KplusV aims to impact the world in a positive way. We strive towards and contribute to a more sustainable and social future by empowering innovators. We believe that the best way te predict the future is to create it.
Our company, founded in 1984, is the Dutch market leader in alternative finance and support to young innovative companies at achieving their goals. We advise hundreds of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) towards achieving their goals. As such, we are familiar with the challenges they face and know what they need. To fully understand the impact of their challenges, we also conduct research. In collaboration with public and private parties we analyse economic systems, market potential and availability of alternative finance on a local, regional, national and European level. We are known for our in-depth knowledge of innovation processes, product development, business development, strategy and corporate finance.
Our professionals are dedicated to supporting both entrepreneurs and governmental organizations. With a keen eye for and experience with cross-border cooperation and matchmaking. Themes that we work on are, among others:
Investor readiness
KplusV stimulates innovation and entrepreneurship. With all kinds of support: entrepreneurial training, building partnerships, (re)designing business models, finding the right sources of funding, etcetera. We guide entrepreneurs in writing their business plans, educate them on the expectations of investors and match them with the best investors. It is this combination that helps a SME to become investment ready and ready to scale.
Sustainability and circular economy
Our current way of life is not sustainable. Full stop. However, we choose to believe the future is bright and we have every reason to. Every day we build on the solutions of one of humanity gravest threats. We do this by empowering and accelerating the innovations that we need to create a sustainable future. We help governments and corporations by showing them how they can organise their purchasing proces in such a way that everthing from coffee in the office to highway maintenance is now circular.
Alternative finance
Since the financial crisis, banks are reluctant to fund SMEs, innovation and start-ups. Alternative sources of funding are available, but a major challenge for innovative SMEs is the lack of transparency in the alternative finance market. KplusV helps individual companies to attract alternative funding for their innovation and early growth. In addition, we educate both entrepreneur and investor on alternative finance through numerous workshops and masterclasses.
If necessary, we create new financial instruments which help individual companies, such as crowdfunding networks, business angel networks and public revolving funds. This last instrument is becoming more common in the Netherlands thanks to the expertise of KplusV. Over the years we have also performed research to assess the alternative finance market, both in national and European perspective.
Social Enterprises
Although we believe that every company – including ourselves – should strive to be inclusive en make a positive contribution to society. It is our firm conviction that commercial and social goals can coexist in the boardroom and in the actual priorities of any company. To further strengthen the social fabric of society we help social enterprises with the challanges posed by entrepeneurship. We help them become economically viable, aside from their social viability. This can include help with all sorts of practical matters, including funding, finding partners and developing an effective strategy.
Ecosystems
A company that wants to innovate, needs different factors: money, housing, a great entrepreneur, facilities, etcetera. KplusV believes that innovative SMEs thrive best in nourishing ecosystems. The innovation ecosystem encompasses the environment in which relevant organizations, education, research institutes and the government collaborate to create the required conditions for innovation to flourish. If the ecosystem contains all the necessary resources and conditions, firms can evolve and positively influence the regional and also the national economy.
In order to create an ecosystem, the needs throughout the various phases of innovation need to be aligned. KplusV has developed the Ecosystem Canvas©, a tool to design and assess local, regional and national ecosystems.
Cluster excellence
KplusV has set up many multi-stakeholder collaborations focussing on the specific challenges that companies face in specific industries. Based on our 30 years of experience and practice with public-private partnerships and innovation ecosystems, we can assist clusters with hands-on advise. We help them with their formation and management, support them to improve their performance and evaluate their effectivity and efficiency.
Our approach is also based on the ESCA method and the 12 step approach of TCI Network. We are trained and certified to perform an European benchmark in which a cluster is compared with over 800 other clusters. If the benchmark shows that a cluster is doing well, it will receive a bronze label in cluster excellence. This is not only a recognition for its hard work and some confidence to its funders, but also a good way to learn and develop.
KplusV designs, initiates and creates ecosystems. Always in a role which adds the highest value. We can act as project manager, consultant or program executive.