Top VC Firms in Netherlands

The Netherlands has a thrilling startup scene with dozens of innovative startups. The country has shown amazing economic growth in the last 5 years with the total VC investment exceeding $1.5 Billion in 2022.

Among their unicorns, the most common names are MessageBird and Picnic which have been supported by venture capitalists through their startup journey.

Do you also have a startup idea that is worth getting funded? In that case, the following list of the top 9 venture capital firms in the Netherlands is meant for you.

Table of content

• Top 9 Venture Capital Firms in the Netherlands
• Holland Capital
• FounderFuel
• Innovatiefonds Noord-Holland
• ASIF Ventures
• StartCapital Partners
• Graduate Entrepreneur
• 01 Ventures
• Aletra Capital Partners
• ENA Venture Capital
• Wrap-Up
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Q: Do Angel Investors Provide Mentorship Programs?
• Q: How to make your startup investable?
• Q: What is the difference between Venture Capital Firms and Individual Angel Investors?

Top 9 Venture Capital Firms in the Netherlands

Following is the list of some of the top-ranked VC firms in the Netherlands along with additional details.

Holland Capital

Holland Capital is one of the oldest VC firms in the Netherlands that has helped hundreds of entrepreneurs in securing funding for their businesses. The firm is based in Amsterdam and primarily invests in promising small and medium-sized Dutch and German businesses with future growth potential.

As for investment preferences, Holland Capital focuses on companies that excel through strong management, a distinctive market position, and significant growth potential. They invest in companies active in Healthcare, Technology, and Agrifood. Plus, the investors mainly focus on venture, growth, and buy-out investments, where a company has attractive growth opportunities, but needs additional capital to utilize them.

The investment range of Holland Capital is around $5M.

• Website: https://hollandcapital.nl/en/
• Founded: 1981
• Preferred Industries: Healthcare, Technology, and Agrifood
• Total Investments: 180
• Total Exits: 18
• Notable Investments: Adjust, Honic, AMP, HMCC, TAG, Conversation, and Lopital

FounderFuel

FounderFuel is a VC firm that based in Montreal and primarily invests in early-stage startups. They have a mentor-driven approach and focus on funding as well as guiding the startups throughout their different stages.

In terms of investment criteria and preferences, FounderFuel focuses on leadership, narrative, learning, networks, and execution. They believe that new founders who embrace curiosity and remain open and excited about challenges will see opportunities to create disruptive business models. They also believe that founders and the companies they build thrive when supported by great advisors and a strong diverse community.

The investment range of FounderFuel lies between $100,000 to $500,000.

• Website: https://founderfuel.com/
• Founded: 2021
• Preferred Industries: Tech, travel, education, transportation, and photography
• Total Investments: 100
• Total Exits: 17
• Notable Investments: Sonder, Paper, Transit, and Unsplash

Innovatiefonds Noord-Holland

Innovatiefonds Noord-Holland is also an Amsterdam-based VC firm that primarily invests in the circular economy, life science, and energy sectors across North Holland. As for the investment criteria, the firm focuses on startups that contribute to the Noord-Holland economy. The company, its employees, and the ultimate beneficial owner (UBO) must meet the demands for integrity, as set out in the Public Administration Act (Bibob), and socially responsible entrepreneurship.

Moreover, InnovatieFonds Noord-Holland is also known for its services to the startup community of the Netherlands. The firm arranges many startup events and guides its portfolio companies to boost the startup landscape.

The investment range of Innovatiefonds Noord-Holland lies between $50,000 to $300,000.

• Website: Innovatiefonds Noord-Holland (innovatiefondsnoordholland.nl)
• Founded: 2018
• Preferred Industries: biotechnology, business/productivity software, horticulture, and application-specific semiconductors
• Total Investments: 41
• Total Exits: 1
• Notable Investments: LAYCO, Advanced Microbiome Interventions, Solarfoil, and Rapid Photonics

ASIF Ventures

ASIF Ventures is a venture capital fund that primarily invests in startups founded by students and recent graduates. They provide funding ranging from €25K to €100K to support these startups from the beginning.

ASIF Ventures is based in Startup Village, Amsterdam. The investors have a lot of requirements that need to be fulfilled before funding a startup. These include:

At least 50% of the founding team needs to be a student (MBO, HBO, WO, Masters, PhD) or a recent graduate (less than 2 years of graduating).

The startup needs to be located within the Amsterdam Metropolitan Area.

The startup needs to abide by Dutch law and not engage in any illicit activities.

• Website: ASIF Ventures — Investing In Student-founded Startups
• Founded: 2017
• Preferred Industries: Emerging Tech
• Total Investments: 20
• Total Exits: 1
• Notable Investments: Linear Logic, OASYS NOW, VaVersa, and Cargoplot

StartCapital Partners

StartCapital Partners is a venture capital firm that is based in Blaricum, Netherlands and primarily invests in Dutch tech start-up organizations. The network consists of many experienced investors who invest in high-potential startups.

Similarly, StartCapital Partners organize 1–2 pitching competitions each year and select startups that are profitable and can easily scale on an international level. The investors also have a strict criterion of only investing in businesses that are led by experienced individuals.

