Our Get Started programme, which helps first-time entrepreneurs move from idea to actual busi
ness in 10 weeks, has seen more than 200 entrepreneurs launch their venture. This post is part of an ongoing series where we profile the many different kinds of entrepreneurs that have been part of the programme, how they came up with their ideas and what they learned. Anxious to get started yourself? Check out www.getstarted.nl

Name: Melissa Blokland

Background: Currently in her last year of Small Business and Retail Management at University of Applied Sciences in Rotterdam. Founded startup Oranjebier with fellow students in her second year and did an internship in marketing and sales for a chocolate factory in Belgium.

Lives in Rotterdam

Startup: Menccabox

Hi Melissa, you have and had many business ideas. How did you come up with the idea of the ‘Menccabox’?

The Menccabox is a ready to go party box, full of all the food and drinks you need for a good party.  I came up with the idea after researching on online fora and blogs where people shared their stories about the trouble of organizing birthday parties. Many people hardly can enjoy their own party because it is so much work to prepare everything. Like, what and how much do you need to buy? With the Menccabox you’ll get the exact right stuff in the right proportions so you never have too little or too much. I see the Menccabox as a product that brings people together, helps people to enjoy and will reduce foodwaste.

Why did you want to participate in the Get Started programme?

For me it was a possibility to finally start a business. Before I always had dozen ideas but never came any further than doing research and writing business plans. This programme forces me to focus and build the business step by step. Now Menccabox will become a reality.

What is your dream?

My dream is to really start a business and to become a brilliant entrepreneur, with one or more businesses in the end.  

What are the milestones you’ve reached so far?

Personal, it is focus and structure. Now I can deal better with feedback and put things more in perspective. It really helped me to make priorities and work on the project in smaller steps. That is really helpful for me as an absolute perfectionist.

For the business the biggest milestone is that I’ve found some early customers who are willing to buy my first products. That proved to me that it is a good product that people want to have.

What is the best advice you’ve got?

A nice advice was from one of the coaches who told me; don’t let your morality be the absolute goal of your entrepreneurship and your life because you can’t make the world perfect on your own. Do what is achievable.

What is the best advice you have for others who want to start a business?

Very cliché – never thought that I would say it but it is true – just do it. As long as you believe in your idea and your product just dive into the deep and go for it.

Are you ready to launch your startup?! Applications for the new batch of our Get Started programme close on September 11! Apply now via www.getstarted.nl