Asif Ventures
ASIF Ventures is an Amsterdam-based VC fund supporting student and recent graduate founders from the University of Amsterdam (UvA) and Vrije Universiteit (VU) from the very beginning. Founded in 2017 by students, ASIF was created to back young founders when traditional investors wouldn't. They aim to give students and recent graduates in Amsterdam a real shot at entrepreneurship, backing bold ideas at their earliest stage with capital, community, guidance, and belief. ASIF does more than just invest; they connect founders with the resources, network, and guidance they need to turn ideas into real companies, serving as a launchpad for future entrepreneurs. ASIF targets early-stage funding opportunities for student and recent graduate-led startups in Amsterdam. They provide not only financial capital but also act as a community, offering guidance and support to these young founders. Their focus is on backing bold ideas at their earliest stage, where traditional investors may be hesitant. Their mission encompasses more than just providing funds. They aim to create a supportive ecosystem that includes access to resources, a strong network, and mentorship to help transform ideas into successful businesses. ASIF wants to be the platform that helps future entrepreneurs launch their companies. They've supported 25 startups since inception.
Forbion Capital Partners
Forbion is a global venture capital firm focused on building and scaling innovative biotech companies and sustainable solutions to improve human and planetary health. They invest across multiple fund strategies, covering all stages of (bio-)pharmaceutical drug development. They leverage their biotech expertise beyond human health to address planetary health challenges through their BioEconomy fund strategy, which invests in companies developing sustainable solutions in food, agriculture, materials, and environmental technologies. Forbion aims to select impactful investments that will positively affect the health and well-being of people and the planet, as well as meet its financial return objectives. Their human health investment strategy includes Ventures, Growth, and Formation (spin-outs/company creation). The Ventures strategy builds and supports pre-clinical and early clinical companies. The Growth strategy focuses on providing capital for clinical stage drug development, primarily as private growth capital, and selectively as crossover and public investments. The Formation strategy runs a joint venture with BioGeneration Ventures (BGV) for early-stage investments, particularly in Benelux and Germany. Forbion's Planetary Health strategy focuses on innovative companies that leverage biotechnology to clean and feed the planet across four sectors: Food, Agriculture, Materials, and Environmental Technologies. The BioEconomy fund enables and grows companies in Series A+ rounds. Forbion seeks to identify companies with strong science, experienced teams, and clear paths to meaningful impact. They aim to shape category-defining therapeutics with global impact.
Forward.one
Forward.one invests in smart, defensible innovations that target large markets, with exceptional teams hyper-focused on scaling. Their investment strategy centers around backing resilient founders with a strong emphasis on commercialization, speed, and pragmatism. They aim to partner with ventures that possess a competitive edge, offer solutions that customers find indispensable, and address sizable, expanding markets. The firm prefers to enter at the early seed stage but will support winning companies through further rounds. Forward.one positions itself as more than just an investor, acting as a true partner to its portfolio companies. They prioritize transparency, direct communication, and cooperation with entrepreneurs and limited partners (LPs). With a team comprising diverse skills and backgrounds across engineering, business development, and finance, they aim to understand and navigate the complexities of scaling innovative ventures effectively. The firm looks for companies that can become European tech champions. This involves identifying and supporting businesses with strong foundations and the potential for significant growth and impact in their respective industries. They are ambitious, like the entrepreneurs they invest in, and actively work to unlock stellar returns for their investors. Forward.one demonstrates a commitment to long-term success and alignment with LPs and GPs. They look for innovative ventures that align with sustainability goals, evidenced by investments in climate tech and energy storage. This focus showcases a dedication to creating a positive impact through their investments, driving Europe towards energy efficiency, reduced dependence on external resources, and significant reductions in CO2 emissions.
