Nostos, Greek for homecoming, is an online platform designed to transform the stressful relocation experience for international professionals moving to Netherlands. We address two core challenges: the overwhelming burden of scattered administrative tasks and the profound sense of cultural isolation that hinders integration. Our solution is a centralized, personalized hub that combines a practical administrative tracker with a community-focused buddy system. The platform guides users through essential tasks like municipal registration, healthcare, banking, and more with a clear, gamified progress tracker, saving them significant time and reducing a common feeling of overwhelmingness through personalized guidance. The time saved is then intentionally redirected towards building meaningful social connections. Through our integrated buddy system, users are matched with local Dutch volunteers for cultural exchange, language practice, and social activities. Nostos creates value for newcomers by simplifying their settlement and fostering a genuine sense of belonging. Simultaneously, we offer value to employers, municipalities, service providers (like banks and insurers), and local businesses by streamlining the integration process, and creating opportunities for partnerships and sponsorships.

Problem: Young, single international professionals (aged 22-35) moving to the Netherlands to work for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) face a dual crisis. First, they are confronted with a fragmented, confusing, and often language-barriered administrative system (e.g., registration, taxes, healthcare), which is stressful and time-consuming. Second, and more critically, research conducted via customer interviews revealed that completing these administrative tasks does little to address a deeper, more persistent problem: a low sense of belonging. These individuals struggle to build authentic social connections with locals and understand Dutch culture, leading to feelings of isolation even after they are officially "settled." Solution: Nostos solves this by offering a unified service that tackles both the practical and emotional sides of relocation. How we solve the administrative problem: We provide a centralized, personalized dashboard that consolidates all necessary information and tasks into one visually clear, linear progress tracker. This transforms a scattered, stressful process into a manageable, step-by-step journey, saving users time and mental energy. How we solve the belonging problem: We directly facilitate social integration through a Buddy System. This feature connects newcomers with willing Dutch locals for mentorship, language practice, and social activities. By freeing up time through the administrative tracker and providing a structured channel for connection, Nostos enables users to invest in building the community and cultural understanding that are essential for a true sense of belonging.