Startup studio

build THE FUTURE OF WORK WITH US

At Builders, we believe the future of work isn’t just something to predict—it’s something to build. The boldest founders don’t follow trends, they create them. That’s why we partner from day one, providing the firepower to validate, launch, and scale industry defining companies.

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DATA-Driven

Rapid 
Market
Validation

funding

CapItal for 12 month runway

Builders

Co-founder matching

founders'
shares

founder friendly terms

RESIDENCY

A ROTTERDAM base to build from.

SYSTEMS

playbooks to build, launch, and scale.

Navigators

CHALLENGE top founders.

Scope

Ai-fuelled Future of work

What you get

What you get

What you get

What you get

What you get

What you get

What you get

What you get

What you get

What you get

What you get

What you get

an expert support team

Hit the ground running, by leveraging the  knowledge of ex-operators and venture building experts, plus the proven playbooks to achieve product-market fit at warp speed.

Builders' Support Team →

Data-driven go-to-market execution

Go to market confidently, by accessing data-driven methodologies and proven strategies for securing early customers and establishing a differentiated market positioning out of the gate.

Builders startup studio →

Rapid, in-depth market validation

Access rapid, in-depth market and customer validation, to ensure we only dig where the gold is actually found (or sell the shovels to those doing the digging).

Our playbook →

Capital for 12-months runway

Incorporate your company with a validated business model, infused with a €150K investment (and ongoing hands-on support from the studio core team) over 12 months.

Builders Capital →

connecting co-founders IN Residence

Closely collaborate as technical and business founders at the Studio. Swipe right on your ideal co-founder, who complements your skills and personality, and co-create magical solutions together.

Our playbook →

Stellar founder and company branding

Craft a scroll-stopping brand identity that spotlights each founder’s unique strengths and vision, and build a compelling online presence that both boosts credibility and sets you apart in the market.

what we look for in founders

what we look for in founders

what we look for in founders

what we look for in founders

what we look for in founders

what we look for in founders

Dream big, with  purpose and ambition.

Entrepreneurship is not an experiment for you. It is a calling. You cannot breathe unless you are building something that could shake up an industry, and potentially change the world.

Serve customers, from problems to profit.

You’re excited by solving challenges and lean into tough problems. You want to help people and turn their troubles into impact, and eventually: profit.

Learn and adapt with  the speed of light.

You approach each venture with a white-belt mentality. You are eager to learn, and hungry for feedback. You realise the market knows best, and you are able to turn insight to impact in the blink of an eye.

Execute relentlessly, against all odds

You’re not afraid to put your nose up to the grindstone. Matter of fact, you kind’a enjoy it. You realise execution is what makes great companies and you’re here to out-execute everyone else.

Become a founder

business founder?

Driving success with strategic vision and relentless execution.

Build with us →

techno optimist?

Leverage your deep expertise to craft breakthrough magical solutions.

Become a CTO →

FAQ

What does Builders look for in co-founders?

At Builders, we partner with visionary founders who see entrepreneurship not just as an opportunity but as a calling. We collaborate with those who dream big, driven by purpose and ambition to build companies that can reshape industries and change the world. We partner with relentless problem-solvers who thrive on turning challenges into opportunities and are committed to serving customers by creating impactful and profitable solutions. They possess a "white-belt mentality," constantly learning and adapting with speed, and they execute with relentless determination, outworking the competition to build stellar companies.

How do we find founders?

Founders reach out to Builders when they have a real-world problem to solve and believe we are the right partner to tackle it with. While we are active members of the tech community and the venture studio marketplace, most founders connect with us because the company they envision aligns with our focus on the future of work.

How many founders get through?

Annually, we connect with 2,000+ founders, and around 12 join the studio as an Entrepreneur in Residence. During the residency, founders work closely with the studio team to validate, shape, and launch a company using our proven playbooks and stage-gated model.

Where do the ideas come from?

Builders has a clear vision for the future, outlined in our manifesto, which shapes the scope for the companies we aim to build. Founders who share a similar vision and have encountered real-world problems that are difficult to solve partner with our studio. Together, we attract the right technical or business co-founder and transform these ideas and challenges into thriving companies.

What is the journey of a Builders' founder?

Your Builders journey is an 18-month adventure, from discovering market problems to launching a company. We collaborate closely, combining deep expertise, proven playbooks, and execution power. From crafting solutions and acquiring early customers to raising seed capital, we ensure your venture thrives within our Builders universe. Learn more about the founder journey here.

How involved is Builders with each startup?

Builders partners with talented entrepreneurs to create companies that define the future of work. We provide rapid market validation, connecting founders through dual residency to tackle real business challenges with technically feasible solutions. Our founders benefit from full-spectrum support, including expert playbooks, stellar branding, and data-driven go-to-market strategies. We also offer capital for a 12-month runway and access to our investor platform, ensuring startups are primed for success. Build with us.

What expertise does the Builders core team bring?

Our core team is your dream team, covering everything from product and design to legal and funding, all aimed at empowering you to build a successful, independent company.

Where is Builders located?

Builders’ headquarters in the heart of Rotterdam, The Netherlands, offering a vibrant ecosystem for our founders. We collaborate onsite in a collaborative atmosphere, essential for brainstorming and strategy sessions. Not to mention the other entrepreneurs you surround yourself with.

How is founders' equity split?

Builders empowers entrepreneurs firstly as a co-founder and secondly provides support, resources, and investment to create a company that can attract the right type of funding. Equity is split to reflect each party’s value and contributions; the studio retains around 30% of the fully diluted equity after leaving the studio and raising funding. From that point on, the studio and the founders get equally diluted.

Is it worth 30%?

The value we bring justifies our equity share. Beyond financial investment, we offer a comprehensive support system, access to industry experts, and a collaborative workspace. We empower entrepreneurs with rapid market validation, dual residency connecting co-founders, and a full-spectrum team to achieve milestones quickly. Our data-driven go-to-market strategies and branding support set your company up for success. After securing funding, our core team continues to support your journey to independence.

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