Get Involved
Our network of experts, investors, students, and coaches from various industries assist aspiring entrepreneurs with everything from concept development and becoming pitch-ready to implementing marketing strategies and scaling their businesses.
Student Consultants
This is a great opportunity for current HBO/WO university students, MSc candidates, and recent graduates to directly impact a newcomer’s entrepreneurial journey.
As a Student Consultant, you’ll be instrumental in supporting the founders to get their businesses off the ground and be privy to the tools and resources needed to run a successful venture.
As a student consultant, you:
- Boost your CV & career with relevant experience and key business and consulting skills.
- Gain hands-on experience supporting refugee entrepreneurs to start their businesses.
- Access to Forward·Inc’s network of 150+ experienced professionals from the Netherlands and abroad (coaches, mentors from partner companies, successful entrepreneurs, etc.).
- Create an impact and become a part of Forward·Inc’s community of 1200+ active members, especially newcomer entrepreneurs and fellow student consultants.
- Are expected to voluntarily work hands-on for 8 hours/week on the business over the program duration of 5 months.
- Gain access to fun networking events, where you can explore new professional opportunities and become a member of the community.
The next Forward Incubator (FI) will run between January – June, 2026.
Please note that this is a voluntary role.
Business Coaches
Coaching newcomers in their journey to realise their entrepreneurial goals can be a fulfilling experience for both parties. Sharing industry knowledge and exchanging cultural outlooks are both instrumental in building long-lasting relationships within our community. We are seeking hands-on professionals interested in working with an early-stage newcomer entrepreneur. A Business Coach’s main objective is to support the entrepreneur on a strategic level in finding the right path for their business, by testing key assumptions, setting realistic goals, sharing their network, providing actionable feedback, and managing overall expectations.
The coaching role is connected to the Forward Incubator (FI) program. As a Business Coach, you are expected to commit to volunteering 3-4 hours/week during working hours. Although the program happens online, in-person meetings with the designated entrepreneur are encouraged.
The Forward Incubator (FI) program runs once a year from our offices in Amsterdam & Rotterdam, NL.
The next Forward Incubator (FI) will run between January – June, 2026.
Please note that this is a voluntary role.
MENTOR
Are you a qualified expert with industry experience, eager to support newcomer entrepreneurs on their journeys? Our mentorship program offers an impactful way to guide motivated entrepreneurs through challenges in areas like marketing, sales, networking, scalability, and pitching to investors.
Our participants come from diverse backgrounds and are building startups across various sectors, including education, consumer goods, F&B, and tech innovation.
Ready to make a difference? Apply now to join our mentorship community and help these entrepreneurs excel.
Please note that this is a voluntary role.
Testimonials
Mentor
It’s always a wonder to sharpen a business idea and to be involved in the early phases of an innovative business proposition. I hope that my coaching offered her more insights into the tech possibilities and options for her business proposal as well as a gentle push forward to become more confident and take her idea to the next level. Personally, I learned that behind every idea there can be a cautious entrepreneur and they could use every inch of encouragement that a mentor can offer which can be the difference between make it now or later kind of attitude, a great learning and interactive experience
Student consultant
Being a Student Consultant is such an inspirational role! You get to experience how the foundations for a business are built in order to succeed and flourish, while you gain knowledge through workshops.
Student consultant
The FI program has been such an enriching experience for me. I’ve learned business skills while working with an encouraged entrepreneur as well as met so many amazing people along the way!
Student consultant
Working with Forward has been a great experience. I met a lot of interesting people, participated in some super exciting projects, and learned an incredible amount.
Coach
Some would say that an Entrepreneur’s most valuable asset is his/her mindset. If that’s the case, Forward·Inc is sitting on a goldmine, as each entrepreneur has already faced adversity and come out stronger.
Coach
Coaching the newcomer entrepreneurs is for me finding the right balance between business-, cultural- and entrepreneural-guidance. As a former entrepreneur starting a business not in my homecountry I know how important it is to have a “local” coach and Forward Inc give the newcomer entrepreneurs a 3 months program to launch the business idea with support of a experienced coaches.
Partners / Sponsors
Our collaborations with recognisable brands have proven to be instrumental in the development of our newcomers. Access to resources, insight, workshops, and guidance is a sure way for companies to directly impact our participants’ entrepreneurial journey. Forward · Inc wants each party to shine within their respective lanes, and therefore doesn’t adhere to a “one size fits all” approach within our partnerships.
