SUMMARY
- The Netherlands is a major player in Europe's startup scene.
- The country supports venture capital well and is open to various investment opportunities, making it attractive to investors.
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Follow usThe Netherlands has become a major player in the startup scene, showing impressive growth and providing a great environment for innovation. In Europe, it stands out in the tech startup sector, with Amsterdam being a major hub for startups and venture capital.
The Netherlands supports venture capital well and is open to various investment opportunities, making it attractive to investors.
Venture Capital Firms
Venture capital firms invest in high-risk, innovative and fast-growing companies, usually within specific industries. Companies can receive funding from the fund starting at €200,000 in exchange for shares. The average investment ranges from €1 to €3 million.
The fund reviews many applications each year but only selects the most promising ones. Its goal is to achieve a return on investment (ROI) by increasing the value of the shares it holds and then selling them within 3 to 7 years. This approach, known as private equity, is the fund's exit strategy.
Read also - Top Unicorn Startups in Netherlands
Top Venture Capital Firms of Netherlands
The Netherlands, particularly Amsterdam, is fast becoming a major market for global startups, experiencing significant growth of 53% year-on-year since 2011. Despite this progress, the Dutch startup ecosystem faces challenges, including difficult funding conditions.
However, the country is home to top venture capital firms that are actively seeking high-growth opportunities from both local and international startups. These leading VC firms have strong track records and offer a competitive advantage to the companies they include in their portfolios.
1. Acrobator VC
| Founding Year | 2019 |
| Stage | Early-stage Pre seed to Seed |
| Investment Geography | Europe |
| Notable Investments | Respeecher, Maroo, Binarly, Heep, Leapfunder |
| Specialized Industries | B2B & B2C AI/ML Software, Cybersecurity, Fintech, Infrastructure, Synthetic Media, Data-heavy Technologies |
Acrobator VC is a venture capital fund that invests in early-stage startups, mainly from the CIS, Baltics, and CEE regions, focusing on global software platforms. They provide initial investments between $200k and $1.25m and often lead funding rounds.
The team has deep experience in building businesses and managing large-scale AI/ML projects. Acrobator VC helps tech innovators from Eastern regions connect with Western markets and is based in Amsterdam, Kyiv, and Tbilisi. They specialize in artificial intelligence and growth marketing, offering access to valuable networks and data. It is one of the best dutch venture capital firms.
2. Dutch Founders Fund (DFF)
| Founding Year | 2019 |
| Stage | Early-stage |
| Investment Geography | Europe (Focuses on Netherlands) |
| Notable Investments | WeTransfer, treatwell, Just eat, Hiber, fonQ |
| Specialized industries | Marketplace, Network-Effect Business Models |
The Dutch Founders Fund (DFF) is an early-stage venture capital firm based in Amsterdam, founded by successful Dutch entrepreneurs. It is one of the best venture capital in the Netherlands.
It focuses on advising startups from idea to Series A, with a particular emphasis on disruptive markets and technology. DFF seeks motivated, curious leaders with sustainable solutions to social problems. The fund invests in marketplace startups with strong network effects and technological innovation. DFF provides practical support and quick solutions to help early-stage companies grow, making it a valuable partner for entrepreneurs across Europe.
3. Slingshot Ventures
| Founding Year | 2014 |
| Stage | Seed stage + |
| Investment Geography | Western Europe |
| Notable Investments | Space Goods, Yepoda, HEY HOLY, UNIT 1, Cruit, Tyles, Casper, The Fabricant, Wild |
| Specialized industries | Consumer Tech |
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Slingshot Ventures is a venture capital firm focused on investing in the future of digital consumer products. Founded by successful entrepreneurs, it supports innovative consumer brands, platforms, and marketplaces in the tech sector.
The firm aims to partner with forward-thinking entrepreneurs and is always looking for the next big idea.
4. Endeit Capital
| Founding Year | 2006 |
| Stage | Growth |
| Investment Geography | Benelux, DACH, Nordics |
| Notable Investments | CentralPoint, ParcelLab, BUX, Hubs, Eyeworks, Adconion, TourRadar, Chronext, Unruly, Contorion |
| Specialized industries | ML/AI, Quantum Computing |
Endeit Capital is a growth capital firm that invests in expanding European internet companies. It focuses on technology advancements like AI, deep learning, quantum computing, and accessible algorithms.
The firm supports entrepreneurs in scaling their businesses across 22 countries through Buy & Build strategies.
5. SET Ventures
| Founding Year | 2007 |
| Stage | Late-seed and series A |
| Investment Geography | Europe, particularly North West (Netherlands, UK, DACH) |
| Notable Investments | Fuchs & Eule, instagrid, and Tibo Energy |
| Specialized industries | Digital technologies aimed at achieving a carbon-neutral energy system |
SET Ventures is a top energy venture capital firm in Europe that supports innovative founders working on carbon-free energy solutions through digital technologies and data.
