About the Entrepreneurs Soundboard Foundation

The Entrepreneurs Soundboard (OKB) supports SME entrepreneurs and freelancers with practical, personal guidance. Our experienced mentors help you with questions about strategy, growth, finance, or restructuring.

You start with a free introductory meeting, where you can discuss your entrepreneurial question or challenge. After that, you can choose a six-month sounding board program for only €200.

Our mission and vision

We believe that every entrepreneur deserves an expert sparring partner – someone who truly understands what’s going on. Our mission: to empower entrepreneurs with independent advice. Our vision: an entrepreneurial Netherlands where knowledge and experience are accessible to everyone.

What we do

OKB connects entrepreneurs with a volunteer mentor who has extensive experience as an entrepreneur, manager, or specialist.
Together, you’ll work on your specific challenge, for example:

  • Growing or scaling your business

  • Gaining better insight into finances and operations

  • Support with debts or tax arrears

  • Guidance in closing or transferring your business

For €200, you receive six months of personal guidance, fully tailored to your situation.

Our mentors

Our mentors work on a voluntary basis, independently and without commercial interest. They bring decades of hands-on experience and come from diverse backgrounds – from business coaches to financial experts.

We work with 16 regional teams spread across the Netherlands, so you’ll always be matched with a mentor who knows your market and region.

For whom?

We are here for all entrepreneurs:

  • Starting entrepreneurs

  • Freelancers (zzp)

  • Growing scale-ups

  • SMEs with (personnel) challenges

  • Entrepreneurs with financial concerns or restructuring questions

The sector, size, or age of your business doesn’t matter – if you’re an entrepreneur, we’re here to help.


Partnerships that make an impact

We work closely with municipalities, industry associations, the Chamber of Commerce, Geldfit Zakelijk, and other social partners. Thanks to these collaborations, we can reach entrepreneurs faster, provide more targeted support, and contribute to a more resilient SME sector.

Why choose OKB?

An engaged sparring partner for every entrepreneur

  • Get to know us and ask your first entrepreneurial question for free
  • Extensive experience, practical business advice
  • Guidance from experienced entrepreneurs who volunteer their time
  • A non-profit foundation since 1980

The OKB team

Hans Klein Swormink

Director

Meta van der Meer

Controller

Fred Nessen

Staff Member

Emmy van Montfoort

Office Manager

Hella Hendriks-Van den Burg

Marketing and Communications Advisor

Juliëtte Bach

Marketing and Communications Manager

Hilde Westenbroek

Secretary’s Office Staff Member

Board

mr. Floris Oskam

Chairman

Hendrik Kroeze R.A.

Treasurer

Ben van Elk

Secretary

Sabine Fredriks MSc

Board Member

Ambassadors

Jacco Vonhof

Chairman of MKB-Nederland

Em. Prof. dr. Bernard Wientjes

Professor at the School of Economics, Utrecht University

Aad Ouborg

Owner/Director of Ouborg Group B.V.

Get your intake interview with an experienced mentor

Completely non-binding. After the intake interview, you decide whether you want to continue with the coaching process.

  • Personal advice from an experienced entrepreneur
  • Our mentors are independent and impartial
  • Free, no-obligation intake interview