The VC Readiness Programme, developed by the Brabant Development Agency (BOM), is designed for entrepreneurs who are preparing for their next growth phase and want to understand what investment readiness means in practice. Importantly, the programme is not only about preparing for venture capital, but also about helping startups assess whether VC funding actually fits their company and growth ambitions, or whether alternative financing options may be more appropriate.
Throughout the programme, participants work on their strategy, organization and value proposition, while critically challenging one another and receiving feedback from experts, coaches and peers.
Experienced coaches and BOM expertise
The programme requires reflection and sharp focus, while at the same time creating space for exchange and recognition. That sense of recognition was particularly strong in the interaction with experienced entrepreneurs such as Daan Kersten, Ilko Bosman and Loek Daemen, who were involved in the programme as coaches.
In addition, several workshops were delivered by BOM professionals. Pepijn Herman facilitated a founder team workshop focused on strengthening collaboration, role clarity and mutual understanding within the founding team. Other sessions, led by Jurgen van Eck and Paul Vernooij, provided insight into how investors assess companies and which factors they take into account when evaluating potential investments.
Inspiring stories and practical advice
Together, these perspectives offered participants a broad and realistic view of growth, financing and organisational development. Rather than automatically steering startups toward venture capital, the programme encouraged them to think critically about funding choices and the long-term sustainability of their growth path.
For Maarten Kieft of Luper Technologies, the value of the programme lay mainly in the combination of inspiration and practical applicability. “I especially liked the inspiring stories and practical advice from experienced entrepreneurs Daan and Ilko during the business planning for success workshops”, he says. “Their insights allow us to further sharpen our plans.”
According to Kieft, it was precisely this blend of real-world experience and concrete guidance that made the lessons directly applicable to his own business.
Learn more
Turning reflection into sharper choices
Jean Paul Gerards, CEO of Start Grow, recognises that same impact. Looking back, he places his participation in a broader entrepreneurial context. “Had I followed a program like this at the start, we would have had a more defined path and sharper targets,” he reflects. “It elevates your thinking and execution to an entirely different level. It’s the kind of guidance I didn’t know I needed back then.” For Gerards, the strength of the programme lay in its ability to force focus and bring implicit choices to the surface.
Beyond reflection on earlier stages of entrepreneurship, the VC Readiness Programme also provides participants with direction for the future. Patricia Monthe of UIZ.CARE’s describes how the programme gave her team a clear and structured perspective on investment readiness. “The program gave me a clear and structured lens on what true investment readiness means within the Dutch and broader EU context. It sharpened our strategic roadmap from startup to scale-up and equipped my team with the clarity needed to engage confidently with investors from a people, process, and systems perspective.”
truly an end-to-end program
According to Monthe, that clarity extends well beyond the investor pitch itself. “It is truly an end-to-end program for building sustainable businesses,” she adds. By addressing organisational structure alongside strategy and execution, the programme helped her team gain confidence during a phase in which growth often brings increased complexity.
What connects the participants’ experiences is the intensity of the programme. It demands time, openness and a willingness to critically examine one’s own business. Working alongside fellow entrepreneurs created an environment in which shared challenges could be discussed openly. For many participants, the peer-to-peer exchange proved to be just as valuable as the formal sessions.
With this edition now completed, participants are looking ahead. Armed with sharper plans, clearer goals and a better understanding of investor expectations, they are taking their next steps toward growth. Their stories illustrate that investment readiness is not a fixed destination, but an ongoing process that requires continuous attention and development.
Foto's
