Building a Business Far from Home
- Jun 27
- 3 min read
In April 2020, right in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic, my family and I made an important decision: to start a new life in the Netherlands. We were motivated by a restless spirit and the desire to challenge ourselves as a family.
🚴 SCOTI is Born: Sports and Passion
Since I can remember, sports have been essential in my life. I was a high-performance athlete from age 6 to 23, and I have been passionate about cycling and triathlon for over a decade. I always wanted to launch a sports brand that would go beyond selling apparel—a brand carrying a message of support, empowerment, and perseverance for other athletes.
That’s how, in 2023, SCOTI Cycling Apparel was born. Designed in Italy and based in The Hague, I founded it believing that a high-performance apparel brand could inspire others to achieve their goals. For me, it’s a way to give back a bit of what sports have given me.

🌍 Advantages of Starting a Business in the Netherlands
As an entrepreneur in Mexico and now in the Netherlands, I have noticed cultural differences, advantages, and challenges. But there’s something we entrepreneurs share: the desire to impact communities, grow professionally, and inspire others with our projects. More than doing business, it’s about passion.
“More than doing business, we are driven by passion.”
The first months were full of observation and adaptation. You notice cultural differences, ways of working, and ways of building relationships. You also discover an entrepreneurial support ecosystem in the Netherlands—spaces for new ideas and an environment that challenges you but also pushes you forward.
⚡ Three Opportunities I Found
With a business plan, I was able to visualize opportunities, identify risks, and connect the key pieces of the process. A plan provides financial and commercial visibility, but it also requires intuition and confidence in your project.
Here are the 3 most valuable opportunities I discovered when starting a business in the Netherlands:
Access to an organized and collaborative ecosystem
Institutions willing to listen, provide feedback, and open doors.
The value of focus and clarity
Dutch practical culture forces you to be clear, direct, and efficient.
The power of cultural diversity
Being surrounded by different cultures makes you more creative and strategic.
Challenges and Final Reflections
Registering a company here is fast. I walked into the KvK one afternoon and left with my business officially registered that same day. Of course, it comes with personal and tax commitments, but it’s reassuring to know that there is institutional support even in complex situations.
In my case, manufacturing our products in Europe means importing to the Netherlands avoids administrative and fiscal burdens since it’s intra-community trade, which streamlines processes and opens doors to new markets across the EU.
Then there’s the Dutch consumer: pragmatic, direct, and demanding. Our products or services must meet these expectations. However, we shouldn’t forget we are in an international environment, with opportunities beyond the Netherlands, throughout Europe and even globally.
Starting a business abroad can open many doors—from new European markets to partnerships with Mexico. With knowledge of both cultures, we can build solid and sustainable businesses.
Of course, there are also challenges. As Mexicans, we are creative, passionate, and sometimes impulsive. That business style is unique but can be challenging outside our natural environment. That’s why I see a great opportunity in building a community among Mexican entrepreneurs in the Netherlands—a trusted network where our ideas and talents can grow together.
👉 Would you like to join the Mexican Business Directory in the Netherlands to boost your project and learn from other entrepreneurs’ experiences? Contact us and become part of this community.

About the Author
Alexis Van Scoit Rodríguez
Entrepreneur, IT consultant, and passionate triathlete and cyclist. Founder of SCOTI Cycling Apparel in 2023, a brand created to inspire athletes to achieve their goals. He is an active member of the Mexican Talent Network in the Netherlands, where he coordinates the entrepreneurship area.
📩 Contact Alexis:
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