In a resounding call for action, over 300 Dutch leaders within the tech startup and scale-up community, along with supporting organisations, have extended a collective appeal directed towards Minister Micky Adriaansens and State Secretary Marnix van Rij.
The aim is to ensure that the Dutch government maintains its commitment to enhancing the startup ecosystem, fostering a culture of paying it forward.
This plea comes amid complicated political transitions, highlighting the resilience of these entrepreneurs in the face of challenges.
As a result, 286 founders have pledged their commitment to the cause of ‘paying it forward’, showcasing the harmonious blend of vision and action that propels.
Lucien Burm, Chair of Dutch Startup Association, says. “This government has achieved great steps in ensuring and developing our strong ecosystem over the past few years, with many Ministers and officials strongly and passionately involved. The current and challenging political transition though, will make it harder to keep momentum.”
“Therefore the founders’ call to keep improving conditions to invest in startups, involve employees, and attract talent, thus enabling a more pay-it-forward culture. In return, the founders pledge to do so,” adds Burm.
Key founding members of the Dutch Startup Association, including Adriaan Mol of Mollie, Robert Vis of MessageBird, Ali Niknam of bunq, Michiel Muller of Picnic, and Yorick Naeff of Bux, have lent their signatures to this transformative pledge.
The Dutch government’s vision of establishing the Netherlands as a preeminent global hub for startups and scale-ups with a strong belief of paying it forward has resonated with the entrepreneurs.
“We are pleased that this ambition has been expressed. In creating such an ecosystem, both government and industry have a role to play. The government has a role in creating the right conditions for successful business growth, such as encouraging employee participation and reinvesting proceeds in new businesses. It is then up to us, as entrepreneurs, to facilitate employee participation in our companies and give our knowledge and experience back to the next generation of entrepreneurs,” says the letter.
Dutch Entrepreneurs’ request
To push the realisation of the government’s ambition, the entrepreneurs have outlined two specific requests:
“First, after many years, the new share option scheme has finally come into effect, an important first step. In addition, you announced last year that you would jointly examine what further steps could be taken in this area. We very much appreciate your personal commitment to this topic.
Our call: Next year take that important next step in encouraging employee participation and make it possible for tech entrepreneurs to offer their (future) employees a rate as in the UK and Sweden.
At the same time, there is the discussion surrounding the revision of box-3, which has very adverse consequences for entrepreneurs’ access to specialised staff and financing if a capital gains tax is chosen. It is important that commitment to one file (box-3) does not come at the expense of commitment to another file (employee participation).
Our call: Ensure that employees and investors in unlisted startups, scaleups, and grownups can pay their taxes at the time shares are liquid, through a capital gains tax. Non-liquid shares should not be taxed.”
As the discussion between the government and these business visionaries unfolds, the potential for a more vibrant and resilient economic future for the Netherlands comes into sharper focus.
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