UPALMERE! strengthens startup communities with Almere Changemakers
Almere wants to develop into an innovative growth city in the field of Tech and Transition. In doing so, the city is increasingly focusing on high-tech developments. At the end of 2025, for instance, Almere received a clear boost from the decision by chip machine manufacturer ASM International to invest hundreds of millions in a new headquarters and R&D centre on the High Tech Campus in Almere. Startups and scale-ups play an important role in this. They often lead the way in technological innovation and build solutions that can make a difference.
The UPALMERE! action program champions these ambitions and supports tech-driven startups, scale-ups and innovative SMEs to grow and make an impact. UPALMERE! in particular also looks at what is going on nationally and internationally, and focuses on driving an innovation ecosystem with startup communities in Almere.
Building growth together
To support entrepreneurs in their growth, UPALMERE! launched the Almere Changemakers initiative at the start of 2025. This community platform brings together founders, experts, investors, (young) talent and other changemakers on a regular basis. The focus is on demand-driven and on what entrepreneurs really need at that moment.
Previous editions in 2025 have included community building, ecosystem development and growth dilemmas such as "How do I raise funding without losing control?" and "How do I build a team that grows with me?". Themes such as funding, talent, internationalisation and scalability were discussed in interactive sessions, which focused on recognition, knowledge sharing and collaboration. This is how Almere Changemakers grows into a place where entrepreneurs not only pick up insights, but also actively build their next step.
Data-driven growth with the Gritd framework
Also in 2026, UPALMERE! picks up with Almere Changemakers. With a clear focus on growth, deepening and connecting, the initiative will continue to support entrepreneurs with the questions that really matter. Not through separate inspiration sessions, but by bringing content and practice together.
A key component in this is Gritd's data-driven growth framework which will be at the heart of the fourth edition of Almere Changemakers in April. This model dwells on the different growth stages of a startup, and shows where they actually stand. By looking sharply at data, choices and timing, it becomes clear which steps are needed to grow further and which investments are appropriate. A fun fact: the growth framework will soon also play an important role in the further development of the Startup Hero Journey called UP Validation Program, which will start from the beginning of May.
The approach invites honest reflection. Founders look with new eyes at their product-market combination, their ambition and their growth path. At the same time, it shows how a shared growth capital and data-driven working not only help individual startups move forward, but also contribute to a stronger and more aligned startup ecosystem in Almere. These include fostering a common language, better matching supply and demand and a data-driven ecosystem. Similarly, partner Innovally includes the framework in its programming and Horizon Flevoland is already making intensive use of it.
With Almere Changemakers, UPALMERE! is fully committed to building strong communities for an innovative ecosystem. Are you a startup entrepreneur or an ecosystem builder? Come and see it at one of the Almere Changemakers editions!