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.
How to connect with Angel Investors in Netherlands?
Top Angel Investors
The Netherlands' startup ecosystem is significantly supported by influential angel investors who provide crucial early-stage funding and mentorship. Prominent figures include Pieter van der Does, co-founder of Adyen, and Jeroen Bertrams, a serial entrepreneur and investor. These investors typically contribute between €50,000 and €500,000 per deal, offering not only capital but also strategic guidance and industry expertise. Their involvement is vital for the growth and development of early-stage companies, helping them navigate initial challenges and scale effectively. Pieter van der Does, for example, has been instrumental in fostering innovation in the fintech sector.
Leading Venture Capital Firms
The Netherlands' venture capital landscape is driven by leading firms that provide substantial investments into high-growth startups. Firms such as Prime Ventures, Inkef Capital, and henQ are at the forefront, funding sectors including technology, health, and fintech. Prime Ventures, for instance, has a diverse portfolio that includes companies like Mendix and Takeaway.com. These firms typically engage in Series A to Series C funding rounds, with investment sizes ranging from €1 million to €50 million, facilitating significant scaling opportunities for startups.
Investment Size and Scope
The size and scope of investments in the Netherlands' startup ecosystem vary, catering to different stages of business growth. Early-stage investments, often provided by angel investors, range from €50,000 to €2 million. For growth-stage companies, venture capital firms offer larger funding rounds, typically between €5 million and €50 million. The scope of these investments spans various sectors, including AI, biotechnology, fintech, and cleantech, reflecting the diverse and dynamic nature of the Netherlands' entrepreneurial landscape.
Number of Investments
The Netherlands' venture capital and angel investment activity are robust, with a significant number of deals annually. In 2022, over 300 venture capital deals were recorded, amounting to approximately €3 billion in investments. This high level of activity underscores the vibrancy of the Dutch startup ecosystem, with both angel investors and venture capital firms actively seeking out and funding promising startups across a broad spectrum of industries.
Future Outlook of the Investment Market
The future outlook for the Netherlands' investment market is highly optimistic. With a continued emphasis on innovation and technology, sectors such as AI, biotechnology, and clean technology are expected to drive substantial growth. Government support through initiatives like TechLeap.NL further bolsters the ecosystem. As global interest in sustainable and innovative solutions increases, the Netherlands' startups are well-positioned to attract significant international investments, fostering an environment ripe for continued expansion and success.
Support and Mentorship
Support and mentorship are critical components of the Netherlands' startup ecosystem. Angel investors and venture capitalists often provide more than just financial backing; they offer strategic advice, industry connections, and operational support. Programs like StartupDelta and YES!Delft enhance this support, offering structured mentorship, resources, and access to capital. This comprehensive support system helps startups navigate early challenges and scale effectively.
Government and Institutional Support
The Dutch government and various institutions play a pivotal role in nurturing the startup ecosystem. Initiatives such as TechLeap.NL and the Dutch Venture Initiative provide substantial financial support and incentives. Additionally, organizations like InnovationQuarter offer grants, loans, and advisory services. This extensive support infrastructure is vital for fostering innovation, reducing financial barriers, and promoting sustainable growth within the startup community.
Conclusion
The Netherlands' startup ecosystem is bolstered by top angel investors, leading venture capital firms, and extensive support systems. With a diverse range of investment sizes and scopes, the market is poised for significant growth. The future outlook remains positive, driven by innovation, government support, and a collaborative environment. As the Netherlands continues to attract global investments and foster entrepreneurial talent, it stands to become a key player in the global startup landscape, contributing to advancements across various high-growth sectors.
Case Studies: Successful Funding Rounds with Angel Investors on Angels Partners
AlphaFold founding team member at DeepMind. Working with some of the best and brightest talent as VP in AI and ML at GSK.ai, based in our dedicated London AI Hub – applying my AI, research, strategy and engineering knowledge in a healthcare setting.At GSK we’re using AI and ML to analyse vast sets of biological and genetic data, to make better predictions and double success rates in our drug discovery, and to better understand which patients can benefit most from our medicines.I was previously Head of Product for DeepMind-for-Google, with projects including AlphaFold, a deep learning system which performs predictions of protein structure – a significant step forward in our understanding about the building blocks of cells and our ability to accelerate drug discovery – WaveNet, for raw audio, and DataCenter optimization.I’m an investor in and advisor to a number of early stage AI and DeepTech companies including riverlane.com, peptone.com, antiverse.io, cradle.bio, nomagic.ai, and automata.tech.
