Image credits: Thuja Capital
“The Netherlands is small but mighty,” says Maurice van Tilburg, Managing Director of Techleap.
The Netherlands has leaped forward to develop thriving tech and innovation sectors, a trend gradually spreading across the continent. This growth can be attributed to the Netherlands’s government’s supportive policies, and the talent and drive of the Dutch people. As a result, the future looks bright for the Netherlands’ tech and innovation industries with strong foundations.
A report from Sifted reveals that the Netherlands features 11,000 startups, 19,000 founders, and a total of 145,000 people pushing the boundaries of imagination.
In 2021, investment in Dutch startups and scale-ups had tripled to €5.3B, compared to €1.7B in 2020. Also, the number of deals increased from almost 300 reached in 2020 to more than 400 in 2021.
In this regard, Dealroom, in collaboration with Sifted, has released a list of the best overall VCs in the Netherlands. Check it out.
Inkef
HQ: Amsterdam, the Netherlands
Inkef is a venture capital firm based in Amsterdam that backs early-stage European companies. The firm believes in long-term investment with the ability to support companies through several funding rounds up to IPO. Even though Inkef covers multiple investment stages, it focuses mainly on series A investments. The company writes cheques between €500k and €15M, with significant reservations to follow-on investments. The VC raised a €500M fund in 2017 and a €50M top-up in 2021.
From the early stages of a technology or life science venture, INKEF Capital supports entrepreneurs in building their ideas into successful international businesses. Some of its investments include GitLab, Remote, ChannelEngine, Silverflow, and Castor.
BGV (BioGeneration Ventures)
HQ: Naarden, the Netherlands
Based out of Naarden, BioGeneration Ventures (BGV) is a venture capital company that focuses on early-stage European biotech, medtech, and diagnostics companies.
The Dutch VC has a strong track record of significant financial returns through investing in innovations in healthcare and providing the expertise to build world-class teams.
The company manages around €140M of funds investing in areas where true scientific innovations, the unmet medical need, and the potential to demonstrate a significant proof of concept come together.
BGV uses its experience to guide progress into clinical trials, resulting in successful drug development and value realisation for its investors. The VC’s initial seed investments can be up to €2M, with around €5M to €15M per company over the long haul.
Gilde Healthcare
HQ: Utrecht, the Netherlands
Gilde Healthcare is a healthcare investor managing two business lines – a lower mid-market buy-out fund and a venture & growth capital fund.
The company’s lower mid-market buy-out fund invests in profitable European healthcare services companies focusing on the Netherlands, Belgium, and Germany. The portfolio comprises healthcare providers, medical product suppliers, and other service providers in the healthcare market.
The company’s venture & growth capital fund invests in medtech, diagnostics, digital health, and therapeutics. The portfolio companies are based in Europe and North America.
Forbion
HQ: Naarden, the Netherlands
Forbion is a venture capital firm that helps companies bridge research and development through the team’s expertise in drug development and company building.
The VC currently manages over €1.8B across nine closed-end funds, including its €460M Forbion V Fund, which started investing in 2021, and its €360M Forbion Growth Opportunities Fund I, which started investing in 2020.
Forbion’s investors include the European Investment Fund (EIF), notably through its European Recovery Programme (ERP), LfA, the Dutch Venture Initiative (DVI) and AMUF facilities, and the Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau (KFW) through the ERP – Venture Capital Fondsfinanzierung facility.
Forbion operates a joint venture with BioGeneration Ventures (BGV). Since its inception in 2006, BGV has managed €250M across its four funds.
Thuja Capital
HQ: Utrecht, the Netherlands
Thuja Capital Management (Thuja) manages several venture capital funds aimed at building and scaling companies in the fields of (bio)pharmaceuticals, medtech, and digital health.
In addition to generating a financial return for its investors, Thuja’s investments positively impact the health and well-being of patients.
Thuja also serves physicians and patients worldwide by providing local capital to daring entrepreneurs with ground-breaking product concepts.
LSP (Life Sciences Partners)
HQ: Amsterdam, the Netherlands
LSP provides financing for life sciences and health care companies. LSP’s management has raised over €3.1B and supported over 150 companies, including signature deals such as argenx, Crucell, and Neuravi.
With offices in Amsterdam, Munich, and Boston, LSP can currently invest through several strategies with different investment scopes and a dedicated team.
LSP is an active contributor to the global life sciences industry and the European life science ecosystem by assuming roles as initiators, founders, and board members in various private and public bodies and organisations.
Newion
HQ: Amsterdam, the Netherlands
Newion is a venture capital firm focused on early-stage investments in European B2B software companies with a global ambition. The company has invested in 70+ companies to date, among which are Collibra, Reasult, Nallian, Foleon, CustomerGauge, L1NDA, Swipeguide, and more. In addition, Newion has exited companies like Oxxio, Mirror42, Q-go, and 24iMedia.
Prime Ventures (VC)
HQ: Amsterdam, the Netherlands
Prime Ventures is a venture capital and growth equity firm that invests in European technology companies. The company raised its last fund at €254M in 2019.
The company invests around €10 to €20M initially in Series A to C rounds as a lead or co-lead, but goes up to €25M to €35M occasionally.
Over the years, the firm has invested in more than 50 companies such as Global Collect, Takeaway.com, Mendix, iwoca, and Meero.
From its offices in The Netherlands and the UK, the independent partnership manages over €700M in committed capital.
Maven 11 Capital
HQ: Amsterdam, the Netherlands
Founded by a diverse set of serial entrepreneurs, investors, and blockchain builders in 2015, Maven 11 Capital is an investment fund solely focused on investing in blockchain and distributed ledger technology (DLT).
It invests in ventures, digital assets, and digital currencies that adopt this technology. In addition, the firm supports the companies it invests in by taking an active role in the sector and contributing to the development of its portfolio companies. The company invests in seed and pre-seed companies, between $250K and $10M.
ABN AMRO Bank N.V.
HQ: Amsterdam, the Netherlands
ABN AMRO is a Dutch bank serving retail, corporate and private banking clients focusing on Northwest Europe. The company offers products and services, in-depth financial expertise, and specialist knowledge in numerous industry sectors.
ABN AMRO Ventures is ABN AMRO’s corporate venture fund focused on fintechs. It invests in innovative companies that specialise in digitalising financial products, services, and infrastructure. With €150M of assets under management, the fund has stakes in 20 companies. The company writes cheques between €50M and €100M.
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