Leusden, the Netherlands-based Beeckestijn Business School recently announced that it has acquired Growth Tribe, an Amsterdam-based digital learning partner for individuals & organisations, for an undisclosed amount.
The acquisition follows Growth Tribe’s bankruptcy declaration in December 2024.
“Tough market conditions and quite some headwinds in the past year or two, led to our bankruptcy, says David Arnoux, co-founder of Growth Tribe to Silicon Canals.
Beeckestijn Business School specialises in practical, hands-on learning, offering live workshops and courses that empower professionals to tackle real-world challenges.
With a strong focus on AI, data, CX, leadership, and digital strategy, Beeckestijn equips learners with tools they can use immediately to drive impact.
Building the future of education
This strategic move addresses the growing need for modern, scalable education solutions amidst a rapidly shifting digital and AI-driven landscape.
Talking about the motivation behind Growth Tribe’s acquisition, Hans Molenaar, Founder of Beeckestijn Business School says, “At Beeckestijn Business School, we specialise in high-quality programs and training in digital transformation, data, digital marketing, leadership, and change management. We offer these programs in a blended format. Growth Tribe, on the other hand, has an exceptionally strong e-learning portfolio, arguably unmatched by any other international player.”
Beeckestijn Business School plans to leverage Growth Tribe’s expertise in data-driven education and growth marketing by merging two distinct approaches — its specialisation in offline education and Growth Tribe’s strengths in online education.
One mission, multiple approaches
The partnership between Growth Tribe and Beeckestijn Business School aligns with Growth Tribe’s original mission through their shared goals, despite their differing delivery methods.
According to Arnoux, Growth Tribe primarily focuses on delivering educational experiences in the digital space, while Beeckestijn emphasises a more traditional, physical approach to education.
“This complimentary strategy allows both organisations to cater to diverse learning preferences and environments,” adds Arnoux.
Both institutions operate in the same fields—digital, data, and AI. By combining their strengths, they aim to provide clients with a wider range of options and enhanced value.
“By combining Growth Tribe’s strengths with ours, we aim to enhance the quality of our blended programs and training offerings. Additionally, Growth Tribe’s developed programs are an excellent fit for our custom-made solutions, especially for multinational corporations. We occasionally competed with Growth Tribe in the past when pitching to large multinationals. For international B2B training programs, a robust e-learning portfolio is often essential,” he adds.
Ensuring smooth transition
One of the top priorities for both companies is ensuring a seamless transition for Growth Tribe’s existing programs, participants, and clients.
“We are currently focused on the transition phase to make sure Beeckestijn is set up for success after the acquisition. During this phase, we’ll no doubt discover which gaps might exist between their current organisational design and skill sets and where they might need help to make the acquisition successful in the long term,” explains Arnoux.
According to Molenaar, Growth Tribe’s programs will be retained. These programs, alongside initiatives like their Digital Skills Boot Camps, will remain a top priority.
“All participants and B2B clients will be able to complete their programs. It would be a shame not to continue offering such a strong portfolio of programs. These 15 state-of-the-art courses place a strong emphasis on delivering an excellent learning experience. Growth Tribe has invested heavily in designing and optimising user experiences,” continues Molenaar.
“Soon after, we plan to reintroduce Growth Tribe’s signature initiatives such as boot camps, masterclasses, and inspiration sessions,” he adds.
Handling challenges and uncertainty during transition
“The Growth Tribe team has been incredibly supportive throughout the acquisition process. They did everything possible to assist us and their existing clients. It was remarkable to see that, for them, Growth Tribe was more than just a job. They were fully aligned with the vision of helping organisations and professionals develop and master digital skills,” reveals Molenaar when asked about the challenges involved in acquiring Growth Tribe considering its bankruptcy status.
Additionally, acquisitions often bring uncertainty, particularly for employees navigating the transition.
“Acquisitions can be nerve-wracking for both the acquiring and the acquired teams. It’s crucial to listen closely to everyone involved and provide support where needed, including temporarily hiring additional resources. We are doing our best to assist all stakeholders throughout this transition,” adds Molenaar.
Moreover, Beeckestijn Business School is actively engaging in discussions to determine the best team structure that will allow them to continue and expand Growth Tribe’s activities.
On assisting Growth Tribe team members in navigating their next steps, Arnoux adds, “To support the team members in looking for their next steps, we’ve run some job hunting workshops, made some important introductions within our network, written references and motivation letters as needed.”
Roadmap
The acquisition of Growth Tribe follows Beeckestijn’s recent integration of EarlyBridge, a training provider specialising in people-driven change and leadership programs.
With EarlyBridge’s expertise in change management and Growth Tribe’s focus on digital and AI skills, Beeckestijn now offers a robust suite of solutions for organisations seeking durable transformations.
“For now, our priority is ensuring seamless integration of all components and helping our clients become future-proof. We’re seeing a growing realisation among organisations and professionals, particularly due to AI, that the pace of change is accelerating rapidly. Continuous education is becoming more important than ever. I firmly believe that without training and development, true organisational transformation is not possible,” he concludes.
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