The firm focuses on startups in the energy sector, from seed to series A rounds. SET Ventures emphasizes strong Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) practices, believing that good ESG strategies can enhance financial returns and create positive environmental impacts.
6. Finch Capital
| Founding Year | 2013 |
| Stage | Series A+ |
| Investment Geography | Europe |
| Notable Investments | AccountsIQ, Fourthline, Grab, Goodlord, In3, NomuPay, Twinco, and Zopa |
| Specialized industries | Finance, Real Estate, Health Technology |
Finch Capital is a European growth investor focused on technology in finance, health, and real estate. The firm has expertise in key areas like payments, regtech, wealth management, lending, insurance, and property management.
Finch Capital helps companies with hiring, mergers and acquisitions, market strategies, fundraising, regulations, and global expansion. They invest in technology-driven, capital-efficient businesses with strong founders, and a proven product-market fit, mainly within Europe.
7. Volta Ventures
| Founding Year | 2013 |
| Stage | Early stage |
| Investment Geography | Benelux |
| Notable Investments | Quinyx, Keyrock, Volta Charging, Sentiance, CHILI publish, Fibricheck, Next Gate Tech, Sprinque, Algramo, alicia |
| Specialized industries | Internet, Software |
Volta Ventures is a venture capital firm that invests in seed and early-stage software startups in the Benelux region. It focuses on teams with strong market knowledge and a passion for innovative tech solutions.
The firm supports its portfolio companies with follow-on investments and collaborates with later-stage funds for co-investing.
8. LUMO Labs
| Founding Year | 2020 |
| Stage | Early Stage Venture, Seed |
| Investment Geography | Europe, DACH, BENELUX, NORDIC, Spain and Portugal |
| Notable Investments | Aiosyn, Metacampus, AlphaBeats, CityLegends, Autoscriber, Enliven Social Enterprise, Tap Electric, AirHub, Enatom, HULO |
| Specialized industries | AI/Data, Blockchain, Robotics/Drones, IoT, and/or VR/AR |
LUMO Labs is a capital fund dedicated to making a positive impact by supporting startups. The firm focuses on sustainable cities, health and wellbeing, and quality education.
It helps startups by providing access to funds, a network, and expertise. LUMO Labs invests in ventures related to AI, blockchain, robotics, IoT, and VR/AR, and offers a two-year venture builder program for founding teams in these areas.
9. Inkef
| Founding Year | 2010 |
| Stage | Seed and series A |
| Investment Geography | Netherlands |
| Notable Investments | Airtable, Ant Financial, Anaplan, ByteDance, Chime, Databricks, DoorDash, Instacart, Meituan, Snap, Snowflake and Spotify |
| Specialized industries | Therapeutics, Digital Health, Medical Devices, Future of Commerce, Future of Work, Data & AI Stack, Future of Software Engineering, Fintech, Deeptech |
Inkef is an early-stage venture capital firm that focuses on building companies rather than just valuation. They invest in the healthcare and technology sectors, including areas such as therapeutics, digital health and medical devices in healthcare, and future of commerce, work, data and AI, software engineering, fintech, and deeptech in technology.
Inkef prefers seed and Series A investments, but may also consider exceptional companies at other stages. They look for companies that tackle important global issues, have significant market potential, offer unique solutions, and have passionate, ambitious teams ready to expand internationally. Inkef values investing in people and understands that building a successful company requires a strong team effort.
10. Peak Capital
| Founding Year | 2007 |
| Stage | Early-stage |
| Investment Geography | Europe |
| Notable Investments | Catawiki, Bitkeep, Channable, StuDocu, Creative Fabrica, Trengo, Hygraph (formerly GraphCMS), VerifyVASP, Circula, Plerk |
| Specialized industries | SaaS, Marketplace, Platform |
Peak Capital is a venture capital fund based in Amsterdam, with additional offices in Berlin and Stockholm. Founded by entrepreneurs for entrepreneurs, it specializes in early-stage investments. The firm’s strategy, known as the “4 Ts,” evaluates investments based on Team, Traction, Thesis, and Timing.
This means they look for a well-rounded team with tech and sales skills, solid customer validation, a strong value proposition, and good timing. Peak Capital also values diversity, strong principles, and personal chemistry in its investment decisions.
Latest Startups Funding News
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Conclusion
With its multilingual population (mainly Dutch and English) and easy access to French, German and Belgian markets, the Netherlands facilitates business interactions. Its strong and connected startup ecosystem helps startups and venture capitalists build valuable relationships and achieve global goals.
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