Mr. Aaron Kwabena Boakye-Danquah has been appointed Ambassador of the Swiss Chamber of Commerce in The Netherlands (SwissCham NL). This role exemplifies his commitment to helping our organisation facilitate economic prosperity and foster significant business relationships with middle-markets and large corporations across Europe and Africa. Born in Kyebi, Eastern Region…
Author: Admin
The European Chamber of Digital Commerce is formed in 2019 as an activity of the Swiss Chamber of Commerce in The Netherlands, formed in 1933. Dutch Chamber of Commerce nr. 40530763. The name and logo of the European Chamber of Digital Commerce are registered as a trademark with the Benelux Office for Intellectual Property (BOIP).
The Austrian FlexCo: A New Era of Flexibility for Global Entrepreneurs
Austria’s entrepreneurial landscape is set to experience a significant shift with the introduction of the FlexCo (Flexible Company), a new legal entity designed to empower businesses with unprecedented adaptability and streamlined operations. This innovative corporate form, a hybrid of the traditional GmbH and AG, is poised to revolutionize the way…
The Cornerstone of Trust: Why Honesty is Essential for Startup Success
In the world of startups, where innovation and risk-taking reign supreme, honesty often takes a backseat to the allure of convincing an investor to take a leap of faith. However, amidst the hype and ambition, it is crucial to recognize the importance of honesty as the cornerstone of building trust…
The normal probability of receiving funding from a VC meeting is between 1% and 10% – here is how to change that
Fundraising is one of the most difficult tasks for a founder. It often requires going against your instincts and avoiding common mistakes as much as following best practices. Rather than relying on traditional methods, it is the counterintuitive insights that will lead to greater learning, influence, and ultimately, the best…
Business Opportunities in Island States
In a world where business landscapes are often dominated by sprawling metropolises and towering corporate giants, a hidden realm of opportunity lies waiting to be discovered. Welcome to the captivating universe unveiled within the pages of “Hidden Treasures: Business Opportunities in Island States,” a thought-provoking book authored by the brilliant…
The irrelevance of business plans
GO ahead and write that 50-page business plan about your fledgling venture if it helps you to focus. Just do not bother showing it to venture capitalists, because it will do nothing to improve your chances of getting financing.But they will read a one-page elevator pitch-style executive summary, and if…
Our 2023 Q4 outlook
Given continued economic uncertainty and the fallout from recent bank failures, we expect that many start-ups will continue to struggle to seek new capital via the banking sector. Professional investors will likely focus on extending the runway for their existing portfolio companies, and we therefore anticipate that new deals will…
Doe mee met de Canal Cleanup event van Oris Amsterdam
De exclusieve en wereldberoemde Zwitserse horlogemaker Oris organiseert wereldwijd de Change for the Better-dagen die zich richten op natuurbehoud en humanitaire doelen. De aankomende World Cleanup Day wordt gehouden in Amsterdam op 16 september 2023. Doel is om de Amsterdamse grachten schoon te maken. U kunt zich hier aanmelden. Schone…
The only recipe for your first meeting with an investor
The first step to closing a deal with an investor Valuation of your company Founders tend to overestimate the value of their company. Here is a way to present the investor with a realistic estimate. The development stage valuation approach is often used by angel investors and venture capital firms to quickly come up…
Example of disclaimer in business plan
This presentation is not, and nothing in it should be construed as, an offer, invitation or recommendation in respect of the Company’s credit facilities or any of the Company’s securities, or an offer, invitation or recommendation to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, the facilities or any…
Dr. Jelle Zijlstra Award 2023 Laureate in the Field of Global Impact | CatnClever and its CEO, Dr. Olga Ruf Fiedler
Dr. Jelle Zijlstra was the former Prime Minister of the Netherlands, President of the Central Bank of the Netherlands, and President of the Bank for International Settlements in Switzerland, with a long-standing engagement with the Swiss Chamber of Commerce in The Netherlands. In honour of this renowned economist, we recognize international leaders whose work champions…
