StartCollege

What StartCollege does

StartCollege is a Dutch vocational education institution (MBO school) operating at the lower end of the Dutch secondary vocational system, delivering Niveau 1 Entree programs, an Internationale Schakelklas (ISK) for international newcomers aged 12-18, and a Niveau 2 Basismedewerker Fashion track. It is an integral operating unit of Landstede Groep, a Dutch educational conglomerate, sharing resources, governance, and back-office functions with sister institutions such as Deltion College. The institution runs six physical locations across four cities in the Overijssel/Gelderland/Flevoland region — Zwolle (Rechterland 1 main campus and Rietsweg 12), Harderwijk (three sites including Mecklenburglaan 3, Nobelstraat 37, and Sypel 2), Dronten (De Arend 4), and Raalte (Zwolsestraat 63a) — with a reported headcount of 76 employees. Its core offering centers on personalized, small-class education featuring fixed mentors and individualized learning plans (ILP), combined theory and workplace learning (BPV) across vocational sectors including logistics, metal/electrical, construction, hospitality, retail, mobility, green sector, and fashion.

The business model is government-funded recurring revenue under the Dutch MBO regime, with tuition standardized across students; supplementary funding flows through the MBO Studentenfonds for under-18 students with family income below 130% of social minimum, and through Erasmus+ for international mobility. Go-to-market is community-led: prospective students arrive via the school's website, open-house Informatiemarkt events in Zwolle and Harderwijk, the central CAMBO MBO enrollment platform (accessed via DigiD), and direct referrals from municipalities and the UWV employment agency. Supporting sub-brands include StartCentrum (a Zwolle-based student support hub offering help with forms, study financing, OV-chipkaart, homework planning, and WhatsApp-based remote assistance) and Start.route (a collaborative employment pathway initiative co-developed with Deltion College and supported by Hogeschool Windesheim's social innovation research chair, partnering with regional employers, municipalities, and healthcare organizations across four focus areas). The institution holds Gezonde School (Healthy School) certification for its canteen and smoke-free campus policy.

Customer segments center on three primary personas: (1) youth aged 16+ without prior secondary education seeking the Entree qualification; (2) youth and young adults in vulnerable positions targeted by Start.route for sustainable employment; and (3) international newcomers (12-18) requiring Dutch language acquisition and orientation to the Dutch education system. The technology stack is light: a content/website platform for program information and online enrollment, WhatsApp for student communication, and the national CAMBO platform for formal enrollment — with no proprietary AI, app, or API surface disclosed. The institution operates as a non-profit educational organization under Dutch educational law with no external investment, no public listing, and no M&A activity on record.

Name

StartCollege

Legal name

StartCollege

Website

https://start-college.nl

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

StartCollege is a Dutch MBO vocational education institution, part of Landstede Groep, delivering Niveau 1 Entree, Niveau 2 Fashion, and ISK (international newcomer) programs across six campuses in Zwolle, Harderwijk, Dronten, and Raalte. It serves vulnerable youth and international newcomers via government-funded, mentor-led, personalized education with regional employer placement.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Vocational Education

NAICS

Technical and Trade Schools (6115), Apprenticeship Training (611513), Professional and Management Development Training (611430)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Workforce Development & Continuing Education Divisions (Noncredit) (EDAHADAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Workforce & Career Transition Noncredit Programs (EDAAAEAC), Internship-to-Apprenticeship & Early Talent Pipeline Programs (EDAMAKAL), Instructional Delivery & Pedagogy (School-Led) (EDAJAFAB)

Keywords

• MBO vocational education
• Vocational training programs
• Dutch language integration
• Fashion vocational training
• Student support services

Headquarters

HQ city

Zwolle

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Government-funded vocational education: StartCollege is a government-funded MBO (Middelbaar Beroepsonderwijs) institution providing vocational education at levels 1 and 2, funded through Dutch government educational funding mechanisms.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

StartCollege is a Dutch government-funded vocational education institution (MBO school) offering personalized MBO level 1 and 2 programs across three core tracks: the Entree-opleiding for students without prior secondary education, the Internationale Schakelklas (ISK) for international newcomers learning Dutch, and the Basismedewerker Fashion program for fashion industry training. Programs feature small class sizes, fixed mentors, individualized learning plans, and BPV (workplace learning) internships with regional employers.

