The Rotterdam Business Case is a project that provides coaching support to entrepreneurs experiencing financial difficulties. It is a partnership between the local government, education institutions, and experienced entrepreneurs. Struggling business owners are matched with student coaches and retired entrepreneur mentors who provide practical support and business advice over six months. The goal is to improve the entrepreneur's income and make their business more economically sustainable. Since starting in 2012, the program has helped over 200 entrepreneurs annually in Rotterdam and expanded to involve 26 cities in the region.

1. 26-11-18
The Rotterdam
Business Case
Integrating
Cities
Conference
November 2018
Rob Gringhuis

2. 26-11-1822
The Rotterdam Business Case: What is it?
Succesfull project to support Entrepreneurs
Who are in financial difficulties
In cooperation Government / Education / Entrepreneurs
In which retired Entrepreneurs are senior coach
And students are junior coach
Both vision and practical support
In six month
A restart of the business
Improved income and economic sustainability

3. 26-11-1833
The Rotterdam Business Case: Background
Increase number of entrepreneurs: 1.000.000+
Flexibilisation of the labour market
1 in 6 entrepreneurs in financial difficulties
Social benefits for entrepreneurs
Not fish, but fishing rods
Problems: economy, health, bad luck
Root problems: lack of entrepreneurial skills and vision

4. 26-11-1844
The Rotterdam Business Case: Approach
Focus on the problem
Don’t jump to solutions
Co-creation / Partner approach
Triple Helix: Government – Education – Entrepreneurs
City – University Appl.Sciences – Former Entrepreneurs

5. 26-11-1855
The Rotterdam Business Case: Approach
What is our goal?
Increase income & economic sustainability
What is/are the root cause(s) of the problems?
Lack of business vision & lack of entrepreneurial skills
How can we support the entrepreneurs?
Government: financial support
Business: entrepreneurial know how of retired people
Education: practical support by students

6. 26-11-1866
The Rotterdam Business Case
What did we do?
We built a new concept
Secret of the concept?
Young + Old = Gold

7. 26-11-1877
The Rotterdam Business Case
The University of Applied Sciences in Rotterdam
Astrid Smit – Hoogendam
https://youtu.be/e_NbRYxSnOI

8. 26-11-1888
The Rotterdam Business Case: What do we do
Triangular cooperation

9. 26-11-1899
The Rotterdam Business Case: Who we are
Learning company
Lead by students
12 interns / 4 peer coaches
Business Economics, Commercial Economics, Small
Business and Retail management, Accountancy

10. Target Audience
• For who?
• Entrepreneurs
• Entrepreneur is not able to pay for a commercial
company
• Income around minimum living standards
(€1.300 per month)
• Entrepreneur is doing business for more than 1.5
years
26-11-1810

11. 26-11-181111
The Rotterdam Business Case: Servicelines
Financial Commercial
Organizing administration Business plan
Credit / debt management Acquisition plan
Set up investment plans Marketing plan
Compose financial reports
- balance sheet
- income statement
Increase brand awareness
Cash flow analysis Competitor analysis
Overview of debt Budget plan

12. The Rotterdam Business Case: Business Model
26-11-1812
Coordinator
Project
General
Peercoach
Peercoach
Financial and
Commercial
Peercoach
Commercial
Peercoach
Financial
Peercoach
Commercial
Peercoach
Financial
Junior Advisors Junior Advisors
Assistent Junior Advisors Assistent Junior Advisors
Secretariat

13. 26-11-181313
The Rotterdam Business Case: The process
Weekly briefing at Chamber of Commerce
Information about Bbz, DRZ, OKB
Short conversations with entrepreneurs
Intake by senior coach and junior consultant
Problem analysis
Plan of approach
Practical support and guidance by junior consultants
Coaching consults with OKB-coach
Completion of project

14. The Rotterdam Business Case: Number of Entrepreneurs
26-11-1814

15. 26-11-181515
The Rotterdam Business Case: Progress of collaboration
Entrepreneur – Student
Entrepreneur – Coach
Coach – Student
University of Applied Sciences – Soundboard – City
Partnership

16. 26-11-181616
Stichting Ondernemersklankbord
drs Frank van Santen
director of Stichting Ondernemersklankbord (OKB)
(Foundation Entrepreneurs Soundboard)

17. 26-11-181717
Stichting Ondernemersklankbord: organisation
Dutch non-profit organization
Founded in 1980 (38 years ago)
Covering the whole country with 19 regional teams
300 advisors / coaches
Former entrepreneurs and managers
Voluntary and independent
Very small staff
Sponsors: Ministry Economic Affairs, banks,
confederation of Netherlands Industry and Employers
VNO-NCW, provinces and cities

18. 26-11-181818
Stichting Ondernemersklankbord: principles
Former entrepreneurs and managers
For existing and active entrepreneurs
Personally and low threshold
Professionally and independent
Practical and solution orientated
Soundboard, entrepreneur stays in the lead
Always a half year period, extension is possible
Entrepreneur pays a donation of € 150 for the half year
period

19. 26-11-181919
Stichting Ondernemersklankbord
2017: 2500 entrepreneurs supported in the Netherlands
2017: 400 entrepreneurs supported in the region of
Rotterdam
2500 helping programs can be split up as follows:
Support Starters 15%
Going business 40%
Preventing bankruptcy 40%
Company transfer 5%

20. 26-11-182020
The Rotterdam Business Case: The results?
2012 : pilot: 80 entrepreneurs
2013 – 2018 : aprox. 200 entrepreneurs every year
2012 : Started in Rotterdam
2013 : 1/3 from other cities
2014 : 26 cities in the region participating
2015 : Start of Foundation
2016 - 2018: 5 new Business Cases in Netherlands
2018 : 1 new Business Case in Finland?

21. 26-11-1821
Contact Information
For more information please contact:
Drs. Rob Gringhuis
Manager Back Office Income
City of Rotterdam
r.gringhuis@rotterdam.nl
Tel. 00 31 6 51 00 12 79
Postbus 1024
3000 BA Rotterdam