Making an Investment Memorandum
An investment memo is a clear and concise articulation of the key components of your company and what the rationale is for investing in it. Writing an investment memorandum helps the investor to understand why he should invest in your company. VCs also write investment memos of their own, so…
Preparing a killer business plan
Which business models attract investors? 1. Pricing strategy. Many companies think they need to undercut their competitors to attract clients. Actually, this strategy is a recipe for failure. If your only appeal is a low price, there will be no reason for customers to come back to you if they find…
Septimius Awards | a major marketing opportunity
International event The Septimius Awards is a prestigious award ceremony organised annually in Amsterdam. During the award ceremony, prizes are presented to prominent international filmmakers, producers, actors, actresses and musicians from all over the world. The awards ceremony is attended by numerous participants from Europe, Asia, Africa, Oceania and America,…
Swiss Chamber of Commerce partners with SwissCom
SCCN has partnered with SwissCom to help with developing SwissCom’s business in The Netherlands. Swisscom is the largest telco in Switzerland, delivering most of the country’s mobile and fixed network services. It’s also the market leader in enterprise services, providing custom services to large business customers. Swisscom delivers core telco products—bundles…
The economic value of peace
During the last twenty years, humanity has entered into a new epoch in its history. This has been brought about by a convergence of many factors. Finite environmental barriers are now being reached, and on multiple fronts. World population is expected to reach seven billion within a couple of years,…
Comparing Swiss and Dutch corporate income tax rates
Switzerland Resident companies are subject to Swiss corporate income tax (CIT) on their taxable profits generated in Switzerland. CIT is levied at the federal, cantonal, and communal levels. Foreign-source income attributable to foreign permanent establishments (PEs) or real estate property located abroad is excluded from the Swiss tax base and only…
SCCN partners with Blue Kraken Online
The Swiss Chamber of Commerce in The Netherlands has partnered with Blue Kraken Online. As an international organization, SCCN focuses upon building networks among corporate and government entities, providing resources for business development and engaging in forums to further the economic development of The Netherlands and Switzerland. This partnership opens…
Swiss Chamber of Commerce in The Netherlands partners with GE Ventures
SCCN has partnered with SCCN to introduce professional investors to GE Ventures‘ clients. GE Ventures is an investment firm founded in 2020 that invests primarily in Europe. Our focus lays on companies with the potential to create sustainable, long-term value through changing economic cycles and we work closely with Management to…
Legacy Initiative
Goal SCCN focuses on wildlife protection. We want to create a digital ecosystem of complementary projects focussing on wildlife protection and turning exotic animals into family members. What makes this project so special As part of the world’s ecosystems, wildlife provides balance and stability to nature’s processes. The goal of our Initiative is…
Avoid these three communicational hurdles preventing you from getting funded
Investors are putting their money and that of their co-investors at risk when they invest in your company. Investing in an early-stage company can be both a wise and unwise move. Thus, as you are seeking funding, you need to understand that investors may not invest in your business because…
Venture investors are sitting atop more investable capital than ever before
You might think given the chatter in the startup world that venture capitalists are short on funds — after all, we’re hearing about young tech companies finding themselves marooned between stages, hitting up investors with smaller capital pools than prior backers and turning to equity crowdfunding to keep their cash balances healthy. And yet new data from…
List Of Top 10 Asset Tokenization Platform In 2022
Many new trends have evolved from the innovative developments in the blockchain landscape over the recent years. The world has witnessed massive changes in the financial and technical landscape following the arrival of blockchain. One of the notable trends emerging from the world of blockchain in recent times is the tokenization of…
