Startup Playground

Startup Playground Startup Playground supports entrepreneurs from ideation to market launch and everything in between.

When diversity isn’t just a trendy word on your company website, but a value embedded deep into everything you do - magi...
10/09/2025

When diversity isn’t just a trendy word on your company website, but a value embedded deep into everything you do - magic happens. ✨

Last week’s “Own the Narrative” event was a beautiful testament to this. Looking around the room, we saw faces from different backgrounds, industries, ages, and experiences. Each person brought their unique perspective to the art of storytelling.

This wasn’t diversity for the sake of a photo op. This was diversity as a catalyst for richer conversations, deeper insights, and more powerful stories.

When we gather stories from every corner of the human experience, we all walk away with a more complete understanding of what it means to own our narrative.

Grateful for every voice that made this event what it was. 🙏

Want to join our next ‘’Own the Narrative’’ event? Sign up to our community for free and get priority access to all our events! [ Link in bio]

“A chair is never just a chair.” - Anna NoyonsThis powerful insight from our “Inclusive by Design” workshop captured why...
10/09/2025

“A chair is never just a chair.” - Anna Noyons

This powerful insight from our “Inclusive by Design” workshop captured why design matters beyond aesthetics.

Every design decision tells a story about who belongs and who doesn’t:

🧱 The height of a curb
🧱 The layout of an office
🧱 A hiring process
🧱 A mobile app interface

These seemingly small choices create ripple effects that can exclude millions or unlock potential for everyone.

At our workshop, participants didn’t just build LEGO models - they reimagined entire systems. They questioned assumptions baked so deeply into “normal” that we’ve stopped seeing them.

Anna reminded us: designers aren’t just making things prettier - they’re actively shaping society. Every choice is a vote for the world we want to live in.

The future doesn’t just happen to us. We design it, one choice at a time.

Thank you Anna Noyons and Andreea Mares for this transformative experience.

Want to join our next event? Sign up to our community for free and get priority access to all our events! [ Link in bio]

At our “Inclusive by Design” workshop, something magical happened when we handed everyone LEGO blocks. Seasoned professi...
08/09/2025

At our “Inclusive by Design” workshop, something magical happened when we handed everyone LEGO blocks. Seasoned professionals became curious kids again - experimenting, failing, rebuilding, laughing.

Play isn’t just for children. It’s how we develop critical thinking and creative problem-solving. Yet we “grow up” and forget this superpower.

Play tricks our brains into using both hemispheres simultaneously. It bypasses our analytical defenses and lets us approach complex problems with fresh eyes.When we’re playing, we stop overthinking and start innovating.

At Startup Playground, we believe the best ideas emerge when work feels like play. Our workshop became exactly that - a safe space to experiment with reimagining systems that impact millions.

When did you last schedule time to play? Your next big idea might be waiting there.

Want to join our next event? Sign up to our community for free and get priority access to all our events! [ Link in bio]

“How would your worst week look like if your energy renewed every 28 days instead of 24 hours?”This question sparked our...
03/09/2025

“How would your worst week look like if your energy renewed every 28 days instead of 24 hours?”

This question sparked our deepest conversations at the “Inclusive by Design” workshop. Using LEGO® Serious Play®, participants reimagined the 9-to-5 work week around infradian rhythms (28-day cycles), instead of circadian rhythms (24-hour cycles).

The result was eye-opening.

From identical LEGO blocks and the same prompt, every person built something completely different. Same materials, same challenge - radically different solutions based on lived experiences.

This is why diverse voices at the decision-making table aren’t nice-to-have - they’re essential. We cannot assume our experience is universal.

True inclusive design means:

🧩 Acknowledging trade-offs openly
🧩 Including affected communities in the design process
🧩 Building flexible systems for different needs
🧩 Continuously iterating based on real feedback

Who’s missing from your decision-making table?

Want to join our next event? Sign up to our community for free and get priority access to all our events! [ Link in bio]

We’re proud to announce that Startup Playground is now officially ESDP Certified 🎉What is ESDP?The European Supplier Div...
12/12/2024

We’re proud to announce that Startup Playground is now officially ESDP Certified 🎉

What is ESDP?
The European Supplier Diversity Program (ESDP) connects ethnic minority businesses with global corporations, fostering inclusive supply chains that drive growth across Europe. By breaking down barriers, ESDP empowers underrepresented entrepreneurs to secure contracts and thrive in the global market.

What this means for Startup Playground:
Of course, recognition. Our commitment to empowering founders, especially women in tech, is now acknowledged on a European scale–and we couldn’t be happier.

