Ondernemend Emmen

What Ondernemend Emmen does

Ondernemend Emmen is a membership-based entrepreneurs' association (vereniging) headquartered in Emmen, Drenthe, Netherlands, operating from Kapitein Nemostraat 20 with a staff of 16. Founded in its current consolidated form in March 2020 through the merger of OKE (Ondernemers Kontakt Emmen) and VPB (Vereniging Parkmanagement Bedrijventerreinen), it serves approximately 300 member businesses representing roughly 15,000–16,000 jobs, making it the largest local business organization in Northern Netherlands. Its core 'product' is not a software platform but a curated service bundle: networking events (annual Ondernemersevent Emmen, HRM network, OE Lunchbox sessions, company visits), collective purchasing contracts, knowledge sharing, park management advocacy, and government representation.

The association monetizes primarily through tiered annual membership fees, starting at €300 per year for companies with five or fewer employees and scaling upward for larger members. Revenue-adjacent value is generated through an energy collective operated with PM Energie (collective energy contracts, monitoring, congestion solutions) and through event sponsorship from partners including Rabobank. Distribution is community- and event-led: members are acquired through direct outreach to businesses on industrial estates, the annual Ondernemersevent, and partner channels such as the province-wide 'Ik Ben Drents Ondernemer' initiative. Digital touchpoints include a website, social channels, and an email newsletter reaching approximately 17,736 subscribers.

Strategically, Ondernemend Emmen functions as an institutional intermediary between SMBs and key regional stakeholders: Gemeente Emmen (municipal government), NHL Stenden Hogeschool (education), VNO-NCW Noord (national employers' federation), and the German Wirtschaftsverband Emsland (cross-border collaboration). Its five stated focus areas are park management, techniek & industrie, international business, knowledge sharing, and networking. The model is cooperative and non-profit, with no external investors or parent company, governed by a member-elected board and operated by a small professional team under Director Herman G. Idema.

Name

Ondernemend Emmen

Legal name

Ondernemend Emmen

Website

https://ondernemendemmen.nl

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Ondernemend Emmen is a membership-based entrepreneurs' association serving roughly 300 businesses in Emmen, Drenthe, Netherlands. It provides networking events, collective purchasing, park management advocacy, and government representation for SMBs across manufacturing, services, and trade.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Emmen

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

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: Ondernemend Emmen generates revenue primarily through annual membership fees. The membership fee structure is tiered based on company size, starting from €300 per year for companies with 5 or fewer employees. Members receive benefits including network access, collective purchasing advantages, free knowledge sessions, and representation in government affairs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Ondernemend Emmen is a membership-based business association serving approximately 300 businesses in the Emmen region of the Netherlands. The organization provides networking events, knowledge-sharing sessions, HRM networking, park management advocacy, and government lobbying services for local businesses, while facilitating connections between entrepreneurs, government bodies, and educational institutions. Members benefit from collective purchasing contracts, representation in policy matters, and cross-border collaboration opportunities with the German Emsland region.

Product overview

Ondernemend Emmen is a business membership organization (ondernemersorganisatie) serving approximately 300 businesses in the Emmen region of the Netherlands. Rather than offering a technology product, the organization provides member services including networking events, business visits, knowledge-sharing sessions, HRM networking, park management advocacy, and lobbying services for local businesses. The organization facilitates connections between entrepreneurs and supports economic development through various focus areas including technique & industry, international business, knowledge sharing, and networking.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• RABO OE Stimuleringsprijs: An annual stimulation prize/subsidy program for entrepreneurs sponsored by Rabobank.
• OE Lunchbox
• Ondernemersevent Emmen
• HRM Netwerk
• Open Coffee Club

Products and services

• Ondernemend Emmen Business Membership Annual membership in the Ondernemend Emmen business association providing 300+ member businesses with network access, collective purchasing advantages, free knowledge sessions, government advocacy, and representation. Available to businesses operating on industrial estates in Emmen, with tiered pricing based on company size starting from €300 per year for organizations with 5 or fewer FTE.
• Ondernemersevent Emmen (Annual Entrepreneurs' Event) Annual networking event bringing together approximately 300 members and regional entrepreneurs for information exchange, networking, and relationship building. Held once per year for the Emmen business community.
• HRM Netwerk (HRM Network) Regular HRM network meetings for members featuring expert presentations on topics such as employee management, workplace policies, caregiver-friendly entrepreneurship (Werk & Mantelzorg), and professional development.
• OE Lunchbox Sessions Regular lunch sessions and workshops covering practical business topics for members, including cybersecurity, AI, and business skills. These sessions are part of the member knowledge-sharing offering.
• Collective Contract Partners Program Curated partnership program providing members with collective purchasing advantages and benefits through partner organizations. Includes energy collective (PM Energie), financial services (Rabobank), and other contract partners offering member-exclusive terms.
• Park Management Services Park management advocacy and shared infrastructure services for businesses operating on industrial estates in Emmen (Bargermeer, Bedrijvenpark A37). Includes representation of business interests in park management decisions and coordination with park management partners such as CLOK.

