Rabobank funds startups before they have any revenue

Season 07 of Startup Pass-port by Frontwalker continues with Episode 27 – Robin Hempel, Start and Scale Up Banker at Rabobank. Robin Hempel discusses how startups can combine different forms of funding, including equity and bank financing. He explains that while startups may initially turn to equity, bank financing can become an option once there is a proven market or customers in place. He also introduces Rabobank's €25,000 innovation contribution for companies in the validation phase, as well as its €200,000 fully subordinated loan for companies further along in their development. He also shares how he evaluates startups, looking beyond traditional financial figures to the people running the company, their experience, the market they are in, and the problem they are solving. For Robin, a company also needs customers to actually grow, while the size of its potential market depends on the type of business model. Robin reflects on Rabobank's role in stimulating innovation in the Netherlands by giving back to communities and supporting companies at an early stage. He also shares what motivates him about working with entrepreneurs, explaining that helping founders at the start of their journey and guiding them in the right direction gives him "way more joy and pleasure" than his previous jobs. This new season brings conversations with founders, innovators, investors, and ecosystem leaders shaping the future of entrepreneurship, in partnership with Erasmus Enterprise and the NL Startup Competition. These conversations are powerful, inspiring, and game-changing, and we can't wait for you to hear them. Stay tuned! New episodes dropping soon!