The investment range of StartCapital Partners can go up to $500,000.

• Website: Early Stage Investments | StartCapital Partners | Blaricum
• Founded: 2016
• Preferred Industries: Tech
• Total Investments: 11
• Total Exits: 4
• Notable Investments: BranchKey, Amberscript, Phonebook, and IQMotiv

Graduate Entrepreneur

Graduate Entrepreneur is also one of the well-reputed VC firms in the Netherlands. The firm is based in Rotterdam, Netherlands, and primarily invests in ambitious founders who have studied at the universities of Delft or Rotterdam at the pre-seed, seed, and series A stages.

Moreover, Graduate Entrepreneur is quite different from other venture capitalists. The firm not only makes 6–8 investments (Seed/Early) staged investments per year but also guides them through their wide range of incubator programs and mentorship classes.

The investment range of Graduate Entrepreneur is between $75,000 to $2M.

• Website: Graduate Entrepreneur | Kick-starting your entrepreneurial future
• Founded: 2021
• Preferred Industries: Aerospace, energy, online procurement platform, and marketplace for driving instructors
• Total Investments: 23
• Notable Investments: SPHERICAL Systems, Skoon Energy, Workwize, and Clickdrive

01 Ventures

01 Ventures is an international venture capital firm that invests in many countries across Europe. The network is headquartered in London and has recently also started to operate in the Netherlands. Investors are willing to solve modern problems by funding startups that offer solutions in the form of products/services.

Moreover, 01 Ventures focuses on powerful businesses that can generate massive ROI and have some valuable achievements in the bucket. The VC firm also participates in Series A rounders, but it’s very rare.

The investment range of 1 Venture starts from 250,000 and can extend up to several million dollars.

• Website: 01V (01ventures.com)
• Founded: 2021
• Preferred Industries: Marketing, Emerging Tech, AI, Agtech, Digital Media, Entertainment, Fintech, and Business Management.
• Total Investments: 10
• Total Exits: 4
• Notable Investments: TERALYTIC, Valossa, Bibblio

Aletra Capital Partners

Aletra Capital Partners is one of the first VC firms from Singapore to start investing in Netherland-based businesses. The firm primarily focuses on corporate divestitures of non-core business units, family-owned businesses with succession issues, and/or stand-alone companies requiring turnaround management or growth acceleration

Similarly, Aletra Capital Partners funds the equity stakes of their investments with their own funds. They do not conduct any kind of public fundraisers or collect money to invest in startups. The investors make long-term investments only; they do not “buy and flip” companies to ensure a quick return for the investors which is often to the detriment of the company.

The investment range of Aletra Capital Partners is between €1M and €5M.

• Website: Aletra Capital Partners — investment company
• Founded: 2002
• Preferred Industries: B2B enterprise/software/Medtech
• Total Investments: 13
• Total Exits: 2
• Notable Investments: Vitaminstore, Mooi Parfumerie, RR Mechatronics, ENC, and TSS4U

ENA Venture Capital

ENA Venture Capital is a VC firm that funds early-stage businesses in the Netherlands. The network consists of around 5 investors and actively seeks collaboration with the most exceptional and innovative minds, often well before widespread recognition.

Similarly, ENA Venture Capital as per their website prefers businesses that are not very well-known in the market but have amazing ideas. Startups must also have low competition-based ideas and must be able to generate at least 5–8x ROI within the next 10 years.

The investment range of EMA Venture Capital is around 50,000.

• Website: Ena Vc
• Founded: 2023
• Preferred Industries: Health tech, fintech, climate tech, e-commerce, cloud computing, artificial intelligence & machine learning, blockchain, and cybersecurity
• Total Investments: 4
• Notable Investments: Winfluencer, Utilify, V-Risetech, Milares

Wrap-Up

Finally, there you have the list of the top venture capital firms in the Netherlands. However, before we conclude, there are some additional tips you must know.

Firstly, remember that VC firms are always interested in generating profits through their investments. If you are planning to secure an investment from any VC firm, it is recommended to do strong research and present your startup as a profitable investment.

Moreover, always remain confident when delivering the presentation for your startup. Even if you do not have a satisfactory answer to any question, try answering in a positive manner like “We are working on this and will soon come up with a solution.”

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Do Angel Investors Provide Mentorship Programs?

A: Yes, many angel investors provide mentorship programs and financial support. They leverage their experience to offer strategic insights, assist in critical decision-making, and facilitate introductions to their network connections. This mentorship is pivotal for startups, aiding them in overcoming obstacles and expediting their growth trajectory.

Q: How to make your startup investable?

A: To make a startup investible, focus on a scalable business model, a strong team, a well-defined market opportunity, and evidence of market validation.

Q: What is the difference between Venture Capital Firms and Individual Angel Investors?

A: Venture capital firms are organized setups that aggregate capital from various investors and deploy it into startups at a larger scale, offering expertise and guidance.

In contrast, individual angel investors are private individuals who invest personal funds directly into startups, typically at an early stage, using a more personalized approach and hands-on involvement in the startup’s growth.

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Earlier the article was published here.