Graduate Entrepreneur
Graduate Ventures is a venture capital firm based in the Netherlands that partners with founders from day zero, from the first idea to scalable growth. They focus on backing ambitious founders who are turning breakthrough ideas into globally scalable companies. The firm combines early-stage capital with hands-on support and a powerful alumni network to accelerate the entrepreneurial journey. They aim to unlock the full potential of founders by providing not only funding but also access to experienced entrepreneurs, experts, and peers, fostering a collaborative environment for growth and shared insights. Their investment strategy centers on providing Pre-Seed and Seed stage funding to startups in the Netherlands. Beyond capital, Graduate Ventures emphasizes the value of its extensive network, comprising over 200 alumni. This network facilitates connections, knowledge sharing, and access to trusted discussions on critical topics like talent acquisition, funding strategies, and go-to-market approaches. The firm actively connects portfolio companies with high-profile individuals and ensures consistent access to the right resources and relationships, driving their businesses forward. Graduate Ventures' approach is community-driven, leveraging a unique combination of alumni, students, and professionals to support the fund's operations. Alumni serve as the backbone, bringing capital, knowledge, and network to the next generation of founders. The firm also involves a student investment team to provide a fresh perspective and support pre-seed fund operations. The firm highlights its experienced professionals with startup and investing expertise who manage the organization and seed fund.
InnovationQuarter (IQ)
InnovationQuarter (IQ) is the regional economic development agency for the Province of Zuid-Holland, also known as the greater Rotterdam – The Hague area. Their mission is to strengthen the regional economic structure by stimulating innovation. They achieve this by supporting businesses with innovating, investing, and internationalizing. IQ collaborates with major corporations, SMEs, educational and research institutes, and government organizations to align efforts towards a brighter future. They aim to transform challenges into opportunities and offer proven solutions to the world, focusing on the unique delta region's strengths in overcoming adversity and fostering innovation. IQ's strategy revolves around three key activities: Internationalisation, Investing, and Innovation. For internationalisation, they support Dutch businesses in expanding to foreign markets and assist foreign businesses in settling in the Rotterdam – The Hague area. Their investment strategy involves managing several funds focused on disruptive startups and scale-ups with high technological risk, energy innovations leading to CO2 reduction, and bridging the gap from concept to promising business with seed funding. On the innovation front, they focus on connecting businesses with tailor-made know-how and key networks within the region's key sectors. The firm aims to leverage the unique characteristics of the greater Rotterdam – The Hague area, a highly-urbanized delta region, as a real-life testing ground for solutions applicable to metropolitan areas across the globe. Their approach centers on fostering collaboration and innovation within an international entrepreneurial ambiance. They emphasize the region's historical success in overcoming challenges and their ability to offer proven solutions to be shared globally.
Keen Ventures
Keen Venture Partners is a radically human venture capital firm focused on backing exceptional teams across Europe in technology and defence. They seek to partner with fast-growing tech companies in Europe at relatively early stages, aiming to build meaningful companies. Their investment ideas are grounded in long-term trends across specific technology areas, and they believe they can offer more than just capital. They run regular "thesis sprints" which involve deep dives into specific themes, combining research, operator conversations, and expert input. The firm prioritizes building relationships and providing value to founders well before any investment possibility arises, offering their network, experience, and capabilities upfront. They emphasize a fast and fair investment process and ensure that their portfolio companies are in good company.
Meneldor
Meneldor provides investors with the opportunity to co-invest with specialists in early-stage Biotech and Pharma companies, specifically from pre-seed to Phase 2 clinical trials. Recognizing the inherent risks and complexity of the biotech sector, Meneldor emphasizes rigorous due diligence. They conduct thorough scientific analysis of potential portfolio companies. A comprehensive assessment of other critical aspects, including intellectual property, medical need, market size, competition, risk profile, management team, financial requirements, and valuation, is performed, only investing when all selection criteria are met. Their investment strategy relies on a rigorous scientific and commercial assessment of early stage Biotech and Pharma companies. It is implied that they leverage their own internal expertise and/or specialist networks to evaluate the potential of new treatments, drugs and therapeutic approaches. By thoroughly evaluating the scientific merit of a company's technology, along with a comprehensive assessment of the business case, IP, and market opportunity, Meneldor aims to mitigate the risk associated with early stage biotech investments. They seek to provide access to investment opportunities that are typically difficult for individual investors to access directly, partnering with those who possess specialized expertise in biotechnology and pharmaceuticals to select and manage investments in this sector. The firm carefully analyzes the science, intellectual property, management, and other factors of biotech companies before deciding to invest. Once a potential target is vetted, they invite their investors to participate in the investment.
