eusurvey - survey x - kvk consultation initiative... · create national startup manifestos...

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Case Id: ab5477df-a5be-4442-b9e5-e36bc9c35c7fDate: 30/07/2016 23:59:43

Start-up Initiative

Fields marked with * are mandatory.

Introduction

Please read the introductory page, where you will also find the glossary, before youcomplete the questionnaire.

Link to the introductory page

1 - About you/respondent identification

*1.1 - Are you replying as/on behalf of:

A citizenA potential entrepreneurA companyAn incubator/accelerator programmeA business support provider (public or private)A European business organizationA national business organizationA trade unionA national authorityA regional/local authorityFinancial institution/Finance providerAcademia/Entrepreneurship research centresResearch institutionOther

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http://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/newsroom/cf/itemdetail.cfm?item_id=8723

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*1.2 - Are you registered on the Transparency Register?

YesNo

*1.3 - Please provide your name/the name of the company/organization/authority.

Text of 1 to 200 characters will be accepted

Netherlands Chamber of Commerce (Kamer van Koophandel)

*1.4 - Please provide your e-mail address.


[email protected]

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*1.5 - Your country

AustriaBelgiumBulgariaCyprusCzech RepublicDenmarkEstoniaFinlandFranceGermanyGreeceHungaryIrelandItalyCroatiaLatviaLithuaniaLuxembourgMaltaNetherlandsPolandPortugalRomaniaSlovakiaSloveniaSpainSwedenUnited KingdomNon-EU country

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*1.6 - Received contributions may be published on the Commission's website, with the identity of

the contributor. Please state your preference with regard to the publication of your contribution (pleasenote that regardless the option chosen, your contribution may be subject to a request for access todocuments under Regulation 1049/2001 on public access to European Parliament, Council andCommission documents. In this case the request will be assessed against the conditions set out in theRegulation and in accordance with applicable data protection rules):

My contribution may be published under the name indicated; I declare that none of it issubject to copyright restrictions that prevent publication.My contribution may be published but should be kept anonymous; I declare that none ofit is subject to copyright restrictions that prevent publication.I do not agree that my contribution will be published at all.

2 - Boosting entrepreneurial attitudes and skills - stand-up phase

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2.1 - In your view, how important are the following policies/actions to support potentialentrepreneurs in Europe? Please rank each option below from 1 being the least important to 5being the most important.

1 2 3 4 5I do notknow/N/A

*Introducing entrepreneurshipeducation in all levels of formaleducation (from primary andsecondary school to vocationaleducation and university)

*Providing local support andadvice structures to encourageentrepreneurial activities

*Encouraging higher educationinstitutions to establishprogrammes and services tosupport entrepreneurship

*Introducing 'in company' trainingin initial vocational education(apprenticeships)

*Promoting dedicated digitalentrepreneurship programmes,including digital economybusiness models

*Developing digital learningmaterials, courses or apps toteach entrepreneurship, includinga ‘lean start-up’ methodology

*Organising regular competitionsfor new business ideas atregional/national/EU level

*Organising regular Europe-wideevents to promoteentrepreneurship

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Other, please specify.


*2.2 - In your experience, what else could be done to encourage entrepreneurial attitudes and

support those who would like to become entrepreneurs in Europe?


Awareness & improvement of entrepreneurial skills & knowledge/experience

Entrepreneurs should be aware what their strengths and weaknesses in terms of

entrepreneurial skills and knowlegde & experience in order to seize

opportunities and avert threats. Additionally, having a good insight in their

own motivation and personal characteristics is also important. An Entrepreneur

Scan can be a useful tool for this. Example:

http://kvk.ondernemerstest.nl/app/ (Dutch only). After the scan, entrepreneurs

can focus on improving the gaps, with help of the available support

facilities.

Furthermore, attention should be given to providing targetted support and

coaching by (paid) professionals such as (former) SME-owners aimed at the

creation of better startups, decreasing the failure rate.

2.3 - If you have any additional comments/observations/additions relating to any question of thesection on Boosting entrepreneurial attitudes and skills - stand-up phase, please provide thembelow.


3 - Creation of a company - start-up phase

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*3.1 - Are you facing/did you face any obstacles to set up your company?

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3.2 - In your experience, to what extent is each of the following an obstacle to start a company?Please rank each option below from 1 being a minor obstacle to 5 being a major obstacle.