This also provides us with enhanced resources. We get access to ESDP’s extensive networks, and development programs.
And last but not least, we get to collaborate with industry leaders, who are dedicated to inclusive procurement. This will opens new avenues for our community and creates increased opportunities.

What this means for you
As part of the Startup Playground ecosystem, you benefit from:
* Expanded Networks: Connections with global corporations seeking diverse suppliers.
* Exclusive Programs: Participation in initiatives designed to foster growth and innovation.
* Elevated Visibility: Increased exposure within inclusive supply chains across Europe.
This certification strengthens our mission to support diverse entrepreneurs in building successful, impactful ventures. Together, we’re creating a more equitable future in the startup landscape.

Direction sets the course; speed amplifies the impact. Too often, we’re tempted to move fast without a clear strategy. B...
06/11/2024

Direction sets the course; speed amplifies the impact. Too often, we’re tempted to move fast without a clear strategy.

But acceleration without purpose? That’s just motion.

Whether it’s building a product, growing your career, or living by someone else’s expectations, speed only matters when you’re moving toward what truly resonates.

Focus first on where you’re headed. Adjust along the way, and then—when you know the destination is worth it—accelerate with purpose.

For those building products people love or carving out fulfilling paths: strategy is your foundation.

Slow down to map it out, then move forward with intention.

•

•

•

It’s been an amazing journey since Startup Playground officially landed in the Netherlands, and we couldn’t have done it...
15/10/2024

It’s been an amazing journey since Startup Playground officially landed in the Netherlands, and we couldn’t have done it without our incredible community.

To celebrate, we’re offering five lucky people the chance to choose one of these four special gifts (in the poll)

Want to be one of the five? Pick the gift you want and drop a comment below!

Thank you for being part of our journey. Let’s keep building and innovating together.

Did you know that marketplace models represent 14% of the top 100 Y Combinator companies? This includes one we all know ...
10/10/2024

Did you know that marketplace models represent 14% of the top 100 Y Combinator companies? This includes one we all know too well ().

Marketplaces are one of the strongest business models today – but what truly makes them successful?

In exploring what sets thriving marketplaces apart, we have learned that key factors such as achieving liquidity, streamlining customer acquisition, and building trust are critical to long-term success.

It’s not just about getting buyers and sellers on board – it’s about creating real value for both sides.

If you’re building a marketplace yourself or are interested in building one in the future, here are five key factors for building a successful marketplace.

And if you need support building your own marketplace on the technical and/or product side, let’s connect!

We can explore how to turn your vision into a sustainable marketplace with .

“We don’t rise to the level of our goals; we fall to the level of our systems.”As entrepreneurs, especially in the early...
08/10/2024

“We don’t rise to the level of our goals; we fall to the level of our systems.”

As entrepreneurs, especially in the early stages, we wear many hats. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed by everything that needs to get done.

Inspired by how we planned our engineering sprints 💡

Here’s the approach we suggest for prioritization & task management:

1. Capacity Planning: Just like an engineering sprint, we allocate tasks based on true capacity. If new tasks pop up, we make trade-offs and push less critical tasks into a later “sprint.”

2. Time Blocking: we then set calendar blocks for each task, estimating the time required to complete them. This method allows us to visualize workload and identify if we need to adjust our estimates—whether we can be ambitious or need to be more conservative.

This simple system helps prevent burnout and ensures focus on what truly moves the needle.

We hope this helps for anyone sharing the same challenges.

How do you prioritize and manage your time? We’d love to hear the strategies you use to stay organized and productive.





How do you pick a name for your brand?“For me, it wasn’t about strategy—it was about a feeling. A feeling of community, ...
01/10/2024

How do you pick a name for your brand?

“For me, it wasn’t about strategy—it was about a feeling. A feeling of community, joy, and growth.

Building a business is risky and full of uncertainty, but I wanted to change the narrative for founders, especially diverse ones. I envisioned Startup Playground as a space where risks are encouraged and mistakes are part of the journey—just like when we were kids at a playground, falling, learning, and getting right back up.

Startup Playground is about creating a supportive environment where founders can thrive, grow, and enjoy the process.”

- .a, Founder

Adres

Zocherstraat 50A
Amsterdam
1054LZ

Website

Meldingen

Wees de eerste die het weet en laat ons u een e-mail sturen wanneer Startup Playground nieuws en promoties plaatst. Uw e-mailadres wordt niet voor andere doeleinden gebruikt en u kunt zich op elk gewenst moment afmelden.

Contact

Stuur een bericht naar Startup Playground:

Snelkoppelingen

Uitgelicht

Delen