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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
San Francisco Bay Area - London - New York - Los Angeles - Hong Kong, U.S.A. - Canada - U.K. - Netherlands
PropTech • BioTech • AgroTech • Businesses Solutions • FinTech (& Financials services) • Impact • Real Estate (& Construction) • Consumer
Most Interested In
Looking for things that can change the way we act, think, live, and co-exist.
VC @vectr-ventures. Co-founded @ipiao-1. Worked @goldman-sachs. Always @duke-university Blue Devils.
New York, Netherlands
Other • IT (& TMT) • Education • BioTech • Businesses Solutions • FinTech (& Financials services) • Hardware (& Manufacturing) • Energy • Logistics (& Distribution) • Material Science
Co-founder / CCO at MatchingWINGS + Co-founder / Business Development at Purpose Investment
Co-founder / CCO at MatchingWINGS + Co-founder / Business Development at Purpose Investment
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
Software (Web Marketplace Saas..) • BioTech • FinTech (& Financials services) • Developer tools
Hunter Walk is a Co-Founder and serves as a Partner at Homebrew. He served as Board Member Shyp. He also serves as an Advisor at Resolute Ventures. Prior to Homebrew, Hunter was VP of Product at Twitter, building and leading the Product Management and User Services tea Before Twitter, he was a Partner at Battery Ventures, where he co-led the seed and early stage investing practices. He joined Google in 2003 and was responsible for AdSense product management and partnerships. Before heading to Silicon Valley for Google, he worked for DoubleClick, in venture capital and as a strategy consultant. He holds an MBA from Stanford Graduate School of Business and a BA in History from Vassar College.
San Francisco California, Netherlands
Software (Web Marketplace Saas..) • IT (& TMT) • Media • Education • BioTech • Hardware (& Manufacturing) • Retail (& E-Commerce) • Cosmetics (& Fashion) • Blockchain (& Cryptos) • Advertising • Insurance (& InsurTech) • Mobile Apps • SaaS • Healthcare (& Wellness) • Mobile • Consumer • Productivity
Co-Founder and CEO at Apptitude
Co-Founder and CEO at Apptitude
London - New York, U.S.A. - U.K. - 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, Iceland,
PropTech • BioTech • Businesses Solutions • FinTech (& Financials services) • Retail (& E-Commerce) • Blockchain (& Cryptos) • Insurance (& InsurTech) • Real Estate (& Construction)
Partner at Index Ventures
Martin Mignot serves as a Partner at Index Ventures. He also serves as Advisory Board Member at TheFamily. He specialises in SaaS, marketplaces, bitcoin and mobile. He worked on 50+ transactions to date, including Assistly, Auxmoney, BaseCRM, Cloud.com, Codecademy, DimDim, Factual, Farfetch, Flipboard, Funding Circle, Gluster, HouseTrip, Just Eat, Lookout, Nasty Gal, Notonthehighstreet, onefinestay, PeoplePerHour, TrustPilot, Soluto and SoundCloud. He is actively looking after Index's investments in Algolia, Capitaine Train, Drivy, Rad and Swiftkey. Prior to joining Index, Martin was in the TMT team at UBS Investment Bank and cofounded the beauty subscription business Boudoir Prive (acquired by Joliebox/Birchbox) and a student web radio service.
Palo Alto - 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
Software (Web Marketplace Saas..) • BioTech • A.I. (& Big Data) • Blockchain (& Cryptos) • Autonomous vehicles (& Cars) • Cloud Services (& Infrastructure) • Developer tools • Consumer
Most Interested In
API E-Commerce Education Enterprise Fintech Food and Beverage Future of Work Gaming Government Technology Hardware Health and Wellness Healthcare/Medtech Industrial Internet and Mobile IoT Life Sciences Productivity Proptech/Real Estate Robotics SaaS Social Supply Chain/Logistics Transportation Travel/Hospitality
Sao Paulo - San Francisco Bay Area - New York - London, U.K. - Germany - Netherlands - Greece - Brazil - Mexico
Software (Web Marketplace Saas..) • BioTech • FinTech (& Financials services) • Retail (& E-Commerce) • A.I. (& Big Data) • Blockchain (& Cryptos) • Gaming (& eSports) • Analytics • Developer tools • Woman Focused
Partner at Hummingbird Ventures
Partner at Hummingbird Ventures
Boston - Massachusetts, U.S.A. - Western Europe: Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Ireland, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, Netherlands, Switzerland, United Kingdom
Software (Web Marketplace Saas..) • Education • BioTech • FinTech (& Financials services) • Hardware (& Manufacturing) • Energy • Retail (& E-Commerce) • HealthTech (& Fitness) • Medical Devices (& Hospital Services) • Healthcare (& Wellness) • Consumer
Vice President, Media & Entertainment, Salesforce Industries at Salesforce
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
BioTech • IoT (& Wearables) • HealthTech (& Fitness) • Medical Devices (& Hospital Services) • Healthcare (& Wellness)
Joyance Partners is a venture capital firm that invests in companies operating in the healthcare and technology sectors. The firm is based in San Francisco, California.
Herzliya - San Francisco Bay Area - Chicago - Illinois, U.S.A. - Israel - Global: U.S.A., Australia, Canada, Germany, U.K., Israel, France, Italy, Spain, Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland, Denmark, Finland, Luxembourg, Malta, Iceland
BioTech • AgroTech • CleanTech • A.I. (& Big Data) • Food & Beverage • Impact • Woman Focused
Most Interested In
Germin8 is one of the most active investors in FoodTech and AgTech, globally. With strong strategic backing and unique approaches, we're investing in exceptional founding teams who are solving the most demanding problems throughout the global food & agriculture system with transformative technology platforms across AI/ML, IOT, SaaS, biology, life sciences, computer vision, robotics, marketplaces and beyond.
Not Interested In
Our mandate is strictly food and agriculture technology throughout the value chain. Germin8 does not invest in CPG food brands, unless there is a significant enabling technology breakthrough and/or impact thesis to dramatically improve human health, nourishment and/or environmental sustainability. Novelties are out of our scope.
Amsterdam Netherlands - Darmstadt Germany, Netherlands
BioTech • HealthTech (& Fitness) • Material Science • Medical Devices (& Hospital Services) • Life Science
Edward Kliphuis joined the previous biopharma fund MS Ventures in 2014 and transitioned to Investment Director New Businesses. Previously, Edward was at Kempen & Co, a pan European merchant bank headquartered in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, where he worked in the Life Sciences Securities team. He was instrumental in the team’s continuous fundraising efforts for listed European small and mid-cap biotech companies in over 20 deals in 2012 and 2013. Edward started his career as an intern / analyst within the MS Ventures team in 2009, before venturing out of Life Sciences to accept a position as trader within a global oil-supply company in Geneva. Edward holds an M.Sc. degree in Biopharmaceutical Sciences from Leiden University, the Netherlands, with specializations in pharmacology and science based business. Edward is based in Amsterdam.