Verschilmakers

What Verschilmakers does

Verschilmakers is a Netherlands-based personal development and advisory consultancy headquartered at NYMA Makersplaats in Nijmegen, founded in 2015 by Marieke van Baars and Rogier van Aanholt under the legal entity Verschilmakers Groep BV. The company delivers coaching, training, and organizational development services to three primary segments: youth and young adults (16–26 years), working professionals and adults seeking career or personal development, and organizations in healthcare, education, government, and engineering sectors. Its core intellectual property is the proprietary "21 Elements Individual Development Model," a methodology that maps character, talents, and environment to personal and professional development trajectories, combined with structured group sessions, individual coaching, and practical experience. The youth-focused Tussenjaarprogramma (gap year) and the MDT "Ontdek je volgende stap" trajectory (a free government-funded program under the Dutch Maatschappelijke Diensttijd scheme) are delivered through the Jonge Helden Academie sub-brand; the "Herontdek Jezelf" six-day program targets adults; and the Training Verandermanagement, Teamontwikkeling, Maatschappelijke veranderopgaven, and GWW Academie product lines serve institutional clients.

The business model is professional-services revenue generated through custom, quote-based engagements with no publicly disclosed pricing. Approximately 200 participants have completed programs since inception, with about 70% making a study choice post-trajectory. Distribution is regional and direct, combining on-site delivery at the Nijmegen headquarters, on-site delivery at client organizations, and lead-generation through free webinars, newsletters (Impactkoerier), and referrals. Key enterprise customers include Radboud Universiteit (three consecutive years), Hogeschool van Arnhem en Nijmegen (HAN), ROC Nijmegen, GGz Centraal, Zorgpartners Flevoland, Pijnnetwerk Brabant, Gemeente Almere, GWW Ingenieurs, and LEVgroep. The company is privately held, bootstrapped, with no external investment, 1–10 employees (8 core team plus 5 Gilde part-time members and 6 advisory board members), and celebrated its 10-year anniversary in 2025.

Name

Verschilmakers

Legal name

Verschilmakers Groep BV

Website

https://verschilmakers.nu

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Verschilmakers is a Nijmegen-based personal development consultancy that guides youth, professionals, and organizations through coaching, training, and organizational change programs built on its proprietary 21 Elements Individual Development Model.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Personal Development and Organizational Change Consulting

NAICS

Professional and Management Development Training (61143), Human Resources Consulting Services (541612), Other Management Consulting Services (541618), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742), Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Coaching, Mentoring & Facilitation Services (BPACANAI)

Keywords

• Personal development coaching
• Organizational change consulting
• Team development training
• Youth gap year programs
• Career orientation services

Headquarters

HQ city

Nijmegen

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Personal Development Programs for Youth: Group and individual development programs for young people (16-26 years) including the 'Tussenjaarprogramma' (gap year) and MDT trajectories. Programs run 6-10 months with ongoing coaching and group sessions.
2. Professional Development Programs for Adults: 6-day 'Herontdek jezelf in je loopbaan' program for professionals and organizational employees. Includes follow-up sessions and career guidance.
3. Organizational and Team Development Consultancy: Strategic HR advisory services, team development programs, and organizational change consulting for businesses and institutions.
4. Training and Workshop Services: Customized training programs for educational institutions, healthcare organizations, and government bodies on topics like change management, student guidance, and professional development.
5. Youth Programs (MDT): Maatschappelijke Diensttijd (MDT) trajectories for youth aged 15-30, which are offered free of charge (funded through government programs).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Verschilmakers is a people-focused Dutch development and advisory consultancy that sells personal development programs, individual and group coaching, organizational change advisory, and customized training to young people, professionals, and institutions. Core service lines include the Tussenjaarprogramma (gap year) for youth, MDT government-funded youth trajectories, change-management training, team development programs, and individual career/personal leadership coaching. Services are delivered through in-person sessions at the Nijmegen headquarters, on-site at client organizations, and via online webinars.

Product overview

Verschilmakers is a people-focused development and advisory consultancy operating as a single unified service rather than a platform-plus-modules architecture. The core offerings center on personal and organizational development through coaching, training, and advisory services. The main product lines include: Training Verandermanagement for professional change management development; individual coaching and team development programs; and the Jonge Helden Academie sub-brand, which encompasses the Tussenjaarprogramma (gap year program), MDT Ontdek je volgende stap (government-funded youth development), and the 6-daagse personal development program. Additional offerings include specialized workshops like 'Help jongeren kiezen' and sector-specific programs such as GWW Academie. Services are delivered through in-person sessions, group trajectories, and organizational advisory engagements, with no software or technology products.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Jonge Helden Academie: A personal development academy for young people offering year programs, helping youth discover who they are, what they want, and what fits them. Founded in 2014 as part of Verschilmakers.
• MDT Ontdek je volgende stap

