Launchpad

A European base for Asian founders.

Europe is a good market and an awkward one to enter from outside: many countries rather than one, buyers who treat regulation as a purchasing criterion, and trust that is still earned in person. The Netherlands is a sensible place to start. Business runs in English, and a Dutch company can sell across the whole EU single market.

Steppe was founded by Sufeng Li, whose background is in finance, audit and software products. We know both ends of the journey, and we would like more good founders from Asia to make it.

Our experience is deepest with Asia, and the launchpad is open to founders from anywhere in the region.

Asia → Europe · Route 1

Start here

For founders who want to build a new company in the Netherlands from the ground up.

Who it is for

Founders in Asia with a concrete idea or an early product, who are ready to relocate.
People who want their headquarters in the Netherlands and Europe as their first market.

What we help with

Visa and residence: Which residence route fits your situation, what the application asks for, and an introduction to a suitable recognised facilitator where the route requires one.
Funding: How early-stage funding works in Europe, what a first round here looks like, and where your first capital could come from.
Setting up: Incorporating the company, opening a bank account and getting the finance basics right from the first day.

Asia → Europe · Route 2

Expand here

For Asian startups with a working business that want Europe as their next market.

Who it is for

Companies with a product and customers at home, now looking at Europe.
Teams willing to put a real presence in Europe, with the Netherlands as headquarters.

What we help with

Finance: The European entity and group structure, intercompany flows, reporting and runway, and numbers a European investor or enterprise buyer will accept.
Market: Which country first, how to position for European buyers, how to price, and who to talk to.
Legal and regulatory: What GDPR, the AI Act and sector rules mean for your product, which contracts and registrations you need, and when to bring in a specialist.

Europe → Asia

Heading east

For European startups considering Asia as their next market.

Who it is for

European founders weighing whether, when and how to enter an Asian market.
Teams already talking to a distributor, partner or investor in Asia and unsure how to read them.

What we help with

A reality check: Whether the market is worth it for your product now, and what it will cost in time and attention.
Partners and counterparties: How to assess a distributor, partner or investor before you commit.
Structure and money: The options for setting up and for moving money in and out, and the questions to put to your advisers.

How it works

One to one: There is no cohort, no application window and no curriculum. Send us an email or set up a call, and we take it from there.
In English: All of the work is in English. Your customers, investors and regulators in Europe will expect it.
Advice first: The launchpad starts with advice. Where a company is a fit, funding can become part of the conversation.
Honest about limits: We are not lawyers, tax advisers or immigration lawyers. We give practical guidance from experience and point you to licensed specialists when a question needs one.

Questions

Do we need to speak Dutch?

No. You can start and run a company here in English, though official letters arrive in Dutch.

Can you sponsor a visa?

Not directly. Steppe is not a recognised facilitator or sponsor, but we can explain the routes, help you prepare and connect you with an appropriate facilitator.

Will you invest in our company?

Possibly. Funding is something we can discuss once we understand what you are building.

What does it cost?

That depends on what you need. Send us an email or set up a call and we will explain how it works.

Start a conversation

Send us an email or ask for a call. A few lines on who you are, what you are building and what you need is enough to begin.

sufeng@steppe.vc

Write an email