Joep Luttikhuis interns in his own business: "I met my potential business partner"
- Music
A platform that acts as a bridge between DJs and clients—a central hub for communication, booking arrangements, and financial transactions. It's also a space where DJs can showcase their portfolios and build their online presence. Meet DJ Cloud, the brainchild of Media-Music student Joep Luttikhuis. To dedicate as much time as possible to growing his business, Joep took advantage of the SLIEB program, which allows students to intern within their own company. "My goal is to achieve global recognition."
He always found booking a DJ to be overly complicated. As a DJ performing under the name "Jody," Joep Luttikhuis knows the ins and outs of the music scene. He noticed that many DJs operate as freelancers and often neglect their websites or social media. With DJ Cloud, Joep aims to help them enhance their online visibility. “The platform isn’t just about connecting supply and demand,” he explains. “We’re also building a community where DJs can constantly update their portfolios and where people can follow them. Think of it as an Instagram for DJs.”
Combining Studies with Entrepreneurship
Joep had this idea in mind for some time but initially intended to cater to all musicians. He quickly realized this was too ambitious and decided to narrow his focus. “DJ Cloud already existed in a physical form,” Joep says. “As a DJ, I frequently get booking requests. Since I can only perform at one event at a time, I started hiring other DJs a while back. They perform under their own names but always in connection with my business name, DJ Cloud. I have thirteen DJs in my network who I manage personally.” The online version of his business—a platform for DJs across the Netherlands—is currently in development. “These DJs will perform purely under their own names, using the platform primarily to showcase their portfolios online.”
Developing both an app and a website while building a robust network of DJs is time-intensive. That’s why Joep is grateful for the SLIEB program offered by ArtEZ. For those unfamiliar, SLIEB (short for "interning within your own company") is part of the Topsportregeling program. This initiative, offered by institutions like ArtEZ, allows arts students to combine their studies with the launch and management of their businesses while still earning credits. Joep says, “It’s a fantastic program I’ve gotten so much out of.”
Collaborating with Fellow Entrepreneurs
The SLIEB program is open to all full-time or part-time students who can demonstrate a business plan or project with ambition and growth potential. As art students in SLIEB, participants follow a tailored entrepreneurial path within Saxion’s LevelUP! program. “You attend lessons, engaging workshops, and meet other entrepreneurs,” Joep explains. “The program is quite broad because you’re in a group with people pursuing various business ideas. It’s up to you to apply the knowledge to your own venture.”
Success in this program requires motivation and persistence, according to Joep. “I’m nearly always present, ask a lot of questions, and enjoy brainstorming with other young entrepreneurs. It would help if you took the initiative. Fun fact: Saxion connected me with my potential business partner through SLIEB without realising it. He’s graduating in IT, is also a DJ, and brings the technical expertise in automation and web design that I lack. We complement each other perfectly. I’m so thankful we were introduced through this program.”
Building a Complete Community
Joep’s ultimate dream for DJ Cloud is clear: global recognition. “In ten years, I want seven million users on the platform,” he says. “Maybe it’s ambitious, but you have to dream big to take the right steps.” His vision for the platform goes beyond being a link between DJs and clients. He envisions it as a hub for entertainment. “We’re building a full community with feeds, likes, updates, and portfolios. This way, it’s interesting for people looking for a DJ and anyone who wants to engage with the scene. That would be the ultimate achievement.”