CEO of the ECDC attends an important conference in Kiev
On 15 April 2022, the CEO of the European Chamber of Digital Commerce, R.A.U. Juchter van Bergen Quast, attended an important international conference in Kiev: Postwar World: People, Problems, Values. Professor dr. Victor Andrushchenko, Rector of the National Academy of Pedagogical Sciences of Ukraine, opened the conference. Thank you to…
Marktonderzoek incassobranche
In opdracht van het ministerie van Justitie en Veiligheid heeft SEO Economisch Onderzoek een marktonderzoek uitgevoerd naar de incassobranche. Dit onderzoek was inventariserend en richtte zich op vragen als: Hoeveel bedrijven zijn actief in de incassobranche? Wat zijn hun activiteiten? En: wat is de omvang van incassobedrijven in termen van…
The European Chamber of Digital Commerce condemns Russia’s attack on Ukraine and warns for disinformation
Our prayers are with the people of Ukraine these days as they suffer a scandalous attack by Russian military forces. President Putin is responsible for the death and destruction this attack will bring. The European Chamber of Digital Commerce (ECDC) expects that the consequences for both the Ukrainian and the…
R.A.U. Juchter van Bergen Quast receives honorary doctorate in Kiev for his outstanding contributions to business development
The CEO of the Swiss Chamber of Commerce has received an honorary doctorate from the Institute of Agroecology and Natural Resources in Kiev for his outstanding contributions to business development. The ceremony was attended by an international audience. Visiting Kiev On 25 November 2021, an international delegation visited the Institute…
EU webshop sales over 63 percent up in The Netherlands
In Q1 2021, Dutch consumers spent 63 percent more in foreign EU webshops compared to the same quarter last year. Spending stood at nearly 800 million euros, versus around half a billion euros one year previously. Never before has quarterly spending increased so much year-on-year since the implementation of the…
Heerlen introduces digital rewards for local participation
How do you encourage residents to get involved in their local community? And how do you promote social cohesion in your town or city? In an effort to answer these questions, the Municipality of Heerlen has come together with a number of external parties to launch a ground-breaking project. Residents…
CBS investigates imports of digital services
The past decade has seen our economy undergo a metamorphosis thanks to digitisation. Phenomena such as globalisation, digitisation and the shift in the economy towards services are causing completely new business models to emerge. This begs the question of whether CBS’ existing measurement and registration methods are still sufficient for…
How to register a .nl domain in The Netherlands from another country
All .nl registrants whose addresses are outside the Netherlands automatically use the SIDN address as a ‘domicile address’. That’s an address where a bailiff can formally deliver official documents (e.g. a summons) to the registrant. The address is: registrant XYZ, C/o SIDN, Meander 501, 6825 MD, Arnhem, The Netherlands. SIDN…
Introducing the Branded Content Media Package
More than 75% of all communication professionals apply branded content. Branded content campaigns create marketing experiences virtually indiscernible from what the audience might seek from their favorite media/ entertainment personalities. We created a very effective media package to provide your business with multiple brand or product videos to use for individual advertising material. Our media package…
Can cryptocurrencies work as actual currencies?
No, says UBS Global Wealth Management: Cryptocurrencies may never be able to work as actual currencies. The “fundamental flaw” inherent in cryptocurrencies is that supply can’t be reduced when demand is slumping in most cases, Paul Donovan, chief economist at UBS GWM, said in a video this week. That means they can’t…
Dr. Jelle Zijlstra Award 2021 Laureates in the Field of Innovation|SIX Swiss Exchange and its CEO, Jos Dijsselhof
Dr. Jelle Zijlstra was the former Prime Minister of the Netherlands, President of the Central Bank of the Netherlands, and President of the Bank for International Settlements in Switzerland, with long-standing engagement with the Swiss Chamber of Commerce in The Netherlands. In honour of this renowned economist, we recognize international leaders whose work champions economic national growth, generational-shifting innovation, global collaboration, or…