Shardul Shah
Investing in Media • Businesses Solutions &b...
South San Francisco ,..., U.S.A. - 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, Monaco
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:
• NGINX, Inc.:
(mid stage)
• Koality:
• Outbrain:
(mid stage)
• Q6 Cyber:
• Bankjoy:
(early stage)
• Fundomate:
(early stage)
• Street Invoice:
• DoubleBeam/GoPago acquired by Verifone February 2015:
(early stage)
• VStock Transfer:
• Zipmark Inc.:
(early stage)
• SRSrun:
• Wiz:
$300000000 (Series D)
• Wiz:
$250000000 (Series C)
• Wiz:
$130000000 (Series B)
• Wiz:
$100000000 (Series A)
• Expel:
$31000000 (Series E)
• Expel:
$140000000 (Series E)
• Expel:
$50000000 (Series D)
• Expel:
$40000000 (Series C)
• Footprint:
$6000000 (Seed)
• Indent:
$6000000 (Pre Seed)
• Dazz:
$50000000 (Series A)
• BrightHire:
$21000000 (Series B)
• BrightHire:
$13000000 (Series A)
• Reclaim.ai:
$5000000 (Seed)
• Coalition:
$180000000 (Series D)
• Meroxa:
$4000000 (Seed)
• Gatsby:
$28000000 (Series B)
• Iterable:
$60000000 (Series D)
• Iterable:
$50000000 (Series C)
• Iterable:
$23000000 (Series B)
• AttackIQ:
$18000000 (Series B)
• AttackIQ:
$9000000 (Series A)
• Brightback:
$11000000 (Series A)
• Castle:
$9000000 (Series A)
• Signal Sciences:
$35000000 (Series C)
• Signal Sciences:
$15000000 (Series B)
• Signal Sciences:
$10000000 (Series A)
• Capsule8:
$3000000 (Seed)
• Datadog:
$95000000 (Series D)
• Datadog:
$31000000 (Series C)
• Datadog:
$15000000 (Series B)
• Datadog:
$6000000 (Series A)
• Adallom:
$30000000 (Series C)
• Adallom:
$15000000 (Series B)
• Lacoon Mobile Security:
$8000000 (Series A)
Shardul Shah
South San Francisco - San Francisco Bay Area - California, U.S.A. - 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, Monaco
Investing In
Media • Businesses Solutions • A.I. (& Big Data) • Web Security (& Privacy) • Future Of Work
Description
Index Ventures
Most Interested In
Open Source
Marek Olszewski
Investing in Software (Web Marketplace Saas..) &b...
San Francisco Bay Area, Germany - U.S.A. - 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, Icela
Previous Investments
• CodeFights:
$2500000 (Seed Round)
• Capsule Wallets:
(Seed)
• Remox:
(Pre Seed)
• Numoen:
$1000000 (Seed)
• CyberBox:
$150000 (Seed)
• impactMarket:
$2000000 (Seed)
• Paychant:
$400000 (Pre Seed)
• Ari Swap:
$700000 (Pre Seed)
• Payourse:
$600000 (Pre Seed)
• Coinprofile:
$600000 (Pre Seed)
• Netra:
$500000 (Convertible Note)
• CodeSignal:
$3000000 (Seed)
• Accion Systems:
$2000000 (Seed)
Marek Olszewski
San Francisco Bay Area, Germany - U.S.A. - 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, Icela
Dr. Marek Olszewski is a Co-Founder of Celo. He is a Co-Founder and served as the Chief Technology Officer at Locu. Prior to Locu, Marek was a senior PhD candidate at MIT CSAIL. He is a Facebook Fellow and the recipient of the J. Edgar McAllister Fellowship. He has prior work experience at a number of technology companies including Google, Microsoft (Research) and Sun (Labs). He is also an angel investor.
Jonathan Medved
Investing in Businesses Solutions • HealthTe...
