What SmartHub Incubator Industry does

SmartHub Incubator Industry (SHII) is an open innovation center and startup incubator headquartered in Ulft, Gelderland, Netherlands, with a secondary site in Lichtenvoorde. Founded in 2020 and operating with five employees, the organization focuses on the smart manufacturing industry in the Achterhoek region, supporting startups working in robotics, IoT, sensor technology, additive manufacturing, and vision technology. Its core offering is a portfolio of incubation services rather than a unified software product: Startup Begeleiding (coaching and program support), Coaching & Kennis (mentorship from experienced entrepreneurs and themed information sessions), Productiefaciliteiten (a modern workshop and prototyping space), and the proprietary Vouchermodel — a financing mechanism in which 26+ established regional companies contribute to a shared voucher pool that triples a startup's own contribution when used to purchase partner services such as prototype development.

SHII serves three interconnected constituencies: early-stage entrepreneurs with innovative ideas in manufacturing, established regional companies that act as voucher partners, and public-sector bodies in the Achterhoek region. Its business model is that of a non-profit incubator; it does not charge startups directly for most services. Instead, revenue is generated through three professional-services streams: contributions from voucher partner companies, financial support from six Achterhoek municipalities (including Oude IJsselstreek and Oost Gelre), and regional initiative funding from organizations such as Provincie Gelderland and IKGL. This structure creates a circular economy in which partner contributions flow back to partners via startup service consumption. The incubator reports supporting more than 30 startups to date across verticals including wearable payments, CNC machinery, environmental treatment, recreation, energy storage, and consumer electronics, with documented graduates (e.g., Astari, Pritec Automation, Vemaron) either scaling internationally or converting into voucher partners themselves.

The organization is privately held, has no disclosed parent, no funding rounds, and no management team profiles in the source material. Distribution is achieved through direct on-site engagement, referrals from the regional partner network, and structured educational partnerships — most notably De Netwerkplaats, a collaboration involving HAN University of Applied Sciences, Paraat Scholen, and ROC Graafschap College. SHII's competitive positioning is rooted in its regionally embedded partner ecosystem and its distinctive voucher financing model rather than in proprietary technology or scale advantages.

Name

SmartHub Incubator Industry

Legal name

SmartHub Incubator Industry

Website

https://shii.nl

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

SmartHub Incubator Industry is a non-profit startup incubator in the Achterhoek region of the Netherlands that supports early-stage entrepreneurs in smart manufacturing through coaching, production facilities, and a proprietary voucher financing model funded by regional partner companies and municipal backers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Startup Incubator Services

akta.pro primary industry

Accelerators & Incubators (Investor-Operated) (FSANAAAM)

akta.pro secondary industry

Accelerator / Incubator-Backed ETA Programs (FSANALAD)

Keywords

• Startup incubation services
• Manufacturing industry innovation
• Entrepreneurship coaching
• Regional business development
• Technology venture support

Headquarters

HQ city

Ulft

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Voucher Partner Contributions: Established companies in the region become voucher partners by contributing funds to a shared voucher pool. The startup's own contribution is matched/tripled from this pool for using partner services. This creates a circular economy where money flows back to partners.
2. Municipal Support: The incubator receives support from 6 municipalities in the Achterhoek region, including Oude IJsselstreek and Oost Gelre.
3. Regional Initiative Funding: Supported by regional organizations including Provincie Gelderland and various industry associations that contribute to the ecosystem development.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

SmartHub Incubator Industry (SHII) is an open innovation center and startup incubator located in the Achterhoek region of the Netherlands. It provides startup begeleiding (incubation services) for entrepreneurs with innovative ideas in the smart manufacturing industry, offering coaching, knowledge transfer, financing assistance through a unique voucher model, access to a network of 30+ partner companies, and modern production facilities for prototyping and testing.

Product overview

SmartHub Incubator Industry operates as a startup incubator focused on the smart manufacturing industry in the Achterhoek region of the Netherlands. Rather than offering a unified software product, the organization provides a portfolio of incubation services including Startup Begeleiding (incubator services), a Vouchermodel (unique financing mechanism), Coaching & Kennis (mentorship and knowledge transfer), and Productiefaciliteiten (modern workspace facilities). The organization connects entrepreneurs with innovative ideas in the manufacturing sector to knowledge, resources, schools, government, and businesses. Their specialization areas include IOT, Sensor Technology, Vision, Robotics, and Additive Manufacturing. The incubator supports startups across various innovation domains including wearables, CNC technology, sustainable products, and smart locking solutions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Startup Begeleiding (Incubator Services) Comprehensive startup incubation program providing coaching, knowledge transfer, financing assistance through a voucher model, and access to a network of 30+ partners for entrepreneurs in the Achterhoek manufacturing industry.
• Vouchermodel (Voucher System) Unique financing model where partner companies contribute to a voucher pool. Startups' own investment is tripled when used for partner services such as prototype development, with funds eventually cycling back to partners.
• Coaching & Kennis (Coaching & Knowledge) Personal guidance and practical tools including mentorship from experienced entrepreneurs, informational sessions on financing, product development, and market access.
• Productiefaciliteiten (Production Facilities) Modern workspace facilities where entrepreneurs can develop and test their ideas, including access to manufacturing equipment and tools for prototyping.