SHIFT Invest
SHIFT Invest is a venture capital fund dedicated to investing exclusively in innovative enterprises with significant positive environmental impact potential. Recognizing the critical role of innovation and entrepreneurship in restoring the balance between nature and society, SHIFT Invest operates as an impact investor, willingly embracing financial and impact risks that traditional investors may avoid. This proactive approach allows the firm to contribute meaningfully to the sustainability transition by providing promising environmental startups with access to vital growth capital, a valuable network, and over 13 years of impact investment experience. The firm's investment strategy revolves around identifying and supporting companies that actively address pressing environmental challenges such as climate change, biodiversity loss, and resource depletion. SHIFT Invest aims to foster a world where business success is intrinsically linked to positive environmental outcomes. By carefully selecting and nurturing innovative startups, the fund seeks to accelerate the development and deployment of solutions that benefit both the planet and society. SHIFT Invest's commitment extends beyond mere financial investment. The firm actively supports its portfolio companies by leveraging its extensive network of partners and providing hands-on guidance. This collaborative approach ensures that startups have the resources and expertise they need to scale their operations and achieve their environmental impact goals. With a long-term investment horizon, SHIFT Invest is dedicated to helping its portfolio companies grow and thrive, ultimately creating a more sustainable and resilient future.
Utrecht Health Seed Fund
Utrecht Holdings Seed Fund (UHSF) invests in science-based startups originating from or closely linked to Utrecht University (UU) and University Medical Centre Utrecht (UMCU). The fund builds upon the success of the UtrechtHealthSeed Fund (UHSF I). Their primary aim is to translate scientific research into broader societal impact by providing early-stage funding to innovative companies. They are committed to supporting ventures that address pressing challenges in healthcare and sustainability, with a focus on creating impactful solutions leveraging cutting-edge research and technologies from UU and UMCU. The fund's investment strategy reflects the research strengths of its investors, primarily focusing on Life Sciences/MedTech, Digital Innovation, and Sustainability. UHSF seeks to bridge the gap between academic research and commercial application by providing crucial seed funding to spin-offs and startups that have demonstrated a clear potential for scalability and positive impact. They are actively looking for opportunities where the innovations are deeply rooted in scientific breakthroughs. The fund invests in companies located in the Netherlands, particularly those connected to the Utrecht ecosystem. They are especially interested in innovations coming from and linked to Utrecht University and University Medical Center Utrecht. The firm intends to foster an environment where early-stage ventures can thrive by providing not only financial backing but also leveraging the vast network, knowledge base, and infrastructure of Utrecht Holdings, Utrecht University and UMCU. The goal is to advance translational science, fostering the growth of innovative businesses and contributing to economic development in the region. UHSF is managed by Utrecht Holdings, the Knowledge Transfer Office of the UU and UMCU, further cementing the alignment with the strategic research priorities and ensuring a close relationship with the source of innovative technologies. The fund seeks to create an ecosystem where academic research can be translated into tangible benefits for society and is actively involved in nurturing and mentoring companies in the early stages. They operate with a collaborative mindset, partnering with other investors and stakeholders to maximize the chances of success for their portfolio companies.
Act-Vc
ACT Venture Partners invests in early-stage deep-tech companies across Europe, typically at the pre-seed and seed stages. They seek out technical founders who are turning hard science into real-world impact. The firm invests based on conviction rather than waiting for traction, focusing on companies with a proprietary technical insight or scientific moat, a market shaped by irreversible change, and the ability to attract talent, learn fast, and scale wisely. They are particularly interested in companies tackling tangible challenges with solutions that are superior to existing alternatives. ACT Venture Partners emphasizes problem-solution fit, product-market fit, and a strong technical team with entrepreneurial skills. They place great emphasis on UN Sustainable Development Goals in their investment decision-making process and portfolio company oversight, encouraging their companies to adopt a vision that contributes to sustainability-related challenges. They aim to generate significant returns for their investors by investing in companies with strong potential for growth and a clear exit strategy.
