The Netherlands has a thriving startup ecosystem, particularly centered in Amsterdam, which is becoming a major European tech hub. As of 2023, the Netherlands is home to around 6,000 startups. The Dutch government supports innovation through initiatives like TechLeap.NL and the Dutch Venture Initiative, which provide funding, resources, and mentorship for startups. In 2022, Dutch startups raised approximately €3 billion in venture capital. These factors collectively highlight the dynamic and evolving nature of the Dutch startup landscape.
Size of the Market
As of 2023, the Netherlands' startup ecosystem includes around 6,000 startups. In 2022, these startups attracted approximately €3 billion in venture capital funding. This substantial investment underscores the ecosystem's growth potential and robust nature. The market's size and financial backing reflect its capacity to foster innovation and maintain a competitive edge within Europe and beyond.
Key Strengths
The Netherlands' startup ecosystem is characterized by several key strengths, including a highly educated workforce, a strong focus on innovation, and a strategic location in Europe. The country excels in sectors such as fintech, healthtech, and deep tech. These strengths are bolstered by the Dutch government's support and the country's robust industrial base, positioning the Netherlands as a leader in the European startup scene.
Major Hubs
Amsterdam is the primary hub of the Netherlands’ startup ecosystem, known for its strengths in fintech, healthtech, and deep tech. The city attracts significant investments and has produced notable startups like Adyen and Booking.com. Other cities like Rotterdam and Eindhoven are also making significant contributions to the startup landscape, with Rotterdam excelling in logistics and Eindhoven known for high-tech systems and innovation. These cities drive the Netherlands' economic growth and technological advancements.
Emerging Hubs
In addition to Amsterdam, emerging hubs like Utrecht and The Hague are gaining prominence in the Netherlands’ startup ecosystem. Utrecht is known for its strengths in education technology and sustainability, while The Hague is becoming a hub for security technology and international law. These emerging hubs are expanding the reach and diversity of the Netherlands’ entrepreneurial landscape, offering new opportunities for innovation and growth.
Support Systems
The Netherlands’ startup ecosystem benefits from a strong network of incubators, accelerators, and co-working spaces that provide essential support and resources for entrepreneurs. Initiatives like StartupDelta and YES!Delft have significantly boosted the ecosystem by offering mentorship, resources, and international exposure. This supportive infrastructure is crucial for nurturing early-stage companies and fostering a collaborative entrepreneurial environment.
Challenges
Despite its strengths, the Dutch startup ecosystem faces challenges such as high living costs and regulatory complexities. Navigating these hurdles can be time-consuming and complex for startups. Addressing these issues requires strategic efforts and supportive policies to sustain growth and competitiveness in the global market.
Opportunities and Future Outlook
The Netherlands has significant opportunities for growth in sectors like fintech, healthtech, and green technology. The country's strong focus on sustainability drives innovation in renewable energy and environmental technologies. The Netherlands' strategic location in Europe and strong trade relationships provide startups with opportunities for international expansion. With continued investment and innovation, the Dutch startup ecosystem is poised for further growth, contributing significantly to the European and global markets.
Resilience and Adaptability
The Netherlands' startup ecosystem demonstrates remarkable resilience and adaptability. The country's commitment to innovation, coupled with strong government and institutional support, enables startups to navigate challenges and capitalize on opportunities. The diverse talent pool and high level of digitalization attract entrepreneurs and investors alike, ensuring sustained growth and success in the face of global economic shifts and market dynamics.
Case Studies: Successful Funding Rounds with Angel Investors on Angels Partners
Michael Levit serves as the President at Spigot. He is also the Co-Founder of the company. He also served as Board Member at August Home. He also serves as the Managing Partner at Founders Den. Prior to Spigot, Michael ran the business side of Vendio, an eCommerce platform, where he grew transactions to $1.5+ billion/year before selling the business to Chinese giant Alibaba. Michael's previous experience includes starting AOL's Broadband division, running sales and marketing at Hearme and Paltalk, co-founding and overseeing Business Development at Bluelight.com a venture between Softbank, Martha Stewart, Kmart and Yahoo and working in Accenture's technology and strategy consulting practice where he co-founded the Internet Center in Palo Alto some 16 years ago.
Wouter Kneepkens
Investing in Retail (& E-Commerce) • Online ...
Europe , Amsterdam (N..., U.S.A.
Previous Investments
• Pop Up Archive:
$1570000 (Seed Round)
Wouter Kneepkens
Europe - Amsterdam (Netherlands), U.S.A.
Investing In
Retail (& E-Commerce) • Online Social
Description
Wouter Kneepkens serves as Fund Manager at VNTRE. He co-founded Sntmnt.
Marcel Beemsterboer
Investing in Hospitality (& Events) • Educat...
