TalentNED
TalentNED is a Dutch residential talent development academy in Enschede that prepares young Olympic-potential athletes (16-20) for elite speed skating, supported by multidisciplinary coaching, sports medicine, and equipment partners under founding patron Infestos.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2018
- HeadquartersEnschede, Netherlands
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What TalentNED does
TalentNED is a Dutch elite-athlete talent development organization operating as Infestos Academy B.V., founded in 2018 by former Olympic coach Gerard Kemkers in partnership with family-capital investor Infestos. It is headquartered at the OptiSport IJsbaan Twente in Enschede, Netherlands, where approximately 10-12 athletes aged 16-20 live and train full-time in a 365-day residential program. Its core offering is the TalentNED Academy — an integrated ecosystem that combines technical coaching (led by Olympic gold medalist Stefano Donagrandi and Arjen van der Veen), strength and conditioning (Jetze Roorda), physiotherapy (Pro-F), sports medicine (OCON Sportmedische kliniek), nutrition coaching (Voedingconditie), an embedded sport scientist, and peer cohort dynamics. The current active discipline is speed skating (TalentNED Schaatsen); a TalentNEXT sister brand is referenced on the site, and cycling (MTB and road) programs were operated from 2021 before the MTB team was discontinued after 2023-2024.
TalentNED firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- TalentNED
- Legal name
- Infestos Academy B.V.
- Website
- https://talentned.nl
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2018
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- TalentNED is a Dutch residential talent development academy in Enschede that prepares young Olympic-potential athletes (16-20) for elite speed skating, supported by multidisciplinary coaching, sports medicine, and equipment partners under founding patron Infestos.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
TalentNED industry classification
Industry- NAICS
- Sports and Recreation Instruction (611620), Sports and Recreation Instruction (61162)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Single-Sport Skill Academies (Soccer, Basketball, Tennis, etc.) (MPAKAJAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Sports Boarding Schools & Residential Academies (MPAKAJAL), Strength & Conditioning / Athletic Performance Training (HSADAEAB)
Keywords
Where TalentNED is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Enschede
- HQ country
- Netherlands
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
TalentNED business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Corporate Talent Development Sponsorship: TalentNED operates an open sponsor platform for corporate talent development, allowing businesses to sponsor talent development programs. Companies like Infestos provide founding partnership and sustainable investment.
- Supplier and Equipment Partnerships: Partnerships with sports equipment suppliers (Shimano, Garmin, Bioracer, Giant, etc.) who provide gear and support in exchange for association with the program
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels3 records
TalentNED product offering
Product offeringCore offering
TalentNED runs a residential talent development academy in Enschede, Netherlands for elite young athletes aged 16–20 preparing for international competition in speed skating (and historically cycling). The program delivers year-round, fully integrated support including on-ice technical coaching, strength and conditioning, sports medicine/physiotherapy, nutrition coaching, performance analysis, academic/educational support, and on-site housing, enabling athletes to combine high-performance training with personal development.
Product overview
TalentNED is a talent development organization operating as a single unified Academy product. The organization provides a comprehensive ecosystem for young talented Dutch athletes (16-20 years old) to develop toward elite sports performance. The core offering is the TalentNED Academy in Enschede, which encompasses the speed skating team program (TalentNED Schaatsen) as its primary active sport. Additional offerings include educational internship programs (MBO Stage) and an open application pathway for new talent recruitment. The Academy provides a complete 365-day program combining training, coaching, housing, and professional support including sports scientists, physiotherapists, nutritionists, and psychologists. The organization previously operated a mountain biking (MTB) team but this was discontinued after the 2023-2024 season.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Quantifiable outcome
- Multiple alumni secured contracts with professional teams including Jumbo-Visma, Worldstream-Corendon, Development Team Jumbo, Team Frysk, and professional cycling teams
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use TalentNED
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments1 record
Ideal customer profiles1 record
TalentNED technology and API
TechnologyAPI detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
TalentNED partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- OCON Sportmedische kliniekcoreExtended partnership with OCON Sports Medical Clinic for providing sports medicine services to TalentNED athletes. Annemiek Meijerink Huis in 't Veld serves as sports physician for the program.