European Chamber of Digital Commerce congratulates SIX Swiss Exchange with public offering of unique financial instrument linked to physical gold and crypto
SIX Swiss Exchange in Zurich recently listed a unique exchange traded fund (ETF), issued by Leonteq Securities, Guernsey Branch: the Tracker Certificate on the Global Asset Appreciation Index. This financial instrument replicates the price movements in a dynamic, actively managed index, that invests in liquid markets worldwide, in particular the…
CEO of the European Chamber of Digital Commerce appointed Leadership Fellow at St George’s House, Windsor Castle
Bob Juchter van Bergen Quast, CEO of the European Chamber of Digital Commerce, has been appointed Leadership Fellow of Society of Leadership Fellows at St George’s House, Windsor Castle. St George’s House, set in the historic grounds of Windsor Castle, was founded in 1966 by H.R.H. The Duke of Edinburgh…
Transferring personal data from Europe to the United States
EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and Swiss Federal Data Protection Act (DPA) In the EU and in Switzerland, processing personal data is generally prohibited, unless it is expressly allowed by law, or the data subject has consented to the processing. While being one of the more well-known legal bases…
Our free business directory listing | A golden opportunity to reinvent your business (before it’s too late)
Faced with the unpleasant reality of the Coronacrisis, you are compelled to reinvent your business. The ability to pull off this difficult feat—to jump from the maturity stage of one business to the growth stage of the next—is what separates high performers from those whose time at the top is…
Goldman Sachs 10.000 Women
The Goldman Sachs Foundation is now bringing 10,000 Women online through Coursera to support female entrepreneurs in new corners of the world. These 10 courses blend a world-class business education with a global peer-to-peer network, providing participants with the tools needed to lead and grow their business. Goldman Sachs and…
Our upcoming events at CNNMoney Switzerland
The Digital Future Board Room is a problem-solving roundtable for experts to provide key direction, perspectives, and solutions to pressing global issues that shape our digital future. All events are televised by CNNMoney Switzerland, digitally distributed, and open to an invited audience. At our events, you can be interviewed by CNNMoney Switzerland in…
ECDC spoke at the Blockchain Economic Forum during the World Economic Forum in Davos
The President of the European Chamber of Digital Commerce, Ria Persad, spoke about the Future of Payments at the Blockchain Economic Forum during the World Economic Forum in Davos. Blockchain Economic Forum gathers government officials, investors and entrepreneurs to discuss potential structural change in capital markets and payments systems, to…
Digital Future Board Room during the World Economic Forum in Davos
The European Chamber of Digital Commerce provides leading solutions for leaders. Our partners enjoy world-class management and technology advisory, global investor and client introductions, authoritative industry whitepapers, and an international Court of Arbitration. The Digital Future Board Room is a problem-solving roundtable for experts to provide key direction on critical issues shaping…
Digital Future Magazine
Promote your company at the World Economic Forum in Davos The European Chamber of Digital Commerce is hosting an event covered by CNNMoney Switzerland during the World Economic Forum in Davos from January 21-24, 2020. Hardcopies of Digital Future Magazine (ISSN 2666-7045) will be distributed throughout the World Economic Forum to the world’s top…
ECDC participates in The Hague Summit for Accountability in the Digital Age
The European Chamber of Digital Commerce was invited to The Hague Summit for Accountability in the Digital Age, held November 6-7, 2019, focused upon safeguarding the role of the internet as a tool for personal, professional, and social engagement. Topics included Accountability and Artificial Intelligence, Cyber Security and Cyber Peace. Invited…
The Environment is the Key to the Economy
The environment is the key to a nation’s self-sufficiency, and self-sufficiency is the key to wealth. Ria Persad Several years ago, I visited my relatives in the countryside of Trinidad and Tobago. My grandparents settled there in the 1930’s under British colonization. My grandmother, now 97, explained to me what…
Demystifying Valuation: What Is My Tech Company Worth?
