The Netherlands is a country where startups and VC funds thrive, supported by an excellent institutional background, public policies and societal development. It’s the 5th most developed ecosystem in Europe and 11th globally, with sectors such as energy and environment, hardware and IoT, and transport attracting the most attention from entrepreneurs and investors alike. It’s also a country where impact investing is thriving – so much so, that many of the SDG-focused VCs are also the top ones.
Curiosity Venture Capital
What they look for: Responsible AI software companies that serve the world, not eat it.
Curiosity is a community-powered venture capital firm focused on early-stage investments in talented, diverse teams based in the Benelux, Nordics and Baltics, building the next generation of AI-driven global software companies.
Curiosity is led by two experienced operator-investors: Herman Kienhuis and Maurice Beckand Verwee, supported by an engaged community of entrepreneurs, expert advisors and investors.
Dutch Founders Fund (DFF)
What they look for: Marketplaces that disrupt or reimagine traditional supply-chains.
The Dutch Founders Fund is an early-stage venture capital fund from Amsterdam, started by a group of successful Dutch entrepreneurs like Laurens Groenendijk (Just Eat, Treatwell, Miinto, Hiber), Patrick Kerssemakers (fonQ), Bas Beerens (WeTransfer), Hidde Hoogcarspel (Spacebuzz) and Remco van Zanten (ex Booking.com, Zalando, BCG).
The Dutch Founders Fund also invests in technology that enables marketplaces, their facilitates or frictionless marketplace transactions, from FinTech solutions to supply-chain tech.
Samen Slimmer
What they look for: Overlooked markets and platforms that cut out the middleman and offer a solution to society’s challenges by providing transparency and efficiency.
Slimmer AI, Keen Venture Partners and Dutch Founders Fund (DFF) partnered to create the first-of-its-kind AI ventures alliance Samen Slimmer. They share a common value of putting founders first, a love for tech businesses, and a conviction that AI will transform the world for the better.
Together they bring capital, specialist technical resources, deep tech entrepreneur experience and an unrivalled network, to set new AI companies up for greater success.
SDG Capital
What they look for: Mature companies that solve environmental and social challenges.
“No greenwashing here, we commit to real impact.” SDG Capital
SDG Capital is sector agnostic, and invests in sustainable and growing industries. Their investment focus is on companies that are mid-sized and based in the Benelux. The companies they invest in contribute directly to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, or SDGs. By supporting the sustainable growth of these businesses, SDG Capital realises returns for both investors and society.
Their investment thesis is built on three SDG’s relevant for The Netherlands:
- Conscious Consumption and Production
- Energy Transition
- Health & Well-being
SDG doesn’t invest in start-ups, as this requires different stakeholder expertise. They also don’t invest in the distressed segment, where industries are in decline or where companies operate in difficult circumstances.
Disruptive Technology Ventures (DTV)
What they look for: DTV invests in technology start-ups and scale-ups that build their business model around unique and differentiating technologies which address a clear customer need in the market.
They target companies that have developed a commercially viable product and are generating first revenues and which are seeking ways to accelerate their growth, optimise their business model and in time want to roll-out internationally. Their typical investments are up to €5m over the investment period but they don’t limit themselves to that amount.
HPE Growth
What they look for: HPE’s Partners are always seeking outstanding management teams with growth ambition and execution focus. They focus on companies that have developed leading scalable technology, and have succeeded at bringing their technology to market and want to accelerate their growth.
They have over EUR 500 million in committed capital across two funds and co-investment vehicles, and focus on scaling digital technology companies from EUR 10 to 100 million turnover. We aim to deploy EUR 10-45 million equity per company in return for a minority or majority stake.
Deeptech Equity NL
What they look for: Deeptech Equity NL focuses on seven investment clusters: Quantum, Engineering & Fabrication Technologies, Chemical Technologies, Nanotechnology, Photonics, AI and Advanced Materials.
Their portfolio consists of DeepTech companies across energy, food and agriculture and healthcare. By putting Dutch Deep Tech technology companies on the international map and by financing their international growth, Deeptech Equity NL contributes to a sustainable, green future for the Dutch digital industry. To achieve this they search and connect scale-up companies, and together with national and international VCs and LPs, they increase investments in the Dutch Deep Tech ecosystem.
Deeptech Equity NL will be the first Deep Tech fund, with a 15 year horizon, investing in ‘Key Enabling Technology’ (KET) necessary for the climate and energy transition in the Netherlands. These Deep Tech leaders of tomorrow receive active guidance for 15 years and get the adequate financial support to evolve into a global player with an IPO in Amsterdam.
BP Energy Partners
What they look for: BP Energy Partners (BPEP) investment strategy is focused on a lower carbon future. BPEP believes that natural gas will continue to play an important part in the transition to that future.
BPEP makes middle market control investments in the natural gas value chain. These include infrastructure, power, environmental services, logistics, midstream, and natural gas distribution and consumption.
BPEP, is a Dallas, Texas based growth-oriented private equity firm. Since inception BPEP has focused on a lower carbon future by establishing and growing sustainable and responsible energy companies in the natural gas value chain. Today, that focus continues through targeted investments in the natural gas value chain, renewable energy and lower carbon solutions.
They currently manage over $550 million in committed capital and are actively investing in new opportunities.
Shamrock Ventures
Portfolio
What they look for: Shamrock Ventures typically invests in early stage startups, ideally in the pre-seed round. Their ambition is to become a young startup’s first professional investor. Revenue or a minimum viable product (MVP) is not required for funding and they invest in the company’s mission and the team of founders.
Shamrock Ventures invests in companies with multiple founders. If your company has technology at the core of its product the team should include a founder with a technology skillset. Shamrock Ventures is a strong supporter of the lean startup method and as such looks for founders who are creative and can adapt quickly if the product or market demands so.
BPEP makes middle market control investments in the natural gas value chain. These include infrastructure, power, environmental services, logistics, midstream, and natural gas distribution and consumption.
Our strategy also includes investments in low carbon energy solutions and renewable energy that will complement investments in the natural gas value chain. Our emphasis on strong portfolio performance is accompanied by our determination to make investments that are sustainable, responsible and improve energy resiliency.
Work with us
We work with Europe’s leaders in finance to connect and recruit seasoned finance professionals.