Products and services

• Tussenjaarprogramma (Gap Year Program) A group-based personal development year program for young people, guided by a coach and a fixed participant group, designed to translate doubts into a concrete action plan for a fitting future. Targeted at youth exploring study and career options.
• MDT Ontdek je volgende stap A free, government-funded trajectory combining coaching, volunteer work, internships, and career orientation for young people aged 15-30, lasting approximately 200 hours over 6 months.
• Training Verandermanagement A learning program (leergang) for professionals to develop change-management skills and learn how to make an impact in their work and personal life with more enjoyment, including the 'Leergang voor Verschil-makers'.
• Teamontwikkeling (Team Development) Custom programs for organizations and teams to develop personally and collectively, building a foundation for lifelong learning through inspiration sessions, themed sessions, or full organizational trajectories.
• Maatschappelijke veranderopgaven (Social Change Missions) Advisory and facilitation services for organizations facing societal challenges, with Verschilmakers acting as initiator, program leader, intervention specialist, organizational expert, or change coach in multi-stakeholder change programs.
• Individueel (Individual Coaching) Personal development support for individuals seeking career rediscovery, personal leadership development, or life changes, including single conversations, a series of conversations, or full individual trajectories, plus UWV routes for reintegration and outplacement.
• Jonge Helden Academie (Young Heroes Academy)

Quantifiable outcome

• Approximately 70% of participants make a study choice after the trajectory
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Jonge Helden AcademiecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRelated entity within Verschilmakers Groep, focused specifically on youth development programs and gap year trajectories. Programs are delivered under both brands.
• Radboud UniversiteitmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on pre-academic program 'Start je studie met Skills!' for three consecutive years. Verschilmakers designs and delivers workshop series to help study starters strengthen their academic beginning.
• Hogeschool van Arnhem en Nijmegen (HAN)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMultiple collaborations including docent training, themaworkshop development, and educational events. Verschilmakers supports HAN with student guidance and professional development.
• GGz CentraalmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration in regional healthcare coordination in Flevoland. Verschilmakers serves as project manager and organizational advisor in healthcare network development.
• ROC NijmegenmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDevelopment of 'Succesklas' program to prevent study dropout among students. Collaboration on student orientation and career planning.
• GWW IngenieurscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFull HR outsourcing to Verschilmakers/Jonge Helden Academie including personnel screening, development, and ongoing coaching. Serves as external HR department.
• Zorgpartners FlevolandmajorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerOrganizational advisory role in regional healthcare coordination. Verschilmakers functions as technical chair and organizational advisor.
• Pijnnetwerk BrabantminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerProject leadership for professionalization of pain network in Brabant region. Support in healthcare network optimization.
• LEVgroepminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerStrategic innovation agenda development collaboration with management and innovation team.
• Maatschappelijke Diensttijd (MDT)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOfficial MDT delivery partner offering 'Ontdek je volgende stap!' trajectory for youth aged 15-30. MDT is a national Dutch program for youth development.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Krauthammer International: European sales, leadership, and change management training firm with strong Dutch presence. Comparable to Verschilmakers' training and change management offerings, though operating at larger scale.
• Twynstra Gudde: Leading Dutch management consulting firm specializing in organizational change, leadership development, and public-sector advisory. Closely comparable to Verschilmakers' organizational change and HR advisory work, particularly in healthcare and government.
• De Baak Management Academie: Established Dutch leadership and management development academy running programs similar to Verschilmakers' Training Verandermanagement and leergang for change makers. Comparable target market and content positioning.
• GITP: Dutch HR consulting and assessment firm offering talent development, leadership coaching, and organizational change. Directly comparable to Verschilmakers' HR advisory and individual coaching services.
• Schouten & Nelissen: Largest Dutch training and coaching provider offering personal leadership, change management, and organizational development programs. Comparable to Verschilmakers' training and team development offerings but at much greater scale and brand recognition.
• Schouten Global: Global leadership development and coaching firm with Dutch roots. Comparable to Verschilmakers' individual coaching and personal leadership development programs, particularly for professionals in transition.

Direct peers

• Lysias Advies: Dutch consulting firm focused on organizational change, leadership development, and team coaching. Similar boutique scale to Verschilmakers and overlapping service portfolio in change management and team development.
• Stichting Loods13 / Tussenjaar initiatieven: Dutch platforms and providers focused on gap year and personal development programming for young people. Comparable to Verschilmakers' Tussenjaarprogramma in target audience and value proposition.
• Jonge Helden Academie (related entity): Sub-brand of Verschilmakers Groep focused on youth personal development programs including the gap year trajectory. Effectively the same operating entity for youth programming, listed separately for completeness.
• Capabel Academie: Dutch training and coaching provider for personal development and career orientation serving similar SME and individual segments. Comparable scale and service mix to Verschilmakers.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/verschilmakers
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/verschilmakers
• Instagraminstagram.com/verschilmakers_groep

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 Verschilmakers