There are at least 12 different ways of assigning a valuation to a company. In simple, common-sense terms, what are these 12 methods? 1. Your revenue. Not the best for early-stage startups, but after a company has been in business for a few years and has a stable customer base, an investor…
Financialization of the housing market
Background In February 2017, mrs Leilani Farha, the United Nations’ special rapporteur for housing, presented a paper on housing commoditisation to the UN human rights council in Geneva. The paper explains how an unregulated financial market has boosted housing prices to a level that excludes low-income households from certain attractive…
Intermediary commission percentages to raise money from investors
Investment banks and other consultants can plan and execute a fundraising campaign for startups and for companies in the growth phase. A reputable fundraising intermediary will likely speed up the process, reduce the legal risks, and negotiate a better deals. Most brokers will take a monthly retainer plus 5 percent…
Important Message to Cleantech Companies
How Do Tech Companies Cross “The Valley of Death” into Profitability? Engerati covers how the European Chamber of Digital Commerce helps tech companies with the #1 issue confronting them: how to go from innovation to making money. Technology innovators need to understand the markets in which they are operating and…
ECDC Cooperates with Research on Startups at King’s College London
CEO of the European Chamber of Digital Commerce Cooperates with Research on Italian Startups at King’s College London “Made in Italy”–does this label have a negative or positive effect on investors making decisions to fund biotech and medical technology startups in Italy? How is Italy perceived as a country? Does…
How Chambers of Commerce Help Family Offices and Wealth Management Firms
A Chamber of Commerce has traditionally furthered the interests of businesses in a particular geography or market sector by way of representation, business services, and networking opportunities. Multilateral Chambers of Commerce can link the business environments of two or more countries, such as the Swiss Chamber of Commerce in The…
Entrepreneurs of Europe featuring innovative tech founders
Entrepreneurs of Europe seeks to lift innovative European entrepreneurs in the spotlight and share their story to the world. Founder Joona Mäntyvaara quotes: You can make the best movie in the world, but if you don’t tell about it, no one will watch it. He sees that entrepreneurs in Europe can…
The #1 Problem Tech Companies Face
The #1 problem that tech companies face, simply put, is making money. We might have a trailblazing innovation, but who will buy it? And how do we get those people to actually BUY it? The first 15 years of my career, I was building technology within the corporate and government…
Statistics Show Women Are Better Entrepreneurs Than Men
Entrepreneur Magazine (Europe) found that 98% of venture capital funding goes to men although women own about 1/3 of all businesses in both the U.S. and Europe. However, Boston Consulting Group published in the report, “Why Women-Owned Startups Are a Better Bet”, that businesses founded by women deliver more than twice…
The intriguing history of IT showcased by the Hellenic IT Museum
The European Chamber of Digital Commerce endorses the Hellenic IT Museum for its rich collection of milestone computers and peripherals that have led to the progress of information technology. This special IT Museum in Greece started its operations in 2009. Since 2012, the Museum constitutes the first official Greek organization…
The importance of the Dubai International Financial Centre Courts to European trade
In his important and interesting paper “The Story of the Dubai International Financial Centre Courts: A Retrospective“, Mr. Jayanth K. Krishnan addresses the role of the Dubai International Financial Centre Courts (DIFC) in an international legal environment. The DIFCs are part of the sovereign structure of the Emirate of Dubai, within…
ING co-creates blockchain-based trade-settlement platform
ING has joined forces with other global banks to create a digital coin that can be used to settle international money transfers instantly, cutting out intermediaries and lowering transaction costs. This is a new step in the development of the utility settlement coin (USC) project set up in 2015 by…
Blockchain Expo Europe 2019
Europe’s largest Blockchain Conference and Exhibition focuses on the future of enterprise technology, with two days of top-level content from leading brands, embracing and developing cutting edge blockchain technologies. Returning to RAI Amsterdam on June 19-20, the Blockchain event is co-located with the IoT Tech Expo, AI & Big Data Expo…
Court of Arbitration of the European Chamber of Digital Commerce
The Court of Arbitration of the European Chamber of Digital Commerce plays a crucial role in today’s digital world. The appeal and quality of this independent arbitration institution are as valued today as ever. Fairness, even when there is a dispute, has always been this business tradition which continues to…
2019 Theme: SUCCESSFUL DIGITAL STRATEGIES
A study in Harvard Business Review found that successful companies, especially those with a bold corporate strategy, were considerably more likely to employ one of three offensive digital strategies: targeting new demand, new supply or new business models. Successful digital transformations are significantly less focused on cost efficiency and more…