*Resources required to navigateoverall regulatory complexity

*Registration cost

*Registration time

*Minimum legal capital requirements

*Legal and/or notary fees

*The number of operational permitsand licences needed

*Time to obtain operational licencesand/or permits

*Costs of obtaining operationallicences and/or permits

*Lack of single entry point(one-stop-shop) for start-upprocedures

*Lack of e-governance foradministrative procedures

*Tax compliance costs (filing andpaying taxes)

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*Rules and cost of hiring workers

*Proceedings for contractenforcement

*Cost to access industrial and/orintellectual property rights

*Procedures to access industrialand/or intellectual property rights

*Unpredictable and instable legalframework

*Access to finance

Others, please specify.


*3.3 - Is there any specific action at EU level needed to facilitate the creation of a company?


The introduction of a company law form, a private limited liability company,

that would follow the same company law-rules in all Member States (with direct

electronic registration and a minimal capital requirement close of one

eurocent).

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3.4 - In your experience, what sources of funding are mostly used to start a company (initialcapital)? Please rate each option below from 1 being used least often to 5 being used moreoften.

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*Own savings

*Family and friends

*Micro-loans

*Bank loans

*Public (national) grants

*European grants

*Funds from businessincubators

*Innovation vouchers

*Business angels

*Venture capital

*Peer-to-peer lending

*Family offices

*Crowd-funding



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3.5 - In your experience, how important are the following policies/support measures forstart-ups? Please rate each option below from 1 being the least important to 5 being the mostimportant.


*Encouraging all EU Member States tocreate national Startup Manifestosconsistent with the EU Startup Manifesto

*Supporting the creation of incubationcentres, accelerator programmes andco-working spaces for start-up projects

*Connecting incubation centres,accelerator programmes and co-workingspaces across the EU

*Establishing exchange schemesbetween incubators/ accelerators acrossthe EU

*Creating and connecting networks ofalumni/experts (tech/engineering) tohelp assessing the viability of start-upbusiness ideas

*Enabling links between source ofknowledge (tech/engineering centres)and source of finance to facilitate accessto finance for viable start-up projects

*Establishing matchmaking platformsfor exchange of ideas and informationon cooperation possibilities betweenstart-ups, medium sized and largecompanies

*Helping to secure intellectual property(IP) in the early stages of a company

*Providing training/advisory/mentoringservices to young start-ups to preventearly failures

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*Creating a European Network for EarlyWarning and Support to Second Startersto ensure cooperation and bestpractices sharing across the EU

*Promoting exchanges between newand experienced entrepreneurs (such asErasmus for Young Entrepreneurs)within the EU

*Promoting exchange schemesbetween new and experiencedentrepreneurs with non-EU countries

*Promoting schemes to attract talentedentrepreneurs from third countries, e.g.start-up visa schemes

*Ensuring better cohesion andtransparency of the available supportschemes at EU level



*3.6 - In your view, what else could be done at EU level to foster the creation and survival

of start-ups in the EU?


Existing support programmes should be better promoted and expanded to enable

more (potential) entrepreneurs to take advantage of the opportunities they

offer.

3.7 - In your experience, to what extent is each of the following important to boost innovation?Please rate each option below from 1 being the least important to 5 being the most important.

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*Supporting universities inestablishing services to promoteentrepreneurship (internship schemeswith businesses, business-creationtrainings, organising access tobusiness incubation, etc.)

*Promoting innovation through aEuropean award for young innovators

*Providing support from publicsources to incubators, university R&Dand technology transfer programmesto increase their capacity to boostinnovative solutions

*Promoting the 'outsourcing' of R&D,e.g. through tax incentives related tooutsourced R&D expenses

*Promoting partnerships betweenstart-ups and medium sizedcompanies to facilitate access toinnovation

*Establishing and supporting longterm partnerships of business,research and higher educationinstitutions to strengthen EUinnovation capacity

*Supporting ad hoc partnerships ofbusiness, research and highereducation to implement specificprojects

*Supporting access to innovation andvalue chains, e.g. through clusters

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*Connecting European research andinnovation centres with similar onesoutside the EU to support Europeanresearchers and entrepreneursglobally

*Promoting schemes to attractinnovators from non-EU countries



3.8 - If you have any additional comments/observations/additions relating to any question of thesection on Creation of a company - start-up phase, please provide them below.


4 - Expansion of a company - scale-up phase

*4.1 - Do you envisage expanding/did you expand your company cross-border?


4.2 - In your experience, to what extent is each of the following an obstacle to expand (scale-up) acompany ? Please rate each option below from 1 being a minor obstacle to 5 beingwithin the EUa major obstacle.