, Netherlands
Previous Investments
• Perseuss:
• Rockstart:
(late stage)
• StarOfService:
(mid stage)
• Tripaneer:
(mid stage)
• 8fit:
(early stage)
• Deskbookers:
(early stage)
• Eversports:
(early stage)
• Ubeo:
(early stage)
• Catawiki:
(late stage)
• CrowdyHouse:
(early stage)
• Gibbon - Knowledge Sharing for Teams:
(early stage)
• Treatwell.com:
(late stage)
• Zazzy:
(early stage)
• 3D Hubs:
(early stage)
• Emesa Nederland BV | Emesa Holdings BV:
(late stage)
• Zeeburg Ventures:
• Netdirect:
(early stage)
Marcel Beemsterboer
, Netherlands
Investing In
Hospitality (& Events) • Education • FinTech (& Financials services) • Retail (& E-Commerce) • Entertainment (& Sports) • Real Estate (& Construction) • Online Social • Consumer • 3D Printing
Description
Entrepreneur/ Investor
Entrepreneur/ Investor
Fabrice Grinda
Investing in Software (Web Marketplace Saas..) &b...
New York, U.S.A. - Global: U.S.A., Australia, Canada, Germany, U.K., Israel, France, Italy, Spain, Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland, Denmark, Finland, Luxembourg, Malta, Iceland
Fabrice Grinda serves as Co-Founding Partner at FJ Labs. He also serves as a Partner at True Global Ventures. He serves as Industry Advisor at DN Capital. Previously he was a Co-Chief Executive Officer of OLX, Inc. Prior to OLX, he was the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Zingy Inc. In 1998, he co-founded and was the Chief Executive Officer of Aucland. Prior to that he worked as a Business Consultant for McKinsey & Company. He is an Investor at Knock.
Investing in Software (Web Marketplace Saas..) &b...
San Francisco Bay Area, U.S.A. - Global: U.S.A., Australia, Canada, Germany, U.K., Israel, France, Italy, Spain, Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland, Denmark, Finland, Luxembourg, Malta, Iceland
Previous Investments
• RDMD:
$3100000 (Seed Round)
• VC:
• Grow Mobility:
(early stage)
• Color Genomics:
(mid stage)
• Smule, Inc.:
(late stage)
• TONAL:
(early stage)
• Tally Inc:
(early stage)
• Second Measure:
(early stage)
• Hinge App:
(mid stage)
• Shasta Ventures:
• My Card My Story LLC:
(early stage)
• Artsy:
(early stage)
• ReflexAI:
$3000000 (Seed)
• WindBorne Systems:
$6000000 (Seed)
• Power Life Science:
$7000000 (Seed)
• Felt:
$15000000 (Series A)
• Grain:
$16000000 (Series A)
• Lattice:
$180000000 (Series F)
• Lattice:
$15000000 (Series B)
• Cradlewise Inc.:
$7000000 (Seed)
• Favor:
$42000000 (Series B)
• Favor:
$51000000 (Series B)
• Favor:
$8000000 (Series A)
• Table22:
(Seed)
• Literati:
$40000000 (Series B)
• Literati:
$12000000 (Series A)
• Frame.io:
$50000000 (Series C)
• Frame.io:
$20000000 (Series B)
• Frame.io:
$10000000 (Series A)
• Kapwing:
$11000000 (Series A)
• Kapwing:
$2000000 (Seed)
• Let’s Do This:
$5000000 (Seed)
• Let’s Do This:
$1000000 (Seed)
• Tandem:
$8000000 (Seed)
• Tally:
$50000000 (Series C)
• Tally:
$25000000 (Series B)
• Tally:
$15000000 (Series A)
• Blume:
$3000000 (Seed)
• The Pill Club:
$51000000 (Series B)
• The Farmer's Dog:
$39000000 (Series B)
• The Farmer's Dog:
$8000000 (Series A)
• Grin Scooters:
$20000000 (Seed)
• AllStripes:
$3000000 (Seed)
• Flyhomes:
$17000000 (Series A)
• Imperfect Foods:
$5000000 (Convertible Note)
• Imperfect Foods:
$9000000 (Series A)
• Imperfect Foods:
$2000000 (Seed)
• Athelas:
$4000000 (Seed)
• Atrium LTS:
$11000000 (Series A)
• Color:
$45000000 (Series B)
• Bloomberg Second Measure:
$5000000 (Seed)
• Cover:
$3000000 (Seed)
• Canva:
$6000000 (Series A)
• Canva:
$4000000 (Seed)
• Canva:
$7000000 (Seed)
• Hinge:
$12000000 (Series A)
• Bloc:
$6000000 (Series A)
• Timehop:
$10000000 (Series B)
• ClassDojo:
$9000000 (Series A)
Nikhil Basu Trivedi
San Francisco Bay Area, U.S.A. - Global: U.S.A., Australia, Canada, Germany, U.K., Israel, France, Italy, Spain, Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland, Denmark, Finland, Luxembourg, Malta, Iceland
Venture Capitalist in search of the 𝙣𝙚𝙭𝙩 𝙗𝙞𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜... nbt.substack.com
Most Interested In
Consumer businesses that have early signal that they can be category-defining companies. We typically lead the Series A.
Not Interested In
I personally am not interested in pre-launch companies.