Quantifiable outcome

• The startup's own investment is tripled through the voucher model, significantly reducing startup costs
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers15 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• HuberscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorVoucher partner contributing to the startup support ecosystem. Hubers is one of the established companies that helps startups through the voucher model.
• UlamocoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorVoucher partner supporting startups through the SmartHub Incubator Industry ecosystem.
• DumacocoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorVoucher partner contributing to startup support through the voucher model.
• FrontiscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorVoucher partner in the SHII network providing support for startups.
• LovinkcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorVoucher partner contributing expertise and services to the startup ecosystem.
• Jansen Metal ProductscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorVoucher partner providing manufacturing expertise to startups.
• VemaroncoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFormer startup that has grown to become a voucher partner, offering project management for technical development projects.
• Pritec AutomationcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFormer startup (CNC plasma cutter manufacturer) that has grown to become a voucher partner of SHII.
• De NetwerkplaatsflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational partner of SmartHub Incubator Industry. Marij Striekwold, Sander Berendsen, and Jorik te Kaat organize and design various learning activities including EnergSHII sessions and network breakfasts for entrepreneurs. A collaboration between HAN (Hogeschool van Arnhem en Nijmegen), Paraat Scholen, and ROC Graafschap College.
• HAN University of Applied SciencescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational institution partner through De Netwerkplaats collaboration. Provides academic resources and student connections to the startup ecosystem.
• ROC Graafschap CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVocational education partner in the De Netwerkplaats collaboration, supporting practical training and skill development for entrepreneurs.
• Gemeente Oude IJsselstreekcoreOthersOne of 6 municipalities supporting SmartHub Incubator Industry. Initiated the collaboration with Tibach for Japanese Knotweed treatment on municipal land.
• Gemeente Oost GelrecoreOthersMunicipality supporting the SHII initiative and startup ecosystem in the Achterhoek region.
• Provincie GelderlandcoreOthersProvincial government providing support for the SmartHub Incubator Industry initiative.
• Knippenborg SubsidieadviesminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPartner that helped Charged write subsidy proposals, all of which were granted, enabling more development work.
• CivoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInnovation hub partner involved in the SHII ecosystem, hosting networking events and connecting entrepreneurs.
• Varsseveldse Industriële VerenigingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustrial association partner supporting the SHII initiative and regional entrepreneurship.
• RCT GelderlandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional support organization that referred entrepreneurs including Pritec Automation and SUP yourself/Vislocks to SHII.
• IKGLcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional innovation initiative supporting the SmartHub Incubator Industry ecosystem.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves1 record

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Novel-T: University of Twente-linked incubator supporting tech and medtech startups in the eastern Netherlands. Comparable as a regional incubator with academic partnerships, mentor networks, and manufacturing founder focus.
• Holland Startup: Dutch student-startup accelerator supporting university founders with mentorship and early capital. Comparable as a Netherlands-based incubator focused on early-stage founders and ecosystem building.
• HighTechXL: Eindhoven-based deep-tech accelerator focused on hardware, photonics, chip-based, and advanced-manufacturing startups. Comparable because it incubates smart-manufacturing/industrial-tech founders using a cohort + partner model.
• CIC Netherlands: Global innovation campus operator with Dutch locations providing workspace, venture support, and industry networks. Comparable as a multi-tenant incubator delivering workspace, mentorship, and partner introductions to startups.
• Rockstart: Amsterdam-based domain accelerator running programs in energy, agritech, and emerging tech. Comparable as a Dutch accelerator offering partner networks, mentor pools, and follow-on capital to early-stage startups.
• Yes!Delft: Dutch startup incubator linked to TU Delft, supporting tech and smart-industry founders with coaching, funding access, and a partner network. Directly comparable as a Netherlands-based incubator pursuing similar cohorts.
• Impact Hub Amsterdam: Amsterdam innovation hub providing incubation, workspace, and a community of impact-driven entrepreneurs. Comparable as a Dutch incubator offering workspace, coaching, and a partner ecosystem to early-stage founders.

Regional players

• Brabant Startup Alliance: Regional coalition of North Brabant incubators, accelerators, and government partners supporting high-tech and manufacturing founders. Comparable as a regional Dutch innovation coalition with public-private funding similar to SHII's municipal structure.
• Brainport Development: Eindhoven regional innovation organization driving high-tech manufacturing growth, talent, and ecosystems. Comparable as a regional Dutch economic-development body supporting high-tech industrial entrepreneurship from a similar playbook.
• StartupAmsterdam: Amsterdam municipality-backed initiative connecting startups to programs, capital, and partners. Comparable as a publicly-backed regional platform orchestrating partners, events, and founder support.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/smarthub-incubator-industry

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 SmartHub Incubator Industry