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*Uncertainty about regulatoryrequirements to start operations

*Costs to start operation (translations,registration fees, legal fees)

*Uncertainty about regulatoryenvironment for daily operations

*Cost of complying with different taxregulations other than VAT

*Cost of complying with different VATregulations

*Understanding and complying withemployment law

*Understanding and complying withcontract and marketing law

*Complying with technical regulations

*Complying/adapting yourservice/product to mandatorystandards

*Complying/adapting to voluntarystandards

*Securing intellectual property rights

*Enforcing intellectual property rights

*Finding workers with the right set ofskills

*Recruiting local employees

*Attracting best talent

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*Finding business partners

*Adapting your product/service tolocal preferences

*Finding new markets/distributionchannels

*Securing financing for expansion

*Accessing entrepreneurialecosystems

*Risk of corruption and fraud

*Language barrier



Unfamiliarity with the rules to be followed and complexity with regard to

payment recovery are other important obstacles to scaling-up that were not

listed in the question items.

4.3 - In your experience, to what extent is each of the following an obstacle to expand (scale-up) acompany ? Please rate each option below from 1 being a minor obstacle to 5outside the EUbeing a major obstacle.


*Uncertainty about regulatoryrequirements to start operations

*Costs to start operation (translations,registration fees, legal fees)

*Uncertainty about regulatoryenvironment for daily operations

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*Cost of complying with different taxregulations other than VAT

*Cost of complying with different VATregulations

*Understanding and complying withemployment law

*Understanding and complying withcontract and marketing law

*Complying with technical regulations

*Complying/adapting yourservice/product to mandatorystandards

*Complying/adapting to voluntarystandards

*Securing intellectual property rights

*Enforcing intellectual property rights

*Finding workers with the right set ofskills

*Recruiting local employees

*Attracting best talent

*Finding business partners

*Adapting your product/service tolocal preferences

*Finding new markets/distributionchannels

*Securing financing for expansion

*Accessing entrepreneurialecosystems

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*Risk of corruption and fraud

*Language barrier



Unfamiliarity with the rules to be followed and complexity with regard to

payment recovery are other important obstacles to scaling-up that were not

listed in the question items.

*4.4 How did you overcome the obstacles related to the expansion (scaling-up) of yourcompany? What else could be done to make it easier at EU level?Text of 1 to 1000 characters will be accepted

The ambiguous nature of above question makes it difficult to answer. It

depends on the applicability of the listed items, if they are considered

obstacles. Scaling-up a company within the EU through internationalisation can

take different forms (e.g. export, import, FDI). Only a very small percentage

of SMEs invest abroad, namely around 2% (approximately half of these by

setting up a subsidiary). The reason that they do not set-up a subsidiary

abroad is because there frequently is no need to do so (they simply sell

cross-border). A number of listed obstacles only apply to the

internationalisation mode of setting-up a subsidiary abroad. Above question

was answered by assessing the importance of such obstacles when companies are

indeed (considering) setting-up a subsidiary abroad. Furthermore, it is

important to note that there are other ways to scale-up such as through

innovation.

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4.5 - In your experience, what kind of funding source(s) are mostly used for financing theexpansion (scaling-up) of a company? Please rate each option below from 1 being theleast used to 5 being the most used.


*Credit line, bank overdraft or creditcards overdraft

*Grants or subsidised bank loan

*Bank loan (excluding subsidisedbank loans, overdrafts and creditlines)

*Trade credit

*Leasing or hire-purchase

*Debt securities issued

*Equity capital, including venturecapital or business angels

*Factoring

*Retained earnings or sale of assets(internal funds)

*Subordinated debt instruments

*Participating loans

*Peer-to-peer lending

*Crowdfunding

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Own savings & family and friends

4.6 - In your experience, how important are the following policies and support measures for theexpansion (scaling-up) of a company? Please rate each option below from 1 being the leastimportant to 5 being the most important.


*Developing tailor-made supportmeasures for rapidly growingscale-ups, e.g. mentoring on how tomanage change

*Creating network of regional supportcentres for scale-ups

*Providing financial support for theacquisition of capacity-boostingservices from both public and privateproviders

*Supporting the uptake of resourceefficient solutions to reduceproduction costs

*Developing intellectual property (IP)valuation models to better assess thevalue of intangible assets

*Facilitating links between largecorporations and start-ups to unleashthe scale-up potential throughcollaboration

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*4.7 - In your experience, is there a need for ecosystem-level policies for start-ups and scale-ups?


4.7 a - In your experience, what type of ecosystem-level policies would you consider the mostuseful for start-ups and scale-ups? Please rate each option below from 1 being the least usefulto 5 being the most useful.