The legal status of Security Tokens in Europe
This article describes the legal context in seven European countries regarding Security Token Offerings. Such offerings differ from Initial Coin Offerings (ICO’s). An Initial Coin Offering (ICO) is the cryptocurrency equivalent to an Initial Public Offering (offering shares of a private cooperation to the public for the first time, also…
CNNMoney Switzerland Designated as Digital Future Board Room Host
The European Chamber of Digital Commerce has designated CNNMoney Switzerland as the host of the Digital Future Board Room, where influencers and decision-makers gather to examine issues in fintech and suggest industry solutions to shape our digital future. The European Chamber of Digital Commerce would like to acknowledge CNNMoney Switzerland…
Digital Business Development
Targeting New Demand In order to target new demand for your product or service, you need to focus on what problem it can solve. Then refine your target market by identifying who has bought your product or service already. This includes target demographics, audience type, and any other attributes about…
Solutions for Haiti using Digital Transformation
In 2017, Professor Michael E. Porter of Harvard Business School gave an important presentation about a strategy for restoring Haiti’s prosperity. A crucial part of his advice is to “make attracting foreign investment a core strategy“. In this article I will provide a suggestion to implement such a strategy. The…
Becoming an International Offshore Centre – Steps to be taken by African nations
Introduction A number of African countries have began the process of moving away from being a tax haven to being an international finance centre, offering financial products to take advantage of the increasing international mobility of capital and labour. Legislations are continually being written with this goal in mind. It is…
SwissMate Archive
SwissMate is a publication of the Swiss Chamber of Commerce in The Netherlands (SCCN), formed in 1933. SwissMate is the predecessor of Digital Future Magazine, published by the European Chamber of Digital Commerce, an activity of the SCCN.
Do I need a private placement memorandum (PPM) when attracting investors?
Yes. If you are seeking to raise investment money for your startup, keep in mind that the best measure you can take to protect yourself against frivolous claims is by disclosing as much information about your company as possible. This way, if things go wrong and your private investors threaten…
Tax structuring with Dutch private limited liability companies – shareholders’ rights
Mainly due to its tax efficiency, the Dutch holding (BV) company regime is the most preferred holding regime in the world. The Dutch tax regime is beneficial regarding withholding tax, capital gains and income received from subsidiaries. Other advantages of a BV are the flexibility of Dutch corporate law and tax…
Nestlé announcing a major blockchain collaboration with IBM
A group of leading retailers and food companies including Nestlé and Walmart have signalled their commitment to “strengthen consumer confidence” in the foods they purchase by announcing a major blockchain collaboration with IBM. The consortium will work with ‘Big Blue’ to identify the “most urgent areas” across the global food…
Endress+Hauser and SAP developing Industrial Internet of Things solutions
Endress+Hauser and SAP have a successful history of collaboration. The two companies will now work together even more closely to develop Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) solutions. According to a statement, the aim of the collaboration is to develop solutions that enable seamless integration of field instruments into business processes.…
EBL is planning to build an innovation centre for electromobility
The Liestal-based Energy firm EBL is planning to build an innovation centre for electromobility on the Salina Raurica site by 2023. This will include Europe’s largest charging station and be powered by local renewable energy alone. EBL intends to establish the Swiss E-Mobility Hub right next to the A2 motorway. The…
FinTech fact sheet
As a traditionally strong financial center with infrastructure close to universities, Switzerland offers ideal conditions for driving innovations in the fintech scene. Switzerland enjoys an international reputation as a trustworthy, reliable and innovative financial center. Years of experience in the banking and insurance sector combined with technological expertise and a…
Handbook for investors
The handbook contains 164 pages of information setting out the key advantages of Switzerland as a business location as well as the current investment climate, production costs, taxes, infrastructure and new technologies, financing and legal matters. Source: Swiss Global Enterprise
Switzerland most blockchain-friendly country in Europe
The study, released by blockchain conference BlockShow Europe 2018 looked at 48 European countries, analyzing factors such as actual regulations set in place for the growing blockchain sector, ICO regulations, regulations on cryptocurrency as payment, or the taxation of cryptocurrencies. Switzerland ranks first among the top ten nations in Europe…