What started locally now resonates in Brussels

DNNL presents A New Narrative to the European Commission and OECD

Brussels, October 2025 — What began as a series of open conversations with entrepreneurs across the Netherlands took a special turn in Brussels. On behalf of Dutch New Narrative Lab (DNNL), Ruben Brave presented the joint DNNL–Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (VU) report, A New Narrative: Bottom-Up Approaches to Inclusive Entrepreneurship in the Netherlands, to Mario Nava, Director-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion at the European Commission.

The meeting with the European Commission took place around the YEPA In-Person Meeting in Brussels — the Youth Entrepreneurship Policy Academy Summit, organised by the European Commission and the OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development). Thanks to the OECD invitation, the report was not only discussed at YEPA but could also be personally handed to Mario Nava.

Why this matters

A New Narrative brings together insights and experiences from nearly 400 contributors, shaped through 23 roundtables at the DNNL unConferences (2023–2024). The report not only identifies barriers — limited access to networks and capital, complex rules, lack of representation — it also shows what works: resilience, community-building, bridge-building between networks, and making role models visible.

In Brussels, reference was also made to the VNO-NCW MRA New Economy Working Group, where DNNL actively helps connect innovation, inclusion and sustainability — three pillars we approach as one integrated whole.

From Dutch policy lesson to European follow-through

The report has its roots in Dutch policy on diversity and inclusion in startups, as highlighted by the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy (EZK): “Diversity and inclusion in startups: a source of innovation and growth.” This created a clear line from one DG in the Netherlands to a DG in Europe: insights from Dutch practice are now informing the European policy agenda.

Partnership that works: VU × DNNL

This report is a direct result of the 2024 collaboration agreement between Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam and DNNL, focused on diversity, sustainability and entrepreneurship. The alliance pairs academic depth with real-world practice: VU researchers collected and analysed the data; DNNL convened entrepreneurs, investors and policymakers in open dialogue formats such as the unConferences.

Methodology. For the policy analysis, DNNL used the OECD Better Entrepreneurship Policy Tool (BEPT) — an instrument that helps countries measure and improve the inclusiveness of their entrepreneurship policies and ecosystems. Read more on our approach: dnnl.org/bept

OECD and YEPA: connecting evidence, data and policy

In Brussels, Ruben Brave also discussed the findings with Jonathan Potter, Head of Unit at the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Centre for Entrepreneurship, and other OECD representatives. The focus: how A New Narrative can help embed inclusive data and practices in national and European policy, and how Dutch lessons can serve as a blueprint for other Member States.

YEPA (Youth Entrepreneurship Policy Academy) is the European Union - OECD initiative that brings together evidence, data and policy to strengthen youth-led, inclusive and sustainable entrepreneurship across Europe and beyond. The core of A New Narrative aligns tightly: entrepreneurship as a public good, driven by access, diversity and resilience.

The Brussels conversations were therefore not only a policy milestone but also a symbolic step: the Dutch inclusion story now echoes at European level.

Credits and next steps Authors: Maud van Merriënboer, Minou de Sanders and Ramin Latify (VU), in collaboration with Ruben Brave (DNNL).
Field contribution: nearly 400 entrepreneurs, researchers and policymakers through 23 roundtables.

Next step. Together with partners in the Netherlands and across Europe, DNNL will continue building practical pathways that bring policy, education and markets closer together. This is how A New Narrative grows: from research to movement, and from national lessons to a shared European future.
Organisations and policymakers interested in applying these insights are warmly invited to connect.

From Proven Impact to European Momentum

Our approach delivers tangible outcomes: last year’s unConference unlocked nearly €1M in deals within three months, and 63.6% of the DNNL × Social Enterprise NL Launchpad cohort secured either a new customer or an investor.

Through the efforts of the DNNL community and partners, the Dutch Parliament adopted the White Motion (10 April 2025) on inclusive financing—strengthening government instruments for entrepreneurship that by estimate influence ~€30 billion annually (see the MTSprout profile of Ruben Brave). DNNL’s bridge-building role was also recognised when founder Ruben Brave received Rabobank’s “Ampersand” distinction (Rabobank article).

European momentum at the European Commission and within OECD/YEPA helps us accelerate and scale what works. It opens doors to cross-country pilots and partnerships, makes it easier to align funding so successful pilots can grow, creates a simple shared way to measure results so what works is visible and scalable, and speeds the uptake of inclusive procurement and supplier diversity across public and private sectors—giving more entrepreneurs a fair chance to win business. In short, European attention helps turn what works locally into solutions we can apply across Europe: from research to a movement, and from local lessons to shared succes.

Dutch New Narrative Lab (DNNL) advances inclusive entrepreneurship as a driver of innovation and broad-based prosperity. Through unConferences, research, policy dialogues, and initiatives such as Relocate Launchpad NL, we are building an openminded international ecosystem where anyone—regardless of background—can start, grow and thrive.