The spark
The idea, problem, or personal experience that made the company impossible to ignore.
Founder stories from the Netherlands
Every unicorn starts with a founder nobody knows yet.
We document the journeys of ambitious founders building in the Netherlands—the ideas they pursue, the decisions they make, the setbacks they face, and the companies they’re determined to build.
Open call: Currently selecting the first founders to feature on Dutch Unicorns.
Submit your story01 / About
More than a highlight reel
The story behind
the company.
We publish thoughtful interviews with people building ambitious companies in and around the Netherlands.
Not just the polished outcome. We’re interested in the original idea, the hard calls, the wrong turns, and the conviction it takes to keep building. Every feature is an honest look at the person, the problem, and the possibility.
The messy middle
The difficult decisions, setbacks, lessons, and unexpected realities behind the progress.
The horizon
The founder’s point of view, long-term ambition, and belief about what comes next.
02 / Who we feature
Ambition over accolades
Not famous?
Even better.
Funding, fame and billion-euro valuations are not requirements. A story worth telling is.
We want to hear from founders who:
- 01
Are building an original or ambitious company.
- 02
Have a meaningful connection to the Netherlands.
- 03
Are solving a real problem with a clear point of view.
- 04
Can share a useful, honest, or distinctive story.
- 05
May be early, growing, established—or still under the radar.
Our definition of a unicorn? Not a valuation. A founder with the ambition to build something rare.
Tell the full story
Go beyond the pitch deck. Share the choices, experiences, and ideas that shaped the company.
Create a lasting feature
A credible editorial story to share with the people around your company—customers, investors, candidates, and partners.
Give something back
Contribute honest lessons and useful perspective to founders taking on their own difficult first chapters.
Be there at the beginning
Become one of the first founders featured as Dutch Unicorns begins documenting the next generation.
04 / How it works
Simple by design
From introduction
to interview.
Apply or nominate
Introduce the founder, the company, and briefly tell us why this story matters.
Editorial review
We review every submission for fit, substance, and a distinctive point of view.
Founder interview
Selected founders are invited to talk. From there, we prepare the feature for publication.
Submitting an application does not guarantee publication. Every story is independently reviewed.
05 / Open call
Your story
starts here.
Think your journey could help, challenge, or inspire another founder? Introduce yourself. We’re listening.
Know someone else?
Founder application
Approx. 5 minutes
Application received
Thanks for trusting us with your story.
We’ll review it and contact you if it’s a fit for an upcoming feature.