San Francisco Bay Area, Israel - Global: U.S.A., Australia, Canada, Germany, U.K., Israel, France, Italy, Spain, Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland, Denmark, Finland, Luxembourg, Malta, Iceland
Previous Investments
• TetaVi:
$20000000 (Series A)
• SaNOtize:
$24000000 (Series B)
• Sotero:
$8000000 (Seed)
• MAOLAC:
$3000000 (Seed)
• BioLumic:
$14000000 (Series B)
• Mermade Seafoods:
$3000000 (Seed)
• Oriient:
$11000000 (Series A)
• Sequentify:
$7000000 (Seed)
• Rewire:
$25000000 (Series Unknown)
• Rewire:
$20000000 (Series B)
• JumpCloud:
$66000000 (Series F)
• Zippin:
$30000000 (Series B)
• Yoom:
$20000000 (Series A)
• MaterialsZone:
$6000000 (Series A)
• Edgybees:
$10000000 (Series A)
• OncoHost:
$8000000 (Series B)
• Superpedestrian:
$60000000 (Series Unknown)
• MigVax:
$12000000 (Series Unknown)
• MedAware:
$8000000 (Series A)
• MedAware:
$1000000 (Convertible Note)
• MedAware:
$1000000 (Series Unknown)
• Wave:
$10000000 (Series C)
• Peer39:
$500000 (Seed)
• Answers Corporation:
$1000000 (Series B)
Jonathan Medved
San Francisco Bay Area, Israel - Global: U.S.A., Australia, Canada, Germany, U.K., Israel, France, Italy, Spain, Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland, Denmark, Finland, Luxembourg, Malta, Iceland
Media • FinTech (& Financials services) • Retail (& E-Commerce) • Entertainment (& Sports) • A.I. (& Big Data) • Future Of Work • Mobility
Radboud Vlaar
Investing in FinTech (& Financials services)
Amsterdam, Netherlands
Previous Investments
• Twisto:
$19520000 (Later stage VC)
• Knip:
$15700000 (Later stage VC)
• Squirro:
$10000000 (Later stage VC)
• Ikbenfrits.nl:
$2000000 (Early stage VC)
• Ayopop:
(Early stage VC)
• Intelliment Security:
(Seed Round)
• Cermati:
(Early stage VC)
• Digital Insurance Group 0:
• Halofina:
• NomuPay:
$54000000 (Series A)
• Fourthline:
$55000000 (Series B)
• in3:
$85000000 (Series B)
• in3:
$11000000 (Series A)
• Goodlord:
$35000000 (Series B)
• Goodlord:
$13000000 (Series B)
• Goodlord:
$9000000 (Series B)
• Fixico:
$14000000 (Series A)
• Fixico:
$6000000 (Seed)
• Fixico:
$2000000 (Pre Seed)
• Better.co.uk:
$10000000 (Series Unknown)
• Better.co.uk:
$18000000 (Series B)
• Better.co.uk:
$6000000 (Series A)
• Digital Insurance Group:
$17000000 (Series A)
• Digital Insurance Group:
(Seed)
• Brickblock:
$3000000 (Series A)
• Frits.com:
$2000000 (Seed)
• Jump:
(Pre Seed)
• Legalbase:
(Seed)
• BUX:
$7000000 (Series B)
• BUX:
(Seed)
• Salviol Global Analytics:
$7000000 (Series A)
• Komparu:
(Series A)
• Moni Technologies:
$120000 (Seed)
• Zopa:
(Series D)
Radboud Vlaar
Amsterdam, Netherlands
Investing In
FinTech (& Financials services)
Herman Kienhuis
Investing in Software (Web Marketplace Saas..) &b...