BGV (BioGeneration Ventures)
BioGeneration Ventures (BGV) is a venture capital firm specializing in seed investments in innovative early-stage European life sciences companies. BGV aims to co-found and invest in biotech companies developing disruptive solutions for high unmet medical needs. The firm leverages its experience from working within small and large pharma and biotech companies and its extensive industry network to bring sector-relevant expertise. They work hands-on with portfolio companies and shape them to become attractive investment opportunities within the life sciences industry. BGV's strategy focuses on accelerating product development and building companies that are attractive to larger industry players. They use their knowledge from working with universities, early-stage biotech companies, and large pharma to build companies, transform entrepreneurs, and create investment opportunities. They act as lead investors and provide operational and management expertise to review transactions.
Forbion
Forbion is a global venture capital firm with a focus on advancing groundbreaking biotech innovations and other sustainable solutions that improve the health of people and the planet. They invest in innovative biotech companies across all stages of (bio-) pharmaceutical drug development through their Ventures and Growth strategies. In addition, they leverage their biotech expertise to address planetary health challenges through their BioEconomy fund strategy, which invests in companies developing sustainable solutions in food, agriculture, materials, and environmental technologies. They aim to select impactful investments that will positively affect the health and well-being of people and the planet while meeting financial return objectives. Forbion's investment approach is centered on building and scaling companies around compelling science and clear unmet needs. They actively source, build, and guide life sciences companies, resulting in numerous breakthrough therapies and successful exits. They manage investments across multiple fund strategies targeting different stages of company development, from pre-clinical and early clinical companies to clinical-stage drug development. Forbion operates a joint venture with BioGeneration Ventures (BGV), focusing on seed and early-stage investments, particularly in Benelux and Germany. The firm's commitment extends beyond capital commitments. They provide their portfolio companies with a collaborative and experienced investing team and advisory network, which bring expansive and profound insights into the companies and value building process. Forbion targets category-defining therapeutics and sustainable biotech solutions with global impact.
Revo Capital
Revo Capital focuses on empowering local entrepreneurs in Turkey, Eastern Europe, and the Baltics to unlock global potential. They invest in truly innovative, early-stage B2B or B2C technology ventures. They aim to be more than just an investor, acting as a member of the founding team and taking weight off the entrepreneurs' shoulders. They achieve this by assembling a team with diverse backgrounds spanning entrepreneurial spirit, product development, business acumen, and financial expertise. They understand the journey of an entrepreneur and provide the necessary skills, guidance, management discipline, and structure to navigate growth opportunities and challenges. They work with founders across their growth lifecycle, from investment to exit, offering support and partnership throughout the journey. Revo Capital addresses the Series A/B financing gap in Turkey by leading rounds where capital scarcity is highest and impact is greatest. Despite strong startup formation and seed activity, only a small percentage of seed-funded startups in Turkey raise a Series A, compared to leading European markets. Fund III is intentionally structured to bridge this gap by deploying significant capital into this crucial stage of growth. In addition to Series A/B investments, Revo Capital allocates a portion of its fund to a dedicated Seed Pocket, making pre-seed and seed investments to build early conviction, secure pro-rata rights, and potentially lead the Series A rounds later on. Revo prefers to be an early institutional believer, frequently investing in a company's first institutional round while selectively partnering with strong regional or global investors when that structure best supports long-term value creation.
Volta Ventures
Volta Ventures invests in ambitious B2B SaaS companies in the Benelux region. They focus on early-stage venture capital, specifically seed and early-stage rounds. They aim to support innovative startups building scalable solutions for business customers. Their investment range is between €100k and €1M, with substantial follow-on potential. They provide support and belief in entrepreneurs to accelerate their growth, offering strategic support. They look for companies with strong product-market fit and potential for rapid scaling. Volta Ventures sees themselves as a long-term partner for their portfolio companies, offering guidance and resources to help them succeed. They actively seek out tools to enhance their own operations, indicating a data-driven approach to investing.