*Supporting the creation oflocal/regional/national entrepreneurialecosystems

*Integrating entrepreneurialecosystems with the SmartSpecialisation Strategy

*Creating EU networks of investors,entrepreneurs, universities,accelerators and co-working spaces toincrease synergies and facilitateaccess to venture capital, newmarkets, talents and skilled employees

*Connecting start-up ecosystemsacross the EU

*Creating European centres outsidethe EU to promote EU start-ups

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*4.7 b - What else should be done at EU level to strengthen ecosystem level policies?


Exchange of best practices so other member states can choose to implement

practises that work in other EU countries.

4.8 - If you have any additional comments/observations/additions relating to any question of thesection on Expansion of a company - scale-up phase, please provide them below.


On 13 January 2016 "NL Groeit" (NL Grows) was launched, the digital platform

for mentoring and support for growth. The objective of this initiative is to

increase the growth potential of SMEs in the Netherlands. Via an online

platform:

• entrepreneurs are made aware of their opportunities for growth

• entrepreneurs are stimulated to make use of mentoring, coaching and training

• entrepreneurs are supported to realise growth by facilitating finding an

ideal match with a mentor, training provider or other service that can

contribute to growth. "NL Groeit" is a public-private partnership between the

Ministry of Economic Affairs, NLevator and the Chamber of Commerce. First

results look promising. www.nlgroeit.nl

5 - Capital replacement - "exit" opportunities/strategies

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*5.1 - In your view, what measures could enhance the exit opportunities for companies in the

growth/expansions phases?


The expansion of fiscal facilities, a central database that bring together

supply and demand with regard to company transfer and the simpification of

legislation.

*5.2 - In your view, what would need to be considered in terms of support schemes to help

entrepreneurs carrying out a valuation of their company in preparation for exit?


A toolkit and vouchers for advice (to be used to pay business transfer

advisors).

*5.3 - In your view, what measures could enhance the exit opportunities for venture capital

investors?


The set-up of a fund with government guarantee

5.4 - If you have any additional comments/observations/additions relating to any question of thesection on Capital replacement - exit opportunities/strategies, please provide them below


Toolkits to prepare for an exit and a helpdesk for company acquisition

(tel/email/face) would be helpful in terms of support facilities.

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6 - Definitions

6.1 - In your view, what are the main features of a start-up? Please rate each option below from 1being the least important to 5 being the most important.

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*Being newly created

*Being young (less than 5years) and independent

*Testing new business ideas

*Searching for scalablebusiness model

*Being strongly growthoriented

*Focusing on technologydevelopment

*Focusing on innovationdevelopment

*Being born global



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*6.2 - In your view, is it important to have an agreed EU-wide definition of a start-up?

Very importantImportantNot very importantNot important at allI do not know/ N/A

6.2 a - How would you assess the following options for a working definition of a start-up?

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*A start-up is an unlisted, smallenterprise up to 5 years followingits registration, which has not yetdistributed profits and has notbeen formed through a merger(EC - state aid definition)

*A start-up is a growth-orientedsmall enterprise, up to 5 years old,searching for a scalable businessmodel or innovativeproduct/service, and open foralternative financing

*A start-up is a temporaryorganization designed to searchfor a repeatable and scalablebusiness model (Steve Blank)

If none of the proposed options of a start-up definition is in your view pertinent, please provideyour own suggestions.


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6.3 - In your view, what are the main features of a scale-up? Please rate each option below from 1being the least important to 5 being the most important.


*Focused on rapid growth in termsof turnover

*Focused on rapid growth in termsof employment

*Already attracted finance from thirdparties

*Focused on attracting more roundsof equity funding from third parties tofinance expansion

*Focused on technologydevelopment

*Focused on innovationdevelopment

*Having already gained a significantmarket share

*Seeking further expansion toforeign markets

*Being born global

*Looking for a fast capitalreplacement - 'exit'



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*6.4 - In your view, is it important to have an agreed EU-wide definition of a scale-up?

Very importantImportantNot very importantNot important at allI do not know/ N/A

6.4 a - How would you assess the following options of a working definition of a scale-up?

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*A scale-up is a growth-orientedcompany that has already tested ascalable business model, gainedmarket position and seeksinvestment to finance expansion

*A scale-up is an enterprise withthe average annualised growth inturnover or employees greaterthan 20% per annum over a threeyear period with the more than 10employees at the beginning of theobservation period (OECDdefinition)

If none of the proposed options of a scale-up definition is in your view pertinent, please provideyour own suggestions.


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6.5 - If you have any additional comments/observations/additions relating to any question of thesection on Definitions of a start-up and scale-up , please provide them below.


Contact

[email protected]

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