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We want to create impact in the world by making textbooks accessible to everyone.

Opening a world of knowledge and opportunities to everyone.

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Our Story
2010

How it all started. When our founder started his studies, he got introduced to the unpleasant surprise all students encounter: the costs of buying books. Why is it that there is no subscription-based platform offering study books making the necessary materials affordable and easy to use?

2015

The idea became BUKU. In 2015 we presented our concept to publishers, started with the development, technical support and our first business angel Vincent van Wieren got on board.

2016

Things are getting real. The idea that started in 2010 came to lifeā€¦ We began to build the platform, appointed Bertus Jan as CEO and started our pilot at one of the biggest universities of The Netherlands, Hanze University of Applied Sciences.

2017

There is a first for everything. Milestone! The first pilot had been a great success, an institute of Hanze University, the Johan Cruijff Academy implemented BUKU into their program and we publicly launched BUKU in The Netherlands.

2018

Letā€™s go international. The FHR School of Business in Suriname was the first international country that started using BUKU, becoming the proof of concept which led to more joining publishers and expanding the online library.

2019

And the winner isā€¦ NOVI University of ICT started using BUKU, more publishers joined, and we received the audience award for the Innovation Top 100 Price by the national Chamber of Commerce.

2020

Good vibes. A busy year and we loved it: TIO University and Schoevers Educations started using BUKU, the closing an important round of investments, we launched in Aruba and Curacao, expanded in Surinam, and had our first users in Malawi: UNIMA College of Medicine.

2021

The sky is the limit. In 2021 we developed BUKU for secondary education, we explored collaboration with international NGOs, expanded our business in the Netherlands and launched the platform in Kenya and the southern Pacific.

2022

Growing and growing. In the markets where we are already active, we are expanding further: in Namibia we grew into one of the largest players in secondary education, in Kenya we officially opened a BUKU branch, the platform was launched in Guyana and Barbados and we had the opportunity to participate in a World Bank project in Malawi, where BUKU was rolled out in Technical and Vocational Education and Training.

2023

New markets, New colleagues. This year we want to further grow in existing markets, but also explore a number of new markets. We had the first discussions with new publishers and educational institutions in no fewer than 18 countries. The BUKU team is also growing. At the start of this year we welcomed five new colleagues, and the year has only just begun...

The people behind BUKU

The Team. We are working with a motivated and enthusiastic group of people from different backgrounds, which creates a surprising dynamic. We are flexible in how and where we work, make room for pleasure and always try to bring out the best in each other. Through close collaboration within our team, we ensure that technology and sales complement each other and are able to achieve great improvements in process and product on a daily basis.

Culture. We define success by the people we work with: understanding each other and responding with a positive attitude. Not just within our team, but also with students, teachers, publishers and educational institutions. We believe in what we do and stand for the old saying 'rising tides lift all boats'. It fits perfectly with the way we treat each other, and how we view our relationships with partners at home and abroad. Every day we try to get better - for our users, for our partners and for ourselves.

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BUKU team Netherlands office presentation Fill 25
BUKU founder Jeff van der Laan posing next to a big BUKU logo

Meet our Advisory Board

BUKU is privileged to have access to the support, expertise and strategic thoughts of our Advisory Team ā€“ sharp and experienced individuals, representing business and educational and international development.

  • BUKU board member Marius van Huijstee

    Marius van Huijstee

  • BUKU board member Frits Kok

    Frits Kok

  • BUKU board member Douwe Jan Boersma

    Douwe Jan Boersma

  • BUKU board member Martijn Kruisman

    Martijn Kruisman

Will you join our team?

Do you want to work in an awesome team at an innovative startup?
We are looking for talent that can help build our ambition. Interested?
Send an e-mail with your resume to us.

Apply now
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