to retraining.

Quantifiable outcome

• 97% of Pathways participants chose to pursue IT after completing the program
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

21 partnerships are on record, tiered core, founding and supporting.

• GreenFoxcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGreenFox provides subsidized Pathways and Workready packages (EFRO-funded) for participants from Rijnmond and Haaglanden labor market regions, enabling fully free access for eligible residents. GreenFox also provides Social Return administration support (via GreenFox Social Return) for Techgrounds' employer partners.
• Bit AcademycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBit Academy collaborates with Techgrounds on subsidized training packages, helping make IT education accessible to participants who qualify for government-funded programs.
• MDT (Maatschappelijke Diensttijd)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPathways MDT is part of Maatschappelijke Diensttijd (MDT), a national program offering youth under 30 the chance to develop talents, meet new people, and contribute to society. Participants receive Pathways access free of charge in exchange for voluntary work and active participation. Over 100,000 young people have participated in MDT nationwide.
• UWVcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorUWV (Employee Insurance Agency) is a key referral partner, directing job seekers to Techgrounds programs. UWV case workers use Techgrounds materials to help clients explore IT career paths.
• Dutch Women in Tech (DWIT)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDWIT is a community partner co-promoting IT careers to women. The organizations cross-refer and DWIT hosts monthly meetups at IT companies where Techgrounds is promoted as a starting point for women exploring tech.
• MolenGeekfoundingStrategic or Co-development PartnerMolenGeek (founded by Ibrahim Ouassari) was the inspiration for Techgrounds' founding. MolenGeek's model of accessible tech education influenced Techgrounds' founders and the two organizations share a mission of inclusive tech talent development.
• Amsterdam Data AcademysupportingTechnology or IntegrationParticipates in the Pathways Partner Collectief, presenting workshops and information sessions about data-focused IT education pathways to Techgrounds participants.
• CodamsupportingTechnology or IntegrationCoding school that presents its curriculum to Techgrounds Pathways participants as part of the independent orientation program, helping participants find the right coding bootcamp for their goals.
• IronHacksupportingTechnology or IntegrationGlobal coding bootcamp presenting its programs to Techgrounds participants as part of the Pathways independent orientation platform.
• UX AcademysupportingTechnology or IntegrationDesign-focused bootcamp presenting its UX/UI design program to Techgrounds participants as part of the Pathways orientation platform.
• RabobankfoundingStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounding partner providing financial support, network access, and advocacy for Techgrounds' mission to solve the IT talent shortage through inclusive reskilling.
• DeloittefoundingStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounding partner providing financial support and helping Techgrounds scale nationally through its network and expertise.
• Booking.comfoundingStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounding partner contributing financial support and tech industry perspective to Techgrounds' development and scaling.
• LinkedInfoundingStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounding partner supporting Techgrounds' mission; provides network and professional platform perspective. Pathways participants receive 1 year of LinkedIn Premium as part of the program.
• AccenturefoundingStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounding partner providing financial support and technology consulting perspective to Techgrounds.
• Gemeente AmsterdamfoundingStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounding partner providing financial contributions and political support for Techgrounds' expansion, particularly in Amsterdam Zuidoost and other priority neighborhoods.
• Gemeente AlmeresupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal government partner supporting Techgrounds' activities in Almere through financial contributions and network access.
• Gemeente UtrechtsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal government partner providing financial support for Techgrounds Utrecht operations and outreach.
• Gemeente RotterdamsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerRotterdam municipality has provided financial support for Techgrounds Rotterdam and the reskilling of 150 hidden talents in the region.
• GreenFox Social ReturnsupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerGreenFox Social Return handles Social Return administration, AVG (GDPR) consent, and Social Return management (Wizzr) for Techgrounds' employer partners — free of charge for clients.
• 120+ Employer Partners (Squerist, Fluido, MediaMonks, Nextview, ROC TOP, Sentia, Rabobank, Deloitte, ABN AMRO, Capgemini, Accenture, and others)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor120+ companies have hired Techgrounds graduates. These employer partners benefit from access to motivated, pre-screened junior IT talent with diverse backgrounds. Many partners also provide workshops and Q&A sessions for Techgrounds participants. Techgrounds supports partners' Social Return compliance requirements.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Hack Your Future: Belgium-based nonprofit coding school for refugees and migrants. Direct peer — same nonprofit model, same mission of training underrepresented groups into IT careers, and accessible career-changer training pathway.
• NewBees: Dutch social enterprise focused on labor market inclusion for newcomers and refugees. Direct peer — same Dutch nonprofit ecosystem, similar mission of activating underrepresented talent into sustainable employment.
• Bit Academy: Dutch subsidized IT training provider offering bootcamp-style programs. Direct peer — same Dutch market, same subsidized pricing model, and strategic partner of Techgrounds for Pathways delivery.
• IronHack: Global coding bootcamp with presence in Amsterdam. Direct peer — competes for the same Dutch reskiller audience, presented in Pathways but also a competitor for paid bootcamp enrollment.
• MolenGeek: Brussels-based nonprofit tech education and coding school focused on underrepresented talent. Direct peer — same model (free/subsidized tech training for hidden talent), same demographic focus, and was the direct inspiration for Techgrounds' founding.
• Le Wagon: Global coding bootcamp with Amsterdam campus. Direct peer — competes for the same career-changer IT training market in the Netherlands, with broader geographic brand recognition.
• Codam: Amsterdam-based peer-driven coding college (part of 42 Network). Direct peer — Dutch tech education market, presented as a training option in Techgrounds' Pathways platform, serving similar career-changer audience.
• Amsterdam Data Academy: Amsterdam-based data/AI training provider. Direct peer — Dutch data education market, partnered with Techgrounds through Pathways Partner Collectief, serving similar career-changer personas.
• GreenFox: Dutch nonprofit providing subsidized IT training and Social Return administration. Direct peer — operates in the same Dutch reskilling ecosystem, partners with Techgrounds, and shares the same funding sources (EFRO, UWV, municipalities).

Broad incumbents

• Deloitte: Global professional services firm with large IT reskilling and Social Return programs in the Netherlands. Broad incumbent — founding partner of Techgrounds, also runs internal upskilling initiatives that partially substitute for the function Techgrounds provides to other employers.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/TechGrounds_NL
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@Techgrounds_NL
• Facebookfacebook.com/Techgrounds
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/about
• Instagraminstagram.com/techgrounds_nl/?hl=nl

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 TechGrounds