Product overview

StartCollege is a vocational education institution (MBO school) that offers a unified portfolio of educational programs at MBO levels 1 and 2. The core offerings consist of three main programs: the Entree-opleiding (MBO Niveau 1) for students seeking vocational training without prior secondary education completion, the Internationale Schakelklas (ISK) for international students learning Dutch, and the Basismedewerker Fashion (MBO Niveau 2) for fashion industry training. These programs are supported by student services including StartCentrum (practical support), the MBO Studentenfonds (financial assistance), and the Start.route employment pathway initiative. All programs feature small classes, personal coaching, and individualized learning plans, with programs available across multiple locations in Zwolle, Harderwijk, Dronten, and Raalte.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Start.route: A program supporting young people and adults with an entry-level or mbo level 2 diploma in finding sustainable employment through partnerships with regional businesses, educational institutions, and government organizations.
• StartCentrum

Products and services

• Entree-opleiding (MBO Niveau 1)

Quantifiable outcome

• Students can enroll throughout the school year
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core, support and minor.

• Deltion CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration between Deltion College and StartCollege (both part of Landstede Groep) on the Start.route program, aimed at guiding vulnerable youth and young adults toward sustainable employment through vocational training and job matching.
• Hogeschool WindesheimsupportStrategic or Co-development PartnerWindesheim University of Applied Sciences provides research support through its lectoraat sociale innovatie (social innovation research chair), contributing research lines to the Start.route program's four focus areas.
• Erasmus+minorGTM or Marketing PartnerEU Erasmus+ program co-funds international mobility activities for StartCollege students, supporting cross-border educational exchanges and learning opportunities.
• Regional businesses and employerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with regional companies in sectors including technology, construction, transport/logistics, cleaning, food/hospitality, security, and agriculture to provide BPV (workplace learning) placements and vacancy matching for students.
• Municipalities and governmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with municipalities and government agencies in the Zwolle region to support youth integration into the labor market through the Start.route initiative, providing chain oversight and integral approach.
• Healthcare and care organizationssupportStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with healthcare organizations participating in the Start.route program to support vulnerable youth and provide cross-sector expertise for student development.
• LandstedecoreOthersStartCollege is an integral part of Landstede Groep, sharing resources, facilities, and educational expertise across multiple MBO locations in the Zwolle region.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves1 record

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Yuverta: Large Dutch vocational education group (formerly Wellant and Lentiz) offering MBO programs including green, food, and lifestyle sectors. Broad incumbent because it offers overlapping Niveau 1/2 vocational pathways in adjacent Dutch regions.
• Hoornbeeck College: Large Christian MBO institution with multiple campuses across the Netherlands, including in the central/eastern regions. Broad incumbent because it offers overlapping vocational programs (including Niveau 1/2) with a wider footprint and broader portfolio.
• Summa College: Large MBO institution in Eindhoven offering vocational education across all levels and sectors, including specialized support for vulnerable youth. Broad incumbent because it operates a comparable Entree-level and vulnerable-youth program at greater scale and with broader geographic reach.

Direct peers

• Landstede MBO: MBO arm of Landstede Groep, the same parent organization as StartCollege, providing vocational training across multiple locations in Overijssel and Flevoland. Direct peer because it shares the parent, branding, and operational infrastructure while offering the broader MBO portfolio that StartCollege lacks.
• ROC van Twente: Large regional MBO institution in Overijssel offering vocational education at all levels. Direct peer because it competes for the same youth and adult vocational learners in the broader East Netherlands region, including vulnerable populations.
• Aventus: Regional MBO school headquartered in Apeldoorn (Gelderland), offering vocational training across multiple sectors. Direct peer because it serves overlapping geographic territory and competes for similar student segments in the same Dutch labor market regions.
• Deltion College: Sister MBO institution under Landstede Groep based in Zwolle, offering a broader range of MBO programs at levels 1-4. Direct peer because it shares the same parent, region, and target student population, and co-runs the Start.route program with StartCollege.
• Capabel Onderwijs: Dutch MBO provider specializing in vocational training for adult learners and those re-entering education. Direct peer because it serves a similar adult/non-traditional student population with workforce-focused Niveau 1/2 programs.

Regional players

• MBO Amersfoort: Regional MBO school in Amersfoort (Utrecht), offering vocational programs across multiple sectors. Regional peer because it serves a geographically adjacent but non-overlapping market and competes for similar vulnerable youth and Entree-level learners.

Emerging players

• Grafisch Lyceum Utrecht: Specialist MBO school for media, design, and technology in Utrecht. Emerging player because, like StartCollege's Basismedewerker Fashion, it occupies a niche creative/trade vertical within the broader MBO landscape with specialized curriculum and employer partnerships.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/startcollege

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 StartCollege