The Hague launches a digital accelerator for entrepreneurs

Entrepreneurs in The Hague now have a new way to accelerate their growth. Startupbootcamp’s digital accelerator, Accelerator Squared, in collaboration with ImpactCity The Hague and The Hague Tech, launched a dedicated learning platform for the startup and scale-up community of The Hague: The Hague Squared. This is part of a program to empower local entrepreneurs with the biggest innovation tools in the market and to help them to make relevant connections within The Hague.

The Hague Squared will digitize the ‘Founder’s Journey’ from starting to scaling up and exiting a company. The program is available online (on mobile and desktop) and innovative entrepreneurs can register for free at any point, starting today. The accelerator and online community incorporate all knowledge that Startupbootcamp has learned from years of investing in and accelerating over 1.200 startups and scale-ups.

On the platform entrepreneurs can find relevant tools and methods to grow their business. They get access to deals and promotions and can make connections with other entrepreneurs, mentors, investors and other partners in The Hague, the Netherlands and the rest of the world. In addition, participants are invited to join regular live online events.

The Hague joins Amsterdam, Almere, Friesland, Limburg and Nijmegen where Startupbootcamp has already launched Accelerator Squared as part of the One Single Hub (OSH) initiative. OSH aims to strengthen the Dutch startup and scale-up ecosystem by supporting the expansion of successful regional programs nationally. 

Mercedes de Miranda, Director of Business Development of Startupbootcamp: “It is exciting to work closely with ImpactCity The Hague and The Hague Tech to launch this digital accelerator. The OSH subsidy has made it possible to intensify our efforts to work with partners to support regional ambitions while also creating opportunities to connect nationally and internally. The more regions and cities that participate, the more value we create and the more benefits entrepreneurs receive!”

Coos Santing, Program Manager ImpactCity: ‘’After the launch of the ImpactCity Accelerator, which has been received with great enthusiasm by impact entrepreneurs all over the world, we are excited to open up a large part of the program  for a bigger audience. Starting today, all impact and tech companies in the city have access to this platform and can independently start learning from other startups and the best coaches and material in the industry. It is an open and inclusive platform for everyone involved in the startup ecosystem in The Hague.” 

Olga Wielders, founder of The Hague Tech: “The launch of The Hague Squared is an excellent opportunity for companies in our community to grow their innovations and companies. I am proud that we, The Hague Tech, besides YES!Delft, World Startup and PLNT, now also offer the knowledge and network from Startupbootcamp in The Hague. It is an amazing and valuable addition to our ecosystem in both, our co-working spaces as well as our innovation and acceleration programs like Hackathon for Good, GovTech Hub, Waterstof Vliegen and “Disruptive Technology for Accessibility. Broader and reach, thus a bigger impact on our society! Innovate, better, faster together.”

The Hague Tech is an innovation ecosystem with hubs on digital technology in The Central Innovation District and one on Smart Manufacturing in Ypenburg, The Hague. They build communities to accelerate innovation through entrepreneurship and use that innovation to solve global challenges. They manage an ecosystem by building communities with  co-working, meeting & event space, and other facilities in combination with innovation, acceleration, incubation and co-creation programmes. With members like YES!Delft, World Startup, Digicampus, PLNT The Hague The Hague Tech offers programmes like Govech Hub, Hackathon for Good, waterstof vliegen and more.

Accelerator Squared was developed as an internal startup within Startupbootcamp during the last two and a half years. The initiative started when Startupbootcamp’s co-founder and CEO Patrick de Zeeuw asked to develop a digital platform that could support and potentially disrupt Startupbootcamp’s regular accelerators, which allows just 10 startups per cohort to enter the program. 

Startupbootcamp is the world’s leading industry-focused accelerator program for startups and scaleups. It runs its programs in Amsterdam, Milan, Melbourne, New York, Dubai, Cape Town, Osaka, and more. Industries it focuses on are FinTech, CommerceTech, FoodTech, EnergyTech, FashionTech, MediaTech, and programs specifically centered on sustainability and impact. The accelerator programs provide startups and scaleups with direct access to an international network of the most relevant industry-specific mentors, clients, and investors.