Quantifiable outcome

• 300+ member companies with collective representation
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 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 minor and core.

• RabobankminorGTM or Marketing PartnerRabobank is listed as a partner of Ondernemend Emmen, providing financial services and support to the business community in the region.
• Growing EmmencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGrowing Emmen is an economic development organization that collaborates with Ondernemend Emmen to support business growth and investment in the Emmen region.
• Wirtschaftsverband EmslandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCross-border partnership with the German business association Wirtschaftsverband Emsland, facilitating Dutch-German business collaboration, joint events like 'Networking am Grill', and the DIA project (Digitalisierung, Innovation, Austausch) for cross-border exchange.
• Gemeente EmmencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOndernemend Emmen works closely with Municipality of Emmen on economic development, infrastructure, park management, and business-friendly policies. The municipality supports the organization's initiatives and projects.
• CLOKminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCLOK is a knowledge and development platform for park managers that Ondernemend Emmen partners with for park management expertise and best practices sharing.
• VNO-NCW NoordcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional branch of the major Dutch employers' organization VNO-NCW, providing Ondernemend Emmen members with access to national business network, advocacy, and collective interests representation.
• NHL Stenden Hogeschool EmmencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational partnership with NHL Stenden Hogeschool for knowledge sharing, student-business connections, dual education programs, and collaborative workshops on topics including AI, HRM, and technology. The hogeschool hosts ALV meetings and provides facilities for events.
• Ik Ben Drents OndernemercoreGTM or Marketing PartnerJoint initiative with the province-wide 'Ik Ben Drents Ondernemer' program (province of Drenthe, municipalities, educational institutions) to provide knowledge, information, and network access to SMB members. Collaboration includes exclusive memberclasses and joint events.
• ICTRechtminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerICTRecht provided the workshop on responsible AI use for members, offering practical guidance on AI implementation and compliance for SMB businesses.
• Open Coffee Club EmmenminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCollaboration with Open Coffee Club Emmen for informal networking events hosted at Ondernemend Emmen facilities, providing additional networking opportunities for members.
• Technologies AddedminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost of the first Smart Factory of Netherlands where Ondernemend Emmen organized cross-border manufacturing industry event on future of manufacturing.
• Greenwise CampusminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGreenwise Campus hosted the Lunch & Learn event on digitalization together with VNO-NCW Noord, Digilink Drenthe, Ondernemend Emmen, and MKB Cyber Campus.
• PM EnergiecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEnergy collective managed by PM Energie providing collective energy contracts, monitoring services, congestion solutions, and physical energy hubs for members. Part of the organization's own energy collective offering.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Others

• Gemeente Emmen / Growing Emmen: Regional economic development organization that collaborates with OE on business growth and investment in Emmen. Not a direct competitor but an adjacent ecosystem partner with overlapping member audiences.
• Rabobank MKB Advies: Rabobank is both a partner of OE and a provider of SME services, networking, and business support that overlap with what OE offers its members. Not a membership association but an adjacent ecosystem participant.
• NHL Stenden Hogeschool: Core educational partner of OE that also delivers SME-facing knowledge sessions, dual-education, and applied research programs in the region. An enabling institution rather than a direct competitor.

Broad incumbents

• VNO-NCW: The leading Dutch employers' organization representing broader business interests nationwide. VNO-NCW Noord is already a core partner of Ondernemend Emmen and serves the same member archetype (employers, SMEs) but at a national scale.
• MKB-Nederland: National Dutch association for small and medium-sized enterprises, providing advocacy and member services comparable to OE but operating at the country level across all sectors.
• Kamer van Koophandel (KVK): Dutch Chamber of Commerce, providing official business registration and support services to all Dutch businesses. OE competes partly on advocacy, networking, and regional representation where KVK is more transactional and national.

Direct peers

• Vereniging Bedrijvenpark management: CLOK is a Dutch knowledge and platform organization for park managers, directly comparable to OE's park management focus area and a current partner. Both serve as connective tissue between businesses and industrial estate operators.
• Wirtschaftsverband Emsland: German business association for the Emsland region, directly comparable as a cross-border peer. It is already a strategic partner of Ondernemend Emmen, mirroring OE's role on the German side of the Dutch-German border.

Regional players

• Industriële Kring: Dutch regional industry-focused business circles with comparable networking and advocacy functions to OE's technique & industry focus area, but operating in other Dutch regions.
• Ondernemersvereniging Regio Zwolle: Another Dutch regional entrepreneurs' association serving a different geography but operating a structurally identical model: membership-funded business advocacy, networking, and regional lobbying for SMEs.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/ondernemendemmen
• Facebookfacebook.com/ondernemendemmen
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/vpb-emmen
• Instagraminstagram.com/ondernemendemmen

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 Ondernemend Emmen