Amsterdam, Netherlands
Previous Investments
• Orquesta:
$840000 (Pre Seed)
• Orquesta:
$850000 (Pre-seed)
• Strise:
$11000000 (Series A)
• Strise:
$3000000 (Seed)
• Neople:
$1600000 (Pre-seed)
• Epicbrief:
$1000000 (Pre Seed)
• Epicbrief:
$1100000 (Pre-seed)
• Dreamdata:
$7000000 (Series A)
• Dreamdata:
$7000000 (Series A)
• Fledgerr:
(Pre Seed)
• Freesi:
$2000000 (Seed)
• Freesi:
$1800000 (Seed)
• Alpha3D:
$800000 (Pre Seed)
• AlphaAR:
$800000 (Seed)
• Deeploy:
$1100000 (Seed)
• Singa:
$2000000 (Series Unknown)
• Contentoo:
$1000000 (Series Unknown)
• Anyways:
$820000 (Pre Seed)
• Clubee:
$620000 (Seed)
• MeetingPackage:
(Seed)
• CopyMonkey.AI:
$60000 (Angel)
• Fangage:
$2000000 (Seed)
• Calqulate:
$2000000 (Seed)
• Calqulate:
$1500000 (Seed)
• Kaizo:
$3000000 (Seed)
• Kaizo:
(Seed round)
• Walter Companies:
$1000000 (Seed)
• Settlemint:
$2000000 (Series A)
• Vormats:
(Seed)
• Vormats:
(Seed round)
• zecOps:
$10000000 (Seed)
• zecOps:
$900000 (Seed)
• Walter:
(Angel round)
• Unless:
(Seed round)
• Unless:
(Seed)
• Minut:
$8000000 (Series A)
• Maxwell:
$400000 (Seed round)
• Maxwell:
$450000 (Seed)
• Wirepas:
$16000000 (Series B)
• Magic Sandbox:
(Pre Seed)
• Magic Sandbox:
(Angel round)
• Accordium:
$500000 (Angel)
• Cloudify:
(Series A)
• Cybersprint:
$2000000 (Series A)
• Cybersprint:
$2000000 (Series A)
• CUJO AI:
(Series B)
• Objectiv:
(Angel round)
• Objectiv:
$800000 (Angel)
• ABOSS:
(Seed round)
• ABOSS:
(Seed)
• Sentiance:
$12000000 (Series A)
• Sentiance:
$8000000 (Series A)
• Sentiance:
$9000000 (Series A)
• Polarsteps:
$1000000 (Seed)
• Polarsteps:
(Seed round)
• Sensara:
(Series A)
• nello:
$2000000 (Seed)
• Actility:
$75000000 (Series D)
• Actility:
(Series D)
• Actility:
$25000000 (Series C)
• CardioSecur:
$5000000 (Series B)
• CardioSecur:
$5000000 (Series B)
• Nimbles:
$420000 (Seed)
• Revue:
$430000 (Angel)
• SecurityMatters:
$5000000 (Series A)
• SecurityMatters:
$5000000 (Series A)
• EclecticIQ:
$6000000 (Series A)
• EclecticIQ:
$5500000 (Series A)
• Yogaia:
$3000000 (Seed)
• Sendcloud:
(Seed round)
• Sendcloud:
$770000 (Seed)
• SCOUPY:
$3000000 (Seed)
• SCOUPY:
(Seed)
• Nosto:
$6000000 (Series A)
• Nosto:
$3000000 (Seed)
• Springest:
(Series A)
• Springest:
(Series A)
• Fosbury:
(Seed round)
• Virtuagym:
$900000 (Series Unknown)
• Virtuagym:
(Seed round)
• Peerby:
(Seed round)
• Scoupy:
(Seed round)
• ZecOps:
(Seed)
Herman Kienhuis
Amsterdam, Netherlands
Investing In
Software (Web Marketplace Saas..) • PropTech • Businesses Solutions • Sales (& Marketing) • A.I. (& Big Data) • Web Security (& Privacy) • Analytics • Human Resources • Real Estate (& Construction) • Woman Focused
Description
digital product guy turned tech investor; supporting entrepreneurs in building digital businesses that change people's lives
Former strategist and digital product guy turned tech investor. Supporting entrepreneurs to build digital businesses that change people's lives
Most Interested In
Newion is an Amsterdam-based VC firm, founded in 2000. We focus on early-stage (seed/series A) investments in B2B software (SaaS) companies in Netherlands/Belgium, Germany/Austria and Sweden, Finland and Denmark. We want to work with high integrity, low ego founders and their diverse teams supporting them in building digital business that have a real impact on businesses and people's lives.
Not Interested In
We don't in invest in pre-revenue companies. We don't invest in companies based outside our geographic scope. We don't invest in hardware.
Herman Kienhuis is the Founder & serves as Managing Partner at River Venture Partners. He serves as Managing Partner at KPN Ventures. He has experience in strategy, corporate finance, business, product development and venture capital.
: Germany France Italy Spain Poland Romania Netherlands Belgium Czech Republic Greece Portugal Sweden Hungary Austria Switzerland Denmark Finland Slovakia Norway Ireland Luxembourg Malta Iceland Monaco, U.S.A.
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