The Founders' Starting Point In Amsterdam

Finding your people in Amsterdam's startup scene shouldn't feel like you have to build everything from scratch. So we've created a shortcut a curated map of communities worth your time, from monthly Meetups to funding-focused networks and listed them in a way that it makes it easier to navigate the scene.

General Startup Communities

Dutch Startup Europe Quarterly events designed to feel welcoming from the moment you walk in. Expect a mix of new faces and regulars, good energy and real one-one-one conversations. It gets busy fast! So grab a drink, keep moving and you'll leave with a handful of contacts worth keeping.

TechMakers Three pitches, free drinks (if you snag a token) and a room full of builders. Hosted the last Friday of every month at The Social Hub (Oost). You can apply to pitch of course, the lineup is eclectic and always at different stages. Come ready to put yourself forward as given the group is spread across the venue, the networking is what you make it. → Last Friday of the month, The Social Hub Oost

Hackers & Founders 16 years running, no hype, all substance. Led by the original founder, Feargal Finnegan, this monthly meetup is grounded, accessible and full of people who actually want to talk. A great place to find the expertise you didn't know you needed. 🔗 hackersandfounders.nl

Amsterdam Founders Club Speaker nights with real insights from founders who've been there. If you're early stage, come for the learning and stay for the connections. 🔗 amsterdamfoundersclub.com

FoundersMesh Meetups built for making real connections: investors, co-founders and fellow builders in one room, minus the formality. The social-meets-startup vibe makes it genuinely easy to start conversations.

Women in Tech Communities

Female Ventures A non-profit with real reach with events, mentoring and networking across multiple Dutch cities, covering everything from early-stage startups to corporate leadership. 🔗 femaleventures.nl

FEM-START Built specifically for female founders navigating funding. Online courses, mentoring, and pitch coaching to close the gap between ambition and investment.

Equals A community space ("Clubhouse") for women in tech and allies. Join to tap into an ambitious network and find the connections that help you grow.

SheSharp Events, mentorship, and a global Slack community for women and non-binary tech professionals. Especially strong for those from underrepresented backgrounds.

Ladies that UX Amsterdam Low-key, inclusive meetups for UX and tech professionals open to all genders, with a focus on making everyone feel at home.

AI, Data & Emerging Tech

AI Builders A community for AI founders and builders: resources, events, and the connections to help you scale.

The AI Foundry Founder-focused and collaboration-first. Come for the mentorship, stay for the like-minded people building in the same space.

Amsterdam AI Where government, academia, healthcare and industry meet to build responsible AI. Grounded, cross-sector and focused on real-world impact.

Startup Village A hub for early-stage tech startups especially in AI and quantum. Workspace, events, and a community that helps you build and learn as you go.

Quantum.Amsterdam The go-to for quantum software and tech ventures. Part of Quantum Delta NL, connecting researchers and founders working on next-generation computing.

Climate & Impact

Climate Coffee Low-barrier, regular meetups for climate innovators. Show up, share ideas, and find people working on the same problems.

ClimateHack Hackathons and events for entrepreneurs tackling urgent environmental challenges. Great if you want to build fast and meet purpose-driven people.

Impactmakers Community A network of changemakers helping young founders do meaningful work. Skill-building, collaboration and events for impact-driven startups.

Developer Communities

AmsterdamJS One of the longest-running JavaScript meetups in Amsterdam. Meetups, conferences and a strong community of developers.

DevOps Amsterdam Connecting developers and IT ops to build and ship better, together.

Appsterdam Volunteer-run and community-minded events, mentorship and a broad network of designers, developers, and marketers building apps.

Freelancers & Creatives

Freelance Fridays A creative community for designers, photographers and branding pros. Monthly in-person events (last Friday of each month), includes a thriving WhatsApp community and job opportunities. Their WhatsApp is busy, informative and at times a lot of fun. To gain access apply as a freelancer 🔗 freelance-fridays.com

Young Creators 30,000+ young entrepreneurs, freelancers, and creatives. A place to find co-founders, projects and people who get it.

Young Professionals Amsterdam For Dutch-speaking professionals up to 39, living or working in Amsterdam. Masterclasses, rooftop drinks, panels and a WhatsApp community to stay in the loop.

Sigma Squared A global network for exceptionally driven entrepreneurs under 26. Fellows get access to peers, mentors, investors and invite-only events including an annual Global Summit.

Other super interesting Founder Groups

CryptoCanal Amsterdam's home for blockchain and crypto enthusiasts!! Meetups, workshops and international events connecting founders, developers, and builders. 🔗 Founded in Amsterdam and also active across multiple cities.

Amsterdam InChange (formerly Amsterdam Smart City) An open innovation platform connecting 10,000+ changemakers across government, business and civil society. Focused on urban innovation, sustainability, and mobility.

This is a living list! The Amsterdam startup ecosystem moves fast, so keep an eye on event pages and community newsletters to stay current.