I am a university student who has been living in the Netherlands for the past four years, with a strong interest in entrepreneurship, innovation, and startups. My host entrepreneur is Jan, the CEO and founder of MyDoobe, a startup currently in the development and testing phase, focused on building a user-centric and scalable solution. I discovered the Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs (EYE) programme through a friend who was familiar with similar entrepreneurship programmes and recommended it to me. I decided to participate because I wanted to gain hands-on entrepreneurial experience beyond academic theory and learn directly from an experienced founder in a real startup environment. Through this exchange, I expect to develop practical business skills, gain insight into the European startup ecosystem, expand my professional network, and strengthen my confidence and readiness for a future career in entrepreneurship.
During the exchange, I supported business development and the pre-launch strategy through market and competitor research, with a focus on early-stage and emerging companies. I assisted with investor outreach by identifying relevant stakeholders and building strategic connections via LinkedIn. I conducted company research to analyse comparable business models, market positioning, and growth potential. I also contributed to brand development by designing and refining professional social media content to strengthen the company’s online presence.
Through the exchange, I developed practical skills in market research, business analysis, investor outreach, and brand communication within an early-stage startup environment. I gained valuable insight into the pre-launch phase of a company and the strategic challenges faced by emerging businesses. The exchange allowed me to build meaningful professional contacts, including entrepreneurs and potential investors, and opened up future prospects for continued cooperation. Overall, the experience strengthened my entrepreneurial mindset, professional confidence, and readiness for future career opportunities in the startup ecosystem.
The exchange allowed me to learn directly from an experienced entrepreneur while actively contributing to a real business, which significantly strengthened my confidence and entrepreneurial mindset.