diff --git a/.bumpversion.cfg b/.bumpversion.cfg
index 607d861dd..f050eab13 100644
--- a/.bumpversion.cfg
+++ b/.bumpversion.cfg
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 [bumpversion]
 commit = False
 tag = False
-current_version = 2.4.0
+current_version = 2.5.0-alpha.0
 parse = (?P<major>\d+)\.(?P<minor>\d+)\.(?P<patch>\d+)(\-(?P<pre>[a-z]+)\.(?P<build>\d+))?
 serialize = 
 	{major}.{minor}.{patch}-{pre}.{build}
diff --git a/CHANGELOG.rst b/CHANGELOG.rst
index da4b6e6ce..1e1dc9136 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.rst
+++ b/CHANGELOG.rst
@@ -2,6 +2,23 @@
 SDK Changelog
 =============
 
+2.5.0-alpha.0 (2024-10-23)
+==========================
+
+First preview release of the upcoming 2.5.0 version.
+
+New features
+------------
+
+* [#4544] Added design tokens for configuring the position of the previous page link.
+  You can now choose if the link should be at the top, the bottom or both. By default
+  this is shown at the bottom. The ability to add an icon has been added as well.
+
+Bugfixes
+--------
+
+* [#4398] Fixed the initial data reference not properly being passed to the backend.
+
 2.4.1 (2024-10-22)
 ==================
 
diff --git a/README.NL.rst b/README.NL.rst
index 86c6f2b84..89069f466 100644
--- a/README.NL.rst
+++ b/README.NL.rst
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 Open Formulieren SDK
 ====================
 
-:Version: 2.4.0
+:Version: 2.5.0-alpha.0
 :Source: https://github.com/open-formulieren/open-forms-sdk
 :Keywords: e-Formulieren, Common Ground, FormIO, API
 
diff --git a/README.rst b/README.rst
index f4ea45942..24646f151 100644
--- a/README.rst
+++ b/README.rst
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 Open Forms SDK
 ==============
 
-:Version: 2.4.0
+:Version: 2.5.0-alpha.0
 :Source: https://github.com/open-formulieren/open-forms-sdk
 :Keywords: e-Formulieren, Common Ground, FormIO, API
 
diff --git a/package-lock.json b/package-lock.json
index 8c8ead85e..908db8304 100644
--- a/package-lock.json
+++ b/package-lock.json
@@ -1,12 +1,12 @@
 {
   "name": "@open-formulieren/sdk",
-  "version": "2.4.0",
+  "version": "2.5.0-alpha.0",
   "lockfileVersion": 3,
   "requires": true,
   "packages": {
     "": {
       "name": "@open-formulieren/sdk",
-      "version": "2.4.0",
+      "version": "2.5.0-alpha.0",
       "license": "EUPL-1.2",
       "workspaces": [
         "design-tokens"
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index 9c26e2737..d2eabe745 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "@open-formulieren/sdk",
-  "version": "2.4.0",
+  "version": "2.5.0-alpha.0",
   "private": true,
   "main": "dist/open-forms-sdk.js",
   "exports": {
diff --git a/publiccode.yaml b/publiccode.yaml
index 0ddabd957..f31754b26 100644
--- a/publiccode.yaml
+++ b/publiccode.yaml
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ publiccodeYmlVersion: '0.2'
 name: Open Forms SDK
 url: 'http://github.com/open-formulieren/open-forms-sdk.git'
 softwareType: standalone/frontend
-softwareVersion: 2.4.0
+softwareVersion: 2.5.0-alpha.0
 releaseDate: 't.b.d.'
 logo: 'https://github.com/open-formulieren/open-forms/blob/master/docs/logo.svg'
 platforms:
diff --git a/src/i18n/compiled/en.json b/src/i18n/compiled/en.json
index 773fc4c48..b5a918b35 100644
--- a/src/i18n/compiled/en.json
+++ b/src/i18n/compiled/en.json
@@ -1785,6 +1785,12 @@
       "value": "Your session has expired"
     }
   ],
+  "oNJr0I": [
+    {
+      "type": 0,
+      "value": "Continue"
+    }
+  ],
   "oTz7XX": [
     {
       "type": 0,
@@ -2045,12 +2051,6 @@
       "value": "Not co-signed"
     }
   ],
-  "tMO7aH": [
-    {
-      "type": 0,
-      "value": "Continue ➜"
-    }
-  ],
   "tohkCS": [
     {
       "type": 0,
diff --git a/src/i18n/compiled/nl.json b/src/i18n/compiled/nl.json
index af7fa4deb..a0496a5f1 100644
--- a/src/i18n/compiled/nl.json
+++ b/src/i18n/compiled/nl.json
@@ -1789,6 +1789,12 @@
       "value": "Sessie verlopen"
     }
   ],
+  "oNJr0I": [
+    {
+      "type": 0,
+      "value": "Doorgaan"
+    }
+  ],
   "oTz7XX": [
     {
       "type": 0,
@@ -2049,12 +2055,6 @@
       "value": "Niet mede-ondertekend"
     }
   ],
-  "tMO7aH": [
-    {
-      "type": 0,
-      "value": "Doorgaan ➜"
-    }
-  ],
   "tohkCS": [
     {
       "type": 0,
diff --git a/src/i18n/messages/en.json b/src/i18n/messages/en.json
index 496954ad6..4bb681f04 100644
--- a/src/i18n/messages/en.json
+++ b/src/i18n/messages/en.json
@@ -899,6 +899,11 @@
     "description": "Session expired card title",
     "originalDefault": "Your session has expired"
   },
+  "oNJr0I": {
+    "defaultMessage": "Continue",
+    "description": "Button text for link to continue from introduction page to start page",
+    "originalDefault": "Continue"
+  },
   "oTz7XX": {
     "defaultMessage": "Add another product",
     "description": "Appointments: add additional product/service button text",
@@ -979,11 +984,6 @@
     "description": "Not co-signed (summary) message",
     "originalDefault": "Not co-signed"
   },
-  "tMO7aH": {
-    "defaultMessage": "Continue ➜",
-    "description": "Button text for link to continue from introduction page to start page",
-    "originalDefault": "Continue ➜"
-  },
   "tohkCS": {
     "defaultMessage": "The email address where you received the appointment confirmation email.",
     "description": "Cancel appointment email field help text",
diff --git a/src/i18n/messages/nl.json b/src/i18n/messages/nl.json
index 606636f45..002a65108 100644
--- a/src/i18n/messages/nl.json
+++ b/src/i18n/messages/nl.json
@@ -911,6 +911,11 @@
     "description": "Session expired card title",
     "originalDefault": "Your session has expired"
   },
+  "oNJr0I": {
+    "defaultMessage": "Doorgaan",
+    "description": "Button text for link to continue from introduction page to start page",
+    "originalDefault": "Continue"
+  },
   "oTz7XX": {
     "defaultMessage": "Nog een product toevoegen",
     "description": "Appointments: add additional product/service button text",
@@ -991,11 +996,6 @@
     "description": "Not co-signed (summary) message",
     "originalDefault": "Not co-signed"
   },
-  "tMO7aH": {
-    "defaultMessage": "Doorgaan ➜",
-    "description": "Button text for link to continue from introduction page to start page",
-    "originalDefault": "Continue ➜"
-  },
   "tohkCS": {
     "defaultMessage": "Het e-mailadres waarop je de bevestigingsmail van de afspraak heeft ontvangen.",
     "description": "Cancel appointment email field help text",