Grow exponentially, shoulder to shoulder.
A circle of 6–8 founders at your level. Online sessions from anywhere, offline experiences in Southeast Asia and Europe, and two Summits a year where everybody comes together.
Every founder knows the feeling.
Some weeks you're on fire, solving big problems. Other weeks you're stuck. And that's frustrating — because you're losing momentum, money and growth.
But there's another way. The fastest-growing entrepreneurs have a few things in common:
Alone, you grow linearly — and get stuck alone. Together, you grow exponentially.
Imagine overcoming obstacles faster. Imagine consistently acting on the highest-leverage opportunities. How much further ahead would your business be in 12 months? And in 3 years?
This is why Shoulder to Shoulder exists:
make reaching your potential inevitable.
Your Founder Circle.
A fixed circle of 6–8 founders operating at your level, meeting online for one hour every week. Using a proven system, you share opportunities, solve each other's problems and hold each other accountable — so the whole circle grows exponentially. And yes: we have fun doing it.
Online where it's efficient.
Offline where it matters.
Circle sessions — online
Your Founder Circle meets online, so it works from anywhere — whether you're in Amsterdam, Southeast Asia or on the road. No flights needed to stay sharp.
Events & side quests — offline
Dinners, activities and side quests happen in person, in Southeast Asia and Europe — where most members are based. Join whatever is happening near you.
STS Summit — twice a year
Twice a year everybody comes together at the STS Summit — several days of strategy, connection and unforgettable experiences.
What changes when you're not doing it alone.
You grow faster
Solve problems in one session that would've cost you weeks alone — and act on opportunities before the rest of the world sees them.
You stop being the bottleneck
Honest feedback from founders at your level exposes your blind spots, so the business stops depending entirely on you.
You raise your standards
Surrounded by high performers, your baseline shifts. What felt ambitious becomes your new normal.
You enjoy the journey
Dinners, side quests and Summits with people who truly get it. Growth and a great life — not one or the other.
Become a world-class founder, surrounded by exceptional entrepreneurs.
So your business grows faster, generates more profit, and scales without depending on you.
I stopped thinking like an operator and started thinking like the founder I need to become to raise €40M for my business. That changed how I do everything.
KIBET KIPKEMOI
I'd been circling the real estate idea for a while without moving. With the support of the group it turned into land I now own and a 14-unit project underway.
SAMER ATTALLA
What is growth worth,
if it's only serious?
Shoulder to Shoulder is also simply a great life: side quests, long dinners and weekends away with guys who actually understand you. Life quality isn't a bonus — it's the point.
The next circles are for founders who
Two levels: €5k–25k/month founders scaling to €1M/year, and €25k+/month founders scaling to multiple 7 figures a year.
Join in three steps.
Apply
A short application — takes two minutes. Tell us about you and your business.
Founder Fit Conversation
A personal call to make sure it's the right fit, both ways. No pitch, no pressure.
Join your circle
You're matched into a Founder Circle of 6–8 founders operating at your level.
Your host
Lennart van der Ziel
Former founder & CEO who scaled his tech business to €12M+ in revenue with 30+ employees.
Now helps entrepreneurs supercharge their performance and business growth through high-performing founder groups.
Frequently asked
Start with a two-minute application.
Applications are reviewed personally. If there's a strong mutual fit, we'll invite you to a short Founder Fit Conversation.
"Worth your time. You will meet new people — people you always wished to be surrounded by, with high energy — and you will expand your knowledge."