Damir Becirovic
Investing in Software (Web Marketplace Saas..) &b...
Salt Lake City , Bost..., U.S.A. - Canada - Europe: Germany, United Kingdom, France, Italy, Spain, Poland, Romania, Netherlands, Belgium, Czech Republic, Greece, Portugal, Sweden, Hungary, Austria, Switzerland, Denmark, Finland, Slovakia, Norway, Ireland, Luxembourg, Malta, Icelan
Previous Investments
• Climax Foods:
$44017000000 (Later stage VC)
• Starburst Data:
$118000000 (Later stage VC)
• Fast (Application Software):
$102000000 (Later stage VC)
• Wealthfront:
$75000000 (Later stage VC)
• Duo Security:
$70000000 (Later stage VC)
• Kano Computing:
$28000000 (Later stage VC)
• Figma:
$25000000 (Later stage VC)
• Built Technologies, Inc.:
$21000000 (Early stage VC)
• Behavox:
$20000000 (Later stage VC)
• Less:
$19000000 (Early stage VC)
• Homebell:
$11000000 (Later stage VC)
• Scoop Technologies:
$10600000 (Early stage VC)
• Trouva:
$10000000 (Early stage VC)
• Spendesk:
$8000000 (Early stage VC)
• Gremlin Inc:
$7500000 (Early stage VC)
• Linear:
$4200000 (Early stage VC)
• Supersolid:
$4000000 (Early stage VC)
• Pitch Software:
• Nacelle:
(early stage)
• Stealth Fintech Company:
• Rec Room:
(mid stage)
• BrightGo:
$3000000 (Seed)
• Siro:
$14000000 (Series A)
• Siro:
$4000000 (Seed)
• Boulevard:
$70000000 (Series C)
• Boulevard:
$27000000 (Series B)
• Boulevard:
$11000000 (Series A)
• Okendo:
$26000000 (Series A)
• Okendo:
$5000000 (Seed)
• Beam Impact:
$13000000 (Series A)
• Backbone:
$40000000 (Series A)
• Pepper:
$16000000 (Series A)
• Bird:
$100000000 (Series B)
Damir Becirovic
Salt Lake City - Boston - Seattle - Los Angeles - San Francisco Bay Area - California, U.S.A. - Canada - Europe: Germany, United Kingdom, France, Italy, Spain, Poland, Romania, Netherlands, Belgium, Czech Republic, Greece, Portugal, Sweden, Hungary, Austria, Switzerland, Denmark, Finland, Slovakia, Norway, Ireland, Luxembourg, Malta, Icelan
New consumer services or experiences. Workflow applications that are adopted by the end-user, especially in non-desk environments.
Not Interested In
Healthcare / life sciences, infrastructure, security.
Jonathan Nelson
Investing in Software (Web Marketplace Saas..) &b...
Mountain View Califor..., U.K.
Previous Investments
• Mi Dulce Hogar:
Jonathan Nelson
Mountain View California - London - Amsterdam Netherlands - Sydney Australia - Santiago Chile - Copenhagen Denmark - Providence Rhode Island - Raleigh North Carolina - Valley California - Charlotte North Carolina - Mexico - China, U.K.
Founder @hackers_and_founders - Portfolio companies raised over $60 Million. Hacking Silicon Valley - Launched @hf-fairchild-fund
Albert Voogd
Investing in Retail (& E-Commerce)
, Netherlands
Previous Investments
• Massmart:
• Confy, Connect & Collect bv:
• ITS Rotterdam:
• Max Fun Boats bv:
Albert Voogd
, Netherlands
Investing In
Retail (& E-Commerce)
Description
CEO Detailresult Groep at Detailresult Groep N.V.
CEO Detailresult Groep at Detailresult Groep N.V.
Pieter Van Herpen
Investing in Retail (& E-Commerce)
, Netherlands
Previous Investments
• Kaas:
• Vormats - Video Made Easy:
• Productpine:
• Paxshot.com:
• Aanbieding:
• Syndy:
(early stage)
Pieter Van Herpen
, Netherlands
Investing In
Retail (& E-Commerce)
Description
Founder. Angel investor.
Founder. Angel investor.
Kevin Lee
Investing in Software (Web Marketplace Saas..) &b...
San Francisco Bay Are..., U.S.A. - Global: U.S.A., Australia, Canada, Germany, U.K., Israel, France, Italy, Spain, Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland, Denmark, Finland, Luxembourg, Malta, Iceland
Previous Investments
• Kolkata Chai:
$1000000 (Pre Seed)
• Skio:
$8000000 (Seed)
• The Plug Drink:
$2000000 (Seed)
• Holloway:
$5000000 (Seed)
• Hydrant:
$1500000 (Seed)
• Career Karma:
$440000 (Pre Seed)
• The Hustle:
$1000000 (Seed)
Kevin Lee
San Francisco Bay Area - California, U.S.A. - Global: U.S.A., Australia, Canada, Germany, U.K., Israel, France, Italy, Spain, Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland, Denmark, Finland, Luxembourg, Malta, Iceland
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