“I help young entrepreneurs find their place”
Entrepreneurship was instilled in Cankut Ercan from an early age. As a young boy, he worked in his family’s retail business and became familiar with the trial and error that characterizes entrepreneurship. Once a football manager, he has now been a mentor to young entrepreneurial talent for several years at the Windesheim Centre for Entrepreneurship (WCfE). On Thursday, May 22, that entrepreneurial talent will once again take center stage during the annual Student Entrepreneur Day at Windesheim. A conversation with Cankut about his drive to support young entrepreneurs in the region he feels at home in.
Football and Law
Cankut was born in Apeldoorn in 1987 and in his youth showed promise as a football player. He also learned customer-oriented thinking in the family business and built a network in the Zwolle retail scene. His law studies in Nijmegen laid the foundation for his first business: player representation in professional football. An ideal preparation for his current career, Cankut says. “Back then, I guided young talents towards potential success, and that’s very similar to what I do now at the WCfE. Whether it’s a football player or a student, it always starts with who someone is and what they need in order to grow. Each student ultimately works with their own talents, background, mindset, and qualities, and is shaped by their specific circumstances. The starting point for my guidance is always the person themselves.”
Romantic at heart
Cankut describes himself as a romantic. “I love movies and series in which a mentor figure guides a young person and passes on all their knowledge and networks to the next generation. That probably has to do with my family history. My parents and grandparents created opportunities for future generations by coming to the Netherlands—from the metropolis of Ankara to the Apeldoorn and Zwolle region. A new world, a new language, and reinventing everything in order to give the next generation a better future.”
The hard school of entrepreneurship
Things didn’t take off right away for Cankut as a football manager. “I didn’t earn a cent for three years. Only after that did I close my first deal in the Keuken Kampioen Division.” That difficult period has become a valuable lesson for his students. “I know what it’s like to start something without prior knowledge, without a network, without a safety net. Precisely because I experienced what it’s like to begin with nothing, I understand what students go through when they take their first steps. I know what they might face, what they need, and how important it is to be seen and taken seriously. That’s why I can guide them not only with knowledge, but also through experience and empathy.”
Switch to WCfE
After several years in the football world, Cankut started working at WCfE and became a mentor for young entrepreneurial talent. “That personal switch from football to education came from a desire to contribute to a better world and future. I believe that if you help an individual realize their dream, it always has a lasting and positive effect on the world around them. I see it almost every day—how student entrepreneurs turn their ideas into impact. Like Mike van de Streek, who brought the Freestyle Football European Championship to Zwolle with his initiative StreetSkills. Or Tyrone Krieger of CodeGlass, who won the 2024 Innovation Award for the Zwolle Region. And also Evita Logtenberg, founder of Fittastic, who was chosen as the region’s best student entrepreneur. These are students who not only run businesses but also visibly contribute to the world around them. Their stories show how much power and potential lies within young entrepreneurship.”
Personal development is key
The most important lesson Cankut gives to student entrepreneurs is: make use of what you have. “We call that the ‘bird in hand’ principle. We want students to use what they enjoy, what they’re good at, but also to respond to what the world needs and what can earn them a living. It’s a variation on the Ikigai model and starts with an idea and the courage to act on it. That might lead to a business, sometimes a very successful one. But no matter what, you develop yourself. You learn to make choices, to collaborate, to deal with setbacks. That personal development is the real gain of our guidance. In this way, at WCfE—where we work as a strong, close-knit team—we aim to prepare a new generation of entrepreneurs for the future: people who know themselves, take responsibility, and dare to contribute to a better world.”
Student Entrepreneur Day 2025
For WCfE, and thus for Cankut, Student Entrepreneur Day is an important event. Not only is the annual award for best student entrepreneur presented, it’s also a time when all finalists receive attention for their valuable achievements—this year more than ever. “The finalists present themselves on stage, and the winner will be announced. We also have a market with booths showcasing the products and services of our student entrepreneurs. Another highlight is a Collegetour session featuring Jacco Vonhof (entrepreneur and chair of MKB Nederland) and Lisa Stam (young entrepreneur and owner of Michelin-starred restaurant Affect).”
Student Entrepreneur Day is truly an opportunity for exchange between student entrepreneurs and all possible regional stakeholders, such as other educational institutions, ZWINC, Kennispoort, the municipality, the province, SMEs, VNO-NCW, and many more.
Strengthening the region
Cankut sees the interaction between educational institutions, government, and economic partners as a vital way to strengthen the region. “It’s not only necessary to equip students with the right tools and skills, but also to retain them in the region. We need to make sure they are ready for the next step after education and that they see the value of this region in such a way that they think: I don’t need to leave, because I have all the opportunities to grow and develop myself right here. If we help students discover what they want to contribute, and show them that they can do it here in the region, then we’re building a bright and lasting future together.”
Cankut Ercan guides student entrepreneurs at the Windesheim Centre for Entrepreneurship (WCfE). During Student Entrepreneur Day on May 22, 2025, students will present their ideas to the public and regional partners. The event is open to all and will take place in the Atrium (Main Building), starting at 1:00 PM.