- Robuust DigitalminorWeb partner/digital agency supplier for TalentNED
- BioracerminorEquipment supplier (speed skating apparel)
- Pro-F FysiotherapieminorPhysiotherapy services with Lars Kies as dedicated physiotherapist
- ShimanominorBicycle components and cycling equipment supplier
- GarminminorSports technology and wearable devices supplier for training monitoring
- TrainingPeaksminorTraining software and data platform supplier for athlete training management
- VoedingconditieminorNutrition coaching with Titia van der Stelt as dedicated nutrition coach
- Orange PicturesminorPhotography and visual content supplier for events and competitions
- PowerbarminorSports nutrition products supplier
- Giant BicyclesminorBicycle supplier for cycling program
- VikingminorSports equipment and apparel supplier
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves9 records
Expansion highlights5 records
TalentNED competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Olympiatoppen (Norwegian Olympic Training Center): Norway's centralized elite sports development organization provides multidisciplinary coaching, sports science, and residential support to top national prospects across winter sports including speed skating. Comparable as a larger, federation-backed talent development ecosystem.
- British Cycling Academy Programme: British Cycling's development pathway provides structured coaching, sports science, and competition support for junior cyclists targeting Olympic success. Functionally analogous to TalentNED's model of integrated athlete development toward elite performance.
- NOC*NSF (Netherlands Olympic Committee): Dutch national Olympic body that funds and coordinates talent development programs across sports. TalentNED operates in the gap between regional KTT centers (NOC*NSF-supported) and professional teams, making NOC*NSF a structurally adjacent incumbent.
Direct peers
- Reggeborgh Skating Team: Reggeborgh sponsors a Dutch speed skating team featuring top senior skaters, with a development pipeline that competes for the same junior-to-senior athletes TalentNED targets. Comparable as a Dutch skating talent pathway with corporate sponsorship backing.
- Jumbo-Visma Development Team: Jumbo-Visma operates a high-profile development program for young Dutch cyclists, taking athletes from junior ranks toward the WorldTour. Like TalentNED, it sits between regional training structures and top-level professional teams, and several TalentNED cycling alumni have landed here.
- Picnic PostNL Development: Picnic PostNL (formerly BikeExchange / Jayco) operates a cycling development team that has signed former TalentNED riders such as Silje Bader. Functions as a comparable downstream talent destination and as a peer in the Dutch/European development ecosystem.
- Team IKO: Team IKO is a Dutch speed skating team that develops elite skaters toward international competition. It directly overlaps with TalentNED in sport, target demographic (junior-to-senior Dutch skaters), and operating model of providing coaching, training, and support services.
- Lotto-Dstny Development: Lotto-Dstny runs a cycling development program aimed at transitioning young riders to the WorldTour. Operates on a comparable talent-development model to TalentNED's cycling arm and competes for similar junior Dutch/Belgian cycling prospects.
Emerging players
- BEAT Cycling Club: BEAT Cycling is a Dutch professional cycling team that has signed former TalentNED riders (e.g., Frits Biesterbos). Comparable as a Netherlands-based cycling team that integrates development and elite-level competition in a similar talent pipeline.
- KTT Noord / Regional Training Centers: Dutch regional skating training centers (KTTs) feed TalentNED's intake pipeline and provide earlier-stage athlete development. Comparable as a structured sports instruction entity serving Dutch junior speed skaters, though focused on a younger cohort.
Market position
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks1 record
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
TalentNED social profiles
Digital presenceTalentNED financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
TalentNED leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
TalentNED funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
TalentNED M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about TalentNED
What does TalentNED do?
TalentNED runs a residential talent development academy in Enschede, Netherlands for elite young athletes aged 16–20 preparing for international competition in speed skating (and historically cycling). The program delivers year-round, fully integrated support including on-ice technical coaching, strength and conditioning, sports medicine/physiotherapy, nutrition coaching, performance analysis, academic/educational support, and on-site housing, enabling athletes to combine high-performance training with personal development.
Is TalentNED a public or private company?
TalentNED is a private company. It is currently operating.
When was TalentNED founded?
TalentNED was founded in 2018. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is TalentNED based?
TalentNED is headquartered in Enschede, Netherlands, in the Europe region.
How does TalentNED make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Corporate Talent Development Sponsorship is the primary driver. The others are supplier and Equipment Partnerships.
Who are TalentNED's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Olympiatoppen (Norwegian Olympic Training Center), British Cycling Academy Programme and NOC*NSF (Netherlands Olympic Committee). Direct peers are Reggeborgh Skating Team, Jumbo-Visma Development Team, Picnic PostNL Development, Team IKO and Lotto-Dstny Development. Emerging players are BEAT Cycling Club and KTT Noord / Regional Training Centers.
Does TalentNED have an API?
No public API is recorded for TalentNED.
What industry is TalentNED in?
Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAKAJAB, Single-Sport Skill Academies (Soccer, Basketball, Tennis, etc.), with a secondary code of MPAKAJAL, Sports Boarding Schools & Residential Academies. Its NAICS code is 611620.