Level2 Ventures
Level2 Ventures focuses on supporting founders with capital and managerial expertise to achieve global success. They recognize the challenges founders face and aim to provide more than just capital, offering managerial experience, talent recruitment, marketing, training, and operational support. The firm invests in startups at early development stages, providing a second level of support beyond initial funding. Level2 Ventures emphasizes genuine partnership and aims to help startups scale and navigate subsequent funding rounds. Their Development 4Startups Program helps founders and managers of their portfolio companies to quickly strengthen managerial competencies in key areas for the startup's development. Level2 Ventures looks for innovative and interesting ideas, led by founders who are passionate and committed and believe their solutions will change the world for the better. They aim to partner with founders demonstrating determination and a willingness to learn from trials and mistakes. They look for strong teams with potential for growth and are hands-on in providing strategic and operational guidance. They invest in startups that address significant market needs and have the potential to scale globally. The firm actively develops a support environment encompassing strategy, management, finance, marketing, HR, and operability. They focus on building competencies in strategic, operational, and managerial aspects of the portfolio companies. The firm's prior success in scaling companies, coupled with its experience across diverse industries, positions it to provide valuable insights and guidance to its portfolio companies. Level2 Ventures also focuses on structuring VC processes and assisting with subsequent funding rounds for their startups. The firm seeks to build long-term relationships with founders and aims to be a valuable partner throughout their entrepreneurial journey.
MGVC
MGVC is a global gaming investor focused on supporting the development of promising gaming projects and companies. They aim to provide not only financial resources but also comprehensive support in various aspects of game development and operation. This includes areas like game design, marketing, business development, production, project management, HR, and investment analysis. Their approach emphasizes finding the best and most effective way to work with each partner, respecting and preserving the studio's unique identity. The firm leverages a team of experienced professionals with a deep understanding of the video game industry. They possess a community of 1,500 professionals within their investment partner portfolio. MGVC aims to offer effective solutions and services, facilitating knowledge exchange and sharing best practices. They invest in developing professional skills and competencies within their portfolio companies, opening doors to new opportunities. MGVC distinguishes itself by providing access to a unique ecosystem, encompassing a multi-million player audience, a broad analytical toolset, and convenient services. This ecosystem is designed to enable effective promotion of titles across diverse markets and platforms. Their investment strategy supports both up-and-coming developers and experienced studios, tailoring resources to facilitate scaling various types of projects. This combination of financial investment and operational support positions MGVC as a strategic partner for game developers seeking to achieve significant growth.
ScaleX Ventures
ScaleX Ventures focuses on investing in exceptional founders from unexpected places, aiming to support their journey to global success. The firm emphasizes going the extra mile to assist founders, providing support and resources beyond just financial investment. This includes offering strategic insights, actively seeking ways to add value, and committing to the success of their portfolio companies as if they were part of the founding team. ScaleX positions itself as a marathon-runner type of VC, indicating a long-term commitment to its portfolio companies, even when challenges arise. The firm's approach involves providing resources, network access, and proactive support to help startups overcome obstacles and scale effectively. ScaleX seems to look for startups with global ambitions, willing to support them from seed stage onward. The testimonials from portfolio companies highlight ScaleX's dedication, proactive support, strategic thinking, and the genuine care and commitment of the team. The firm seems to prioritize building strong relationships with founders and providing personalized assistance based on their specific needs.
Operator Exchange
Operator Exchange is a group of angel investors comprised of individuals who have founded or built fast-growing startups. Their investment strategy revolves around providing not only capital but also the experience and network of its members to support portfolio companies. They aim to be the type of investors that founders themselves would want to raise money from, suggesting a founder-friendly approach. They are not a fund but rather a group of individual investors who invest up to $50k. The firm prioritizes speed in decision-making and investment, facilitated by their non-fund structure. While they review numerous startups, only about 5% receive investment, indicating a selective process. The overall investment philosophy is to serve founders and offer support when needed, leveraging the operator experience of the members. This implies a willingness to be actively involved and provide guidance based on their own experiences in building and scaling companies. They aim to offer value beyond just capital, utilizing their experience and network to help their portfolio companies succeed.
