You may hear: “Your business network is your biggest asset.” In 2025, it’s not just who you know, it’s who helps you grow.
The state of entrepreneurial connection today
The pandemic broke down geographic barriers, and founders started to collaborate globally, not just locally. Hybrid connection (part digital, part in-person) is now standard. Yet many still feel disconnected. That’s fuelled a return to small, high-trust peer groups where meaningful feedback, accountability and clarity thrive.
The Netherlands: peer learning and mentoring in focus
- Peer learning accelerates decision-making and motivation. According to the Netherlands Enterprise Agency, peer learning helps businesses "make better decisions, expand your network, and seize new opportunities," promoting practical, real-time advice and peer accountability.
- Non-formal support matters more than formal training. A study spanning Ireland and the Netherlands (57 founders across service, manufacturing, and tech sectors) found that mentoring and networking—informal supports—are significantly more effective than traditional business education for entrepreneurs in the Dutch context.
- SME mentoring links to longer survival. StartLife, a Netherlands-based startup accelerator, notes that “70% of SMEs that receive mentoring survive for five years or more” aligning with broader international trends.
Peer mentorship & community = real business growth
Here’s what broader, globally sourced data shows:
- Survival rates jump. Mentored small businesses are 70% more likely to survive beyond five years, nearly double those without mentorship.
- Revenue and promotional gains happen. Over 55% of businesses report profit increases through mentoring programs. Mentees are promoted 5× more often, and 25% receive salary increases, compared to just 5% without mentoring.
- Retention and productivity improve. Programs show 72% retention for mentored employees vs. 49% without. Companies with engaged, mentored teams also see 18% higher productivity and 23% greater profitability.
- Program-level results are significant. The UK’s Help to Grow: Management program saw 62% of leaders reporting revenue gains, and 91% increased understanding of productivity levers.
- Global success stories. Goldman Sachs’ 10,000 Women program achieved ~480% revenue growth in 18 months for nearly 70% of participants, with most doubling their teams.
Why this matters now
- Digital makes global collaboration easy, but deep collaboration is rare.
- Speed is essential, however burnout persists.
- With AI and tools widespread, human insight, trust and belonging become the true edge.
Dutch entrepreneurs especially need more than big networks or courses, they need curated peer circles where candid conversations can spark clarity and momentum.
Elevate Circles: peer + mentor growth—the dutch way
Elevate Circles is designed for founders hungry for thoughtful connection:
- Small founder groups (3–6 people), gathering six times between September–December 2025.
- Mentor-guided sessions covering energy mastery, authentic sales, structure, storytelling, and AI focus.
- Built on confidentiality and trust, encouraging vulnerability, bold ideas, and accountable support.
Connecting insight to action
- In the Netherlands, peer learning and informal support structurally outpace formal training for real entrepreneurial impact.
- Mentored businesses demonstrate higher survival, profit, retention and scaling.
- Elevate Circles brings the best of both worlds to Dutch entrepreneurs: structured peer circles rooted in trust, relevance and action.
As we look ahead to the next five years, the companies that grow will be built by those who grow together.
If this vision of growing together resonates with you, join the Elevate Circles pilot. Your next breakthrough could be waiting in your circle.