Our Why, How, What
Why
We believe entrepreneurship and teamwork are powerful drivers of personal growth and positive change. By encouraging ownership, creativity, and collaboration, we aim to help individuals make a lasting impact.
How
We support young entrepreneurial minds in discovering their direction and turning ideas into action. Through practical experience, coaching, and teamwork, students develop the confidence and skills to lead, build, and adapt in any setting.
What
We offer a hands-on, accredited BBA in Entrepreneurship built around real-world projects and team-based learning. Small groups, personal coaching, and guidance from industry experts keep the experience focused, practical, and deeply personal.
1993
Tiimiakatemia is founded at JAMK University of Applied Sciences in Jyväskylä, Finland.
This marks the beginning of the team learning model that inspires Team Academy today.
2008
Team Academy launches in the Netherlands and opens its first campus in Haarlem, introducing the Finnish model to a new generation of entrepreneurs.
2015
Now based in Amsterdam, Team Academy receives NVAO accreditation and begins offering an internationally recognized BBA in Entrepreneurship.
2025
With 73 students and over 300 alumni, our community continues to grow.
It is filled with founders, changemakers, and young professionals creating real impact in the world.
Marjolein Bakker
With a background in Social Studies, coaching, training, management, and recruitment, Marjolein brings a wealth of experience to her role as Program Director.
What excites her most about Team Academy is hearing students reflect on their journey, especially at graduation.
“It’s inspiring to listen to how they’ve grown over four years: their personal development, the challenges they faced, and the lessons they carry forward. That’s why we do this.”
At Team Academy, learning by doing applies to everyone, staff included. Marjolein shares:
“I’ve learned the power of teamwork here. Trusting my colleagues, finding solutions together, it’s given me more freedom and peace in my daily life.”
For her, every day is different. A quick chat at the coffee machine might turn into a conversation about a student’s business idea or simply how they are doing. This personal atmosphere is what she values most.
Her mission is to help young entrepreneurs see the fun in every challenge, build confidence in their abilities, and prepare for the future. And her dream milestone at Team Academy is guiding a firewalk with the students.
We want to facilitate in creating skillful, creative, and developed entrepreneurs who are not afraid to fail and learn, who can adapt to situations, and who have a positive impact on their community. At Team Academy, the community shares experiences, knowledge, and a network. It’s the place where students learn to cooperate, develop on a personal level, and develop their business ideas. We believe that all these features will make you a better entrepreneur, one who is ready for the future!
Our Values
EMBRACE DIVERSITY
We seek out what’s different, from how we see and do business to how we communicate and work together. By engaging with different cultures, backgrounds, and points of view, we grow both individually and collectively.
TEAM UP
We grow through collaboration. Strong bonds and a sense of belonging are built through shared effort, trust, and honest feedback. Together, we challenge each other to be our best and aim for collective results, always putting “we” before “I.”
FAIL FORWARD
We cheer each other on to take risks, make mistakes, and learn from them. There is no growth without failure, and no better way to learn than by doing.
BE CONSCIOUS
We take care of ourselves, each other, our workplace, and our world. We aim to leave things better than we found them and strive to make a positive impact wherever we can.
CREATE VALUE
We contribute to the future through action. Whether in our businesses or in how we collaborate, we focus on building something meaningful for our clients, our partners, and ourselves.