WePlay Ventures
WePlay Ventures is a Gaming VC focused on supporting pre-seed and seed-stage gaming studios in Europe, Central Asia, and Turkey. They aim to power the future of gaming through strategic capital, their extensive network, and deep industry expertise. They go beyond traditional investment by actively partnering with studios, offering an acceleration program (WePlay HUB) and a smart money model to drive growth. Their approach involves functioning as teammates, providing support in all aspects of the studio's journey. WePlay Ventures invests in early-stage gaming studios across all platforms and genres, providing up to $300k with 15% equity. They utilize the WePlay HUB, a 3-month acceleration program, to provide studios with resources, events, and introductions to key partners. This program includes interactive business and technical workshops, as well as 1:1 mentorship led by industry leaders. The firm also operates WePlay Starz, a digital platform that connects investment-ready studios with partners, mentors, and potential collaborations. Their core philosophy revolves around providing value beyond capital. The firm leverages its wide network across different sectors and acts as a first mover in the region. Their team possesses significant experience in both gaming and startups. Their 'Smart Money' approach involves actively supporting game studios, and they offer a flexible and fast investment structure, making them active partners in the studios’ success.
CapitalT
CapitalT is a seed stage venture capital fund that invests in tech companies with brilliant teams who aim to change how the world lives, learns, works, and communicates. They focus on supporting entrepreneurs of all backgrounds who build purpose-driven companies around the technologies of the future and who have the passion and intuition to transform their expert ideas into real breakthroughs. The firm believes that great people make great companies. By investing early and collaborating deeply, they help exceptional teams developing groundbreaking ideas to grow better, scale faster, and spark change across their industries. They look for digital natives who understand the needs of today’s consumers and want to improve their industries and challenge traditional approaches by using artificial intelligence, machine learning, or big data. They also seek entrepreneurs who want to contribute to building a better, more sustainable, and equal world. CapitalT fosters strong relationships and leverages its connections to enable founders to unlock their greatest potential, and complements their core team with a robust network of operating partners and scouts.
Newion
Newion is a venture capital firm that invests in early-stage and expansion-stage technology companies, focusing exclusively on innovative business software. They typically participate in seed rounds or Series A rounds, providing capital and support to help companies scale and achieve their potential. Their investment approach centers on identifying companies with strong potential to disrupt and transform the business software landscape. Newion looks for companies that address significant market needs with innovative solutions. They seek out businesses with strong founding teams, scalable business models, and a clear path to sustainable growth. The firm's focus on business software allows them to develop deep expertise in the sector and provide valuable insights and support to their portfolio companies. Newion's portfolio demonstrates a focus on B2B solutions, spanning areas such as content management, delivery service integration, business intelligence, telecom solutions, marketing & sales enablement, TV app development, food management platform, and insurance policy administration systems. The firm has a history of successful exits, including companies acquired by larger entities like ServiceNow and Amino Technologies.
Newion Partners B.V.
Newion Partners B.V. is a venture capital firm that invests in early-stage and expansion-stage technology companies, exclusively focusing on innovative business software. They typically participate in seed rounds or A-rounds. The firm aims to partner with companies that have the potential to disrupt traditional industries through technological innovation.
LUMO Labs
LUMO Labs focuses on creating opportunities for impact-driven ventures in emerging technologies. They invest in startups using digital deep tech, including AI, Data, Blockchain, IoT, AR/VR, and Digital Security, to solve social and environmental challenges. Their investment targets align with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), specifically Health & Wellbeing, Quality Education, Sustainable City, and Climate Action. LUMO Labs aims to improve the quality of life and wellbeing while addressing strains on healthcare, social welfare, and the planet. The firm's investment strategy is centered around supporting founders through their bespoke LUMO Program, leveraging experience as both entrepreneurs and investors. They prioritize building meaningful relationships within relevant ecosystems, staying current in their investment areas, and leveraging their network, which they consider a strategic differentiator. LUMO Labs acts as active players and contributors to the relevant ecosystems. The firm builds meaningful relationships and ensures that they are up to date and top of mind in its investment areas. The network and how well it uses it is a strategic and distinctive differentiator for LUMO Labs. As entrepreneurs turned investors, LUMO Labs creates opportunities for people and emerging technologies by connecting impact-driven groundbreaking start-ups to funds, expertise, network and each other.