Why founders are choosing the studio model?

Building a company, any company is no walk in the park, especially in a market where funding rounds are fewer but bigger, valuations are on a diet, and AI seems to be the answer to everything. Oh, and let's not forget Europe’s challenges with regulation and global competition! No wonder founders are looking for a different approach to challenge the status quo.

Enter the venture studio. 🎯

Studio's are not just about building faster, it's about empowering, sharing knowledge, frameworks, templates and, first and foremost, perseverance to actually make a dent. Studios like Builders only partner with a small set of founders each year - 8 to 12. And we're working alongside the founders to figure out which are worth pursuing and which are not; in the end, only 4 become actual ventures. That means studios are super picky by nature about who they team up with. As we should be, too many things are built that nobody needs.

In the end, venture studios aren’t just another funding option. They’re your ride-or-die partner, especially when the going gets tough. Oh, and did I mention that Builders also matched the CEO and CTO in a residency, more later! For now, here's an update on what's going on behind the scenes.

From our universe 🪐

On the studio side 🌌

• Builders at PyData Amsterdam 2024. We brought Stroopwafels 🧇 to the PyData Amsterdam conference, where over 900 Data & AI engineers and scientists gathered. It was great to connect with this vibrant Data & AI community that supports open research and data practices. We had a blast at our Stroopwafel stand!

• Investor House. On September 23, we co-hosted an event with CM.com in Breda, featuring inspiring pitches by Estefania, Dylan and Alisher. We also had an engaging chat with Gilbert Gooijers, COO & co-founder of CM.com, focusing on communication. Catch the event recap here and sign up for our next event on November 26 at Builders Rotterdam HQ.

  

• The CTO Get Together. On September 26, we co-hosted a CTO Get Together with Arches Capital at Microsoft’s office, focused on knowledge sharing for tech leaders. Two speakers explored the Semantic Kernel and its applications. Our next session is on November 14 - follow our LinkedIn account for updates.

• Women in AI Benelux Awards 2025 Nomination. Sharon Klaver, our Co-founder & Managing Director, has been nominated for the AI Entrepreneur category at the Women in AI Benelux Awards 2025. We’re excited about this recognition and remain committed to building AI-driven businesses that make a real impact. Let’s keep shaping the future of work with AI!

At our ventures 🚀

• Everyday 🚀 Everyday officially launched, gaining media coverage from Silicon Canals, EU Startups and more, and the celebration continued with a successful launch party at the Builders Rotterdam HQ. Follow Estef, Dylan, and Everday to stay updated on future developments. Want to take it for a spin? Reach out for some personal demo tour vibes.

• Avery 🚀 Avery has officially incorporated after nearly 200 conversations with the hiring community, refining designs through multiple iterations, and receiving invaluable feedback from design partners. Avery aims to 10x hiring and recruitment with AI talent scouts and talent pools built on your company's actual network and reach. Curious to know more? Book a meeting with Alisher & Marco.

What we’re following

• The future of AI is vertical? Vertical AI is reshaping industries, taking over where traditional vertical SaaS left off. By using AI to automate high-cost, repetitive tasks in sectors like healthcare, law, and finance, it’s unlocking massive new market opportunities. Bessemer predicts this wave will see startups rapidly hitting $100M+ ARR and going public soon. With the power to expand markets, transform industries, and deliver unprecedented value, Vertical AI is the next big thing in tech. Read the full article here.
  

• What Founder Mode Actually Means? Paul Graham's "Founder Mode" post struck a chord with founders, highlighting the challenges of scaling a company and finding the right leaders. It’s tough to hire people who can match a founder's deep understanding of the product, mission, and customers—and no hire will ever be as committed as a founder. PG argues that founders are key to a startup's long-term success by staying hands-on. However, this doesn’t mean they should do everything themselves. Building a great company requires trusting a strong team and knowing when to step back. Founder Mode means balancing deep involvement with stepping back, focusing on key projects, building trust, and maintaining high standards. Check out the original post.

Forward, always,

Michael van Lier
Founder & Managing Director at Builders