Startupbootcamp Inclusive Fintech & DeFi
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Startupbootcamp’s Inclusive FinTech & DeFi accelerator empowers startups to create sustainable, inclusive financial solutions. It connects founders with mentors, investors, and corporate partners to drive impact and growth through a 3-month hybrid program, including mentorship, capital access, and exclusive deals.
The Dutch Founders Fund
Dutch Founders Fund (DFF) takes a "founders by heart, investors by craft" approach to venture capital. They prioritize entrepreneurial grit, solid execution, and the people behind the ideas, rather than relying solely on spreadsheets and polished pitch decks. They aim to invest in underdigitized verticals and seek founders who are relentless and resourceful. The fund was created by individuals with experience building successful companies like WeTransfer, Just Eat, Hiber, Treatwell, and fonQ, with the intention of providing the support they wish they had received when starting their own ventures. DFF believes in a no-nonsense approach to company building, which extends to their investment strategy.
The Future Food Fund
The Future Food Fund is a specialist food & agriculture impact fund investing in early-stage companies in Western Europe that are working to transform the food and agriculture value chain. They focus on companies that address the environmental impact of food production, which accounts for nearly 25% of climate-changing greenhouse gas emissions, drives biodiversity loss, causes land-use change, pollutes with nitrogen and phosphorus, and demands huge freshwater resources. They believe in driving innovation and change within these food systems, to shift them from being the cause to becoming the solution to planetary boundary issues. The fund contributes capital, knowledge, and network to help entrepreneurial ventures make a positive environmental impact. They take impact seriously, having developed their own methodology, which they apply through the whole investment process, from screening deals, creating value and portfolio management, straight to their own impact carry. They have an international impact framework in place bringing transformation to the most pressing themes. They are focused on supporting companies contributing to more sustainable farming practices, resilient supply chains, and reduction of CO2 emissions.
Triodos Food Transition Europe Fund
Triodos Investment Management is a globally active impact investor that aims to make money work for positive change in society. They focus on creating a society that promotes the quality of life for all its members on a thriving planet, with human dignity at its core. They seek to connect investors who want to make money work for positive change with sustainable businesses. With over 30 years of experience, Triodos IM offers impact investment solutions across multiple asset classes, classifying all their funds as Article 9 funds under the EU SFDR, meaning they have sustainable investment as their objective. Their investment approach is active-only, with a global footprint spanning over 650 direct investments in more than 50 countries. They are committed to transparency and believe in the instrumental role and creative power of capital when used consciously. Their core values include freedom, equity, and responsibility, guiding their investment decisions and business practices. Triodos Investment Management integrates environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors into their investment processes and actively engages with portfolio companies to drive positive change. They offer a range of impact investment solutions, including equities and bonds, private debt and equity, and institutional solutions, all designed to generate both financial returns and measurable social and environmental impact. They also emphasize the importance of keeping the European taxonomy green and adhering to scientific criteria when determining sustainable economic activities. They express concern about politically driven decisions that could undermine the aim of transparency in the financing market.
Triple Jump
Triple Jump is an impact-focused investment manager founded in 2006. They manage or advise funds, portfolios, and mandates that create a positive impact in emerging economies while generating healthy financial returns. Their work revolves around five main development themes: Financial Inclusion, financing Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), affordable housing, access to clean energy, and climate and nature. They aim to contribute to a more responsible and inclusive financial sector. Triple Jump uses various instruments such as private debt, equity, mezzanine, and fund investments, coupled with technical assistance and advisory services to its investees, to deliver environmental, social, and financial returns. They emphasize a global network to quickly respond to client needs and better understand the environments in which they operate, and a local presence in investment markets to facilitate lasting relationships with clients and investees. Triple Jump's approach combines financial investment with a deep commitment to creating positive social and environmental outcomes. This is reflected in their impact metrics, such as the number of clients reached, jobs supported, CO2 emissions avoided, and technical assistance projects completed. They target underserved markets and populations, as evidenced by the percentage of rural and women clients reached. Their investment strategy is guided by a rigorous understanding of the challenges and opportunities in emerging markets. They aim to provide the financial resources and expertise needed to help businesses grow and scale their impact. Triple Jump's investment philosophy is aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and other global frameworks for sustainable development.
University of Twente
Based on the provided website content, it is challenging to define a specific investment thesis or strategy for the University of Twente. The University of Twente is a research university in Enschede, Netherlands. The university's primary focus is on education and research in areas such as engineering, natural sciences, and social sciences. The website highlights various degree programs, research institutes, and collaboration opportunities, indicating an interest in fostering innovation and development in these fields. However, the information does not explicitly state a venture capital investment thesis or detail specific investment strategies. While the university facilitates research and offers collaboration opportunities with businesses, it does not directly present itself as a venture capital firm. The website showcases research institutes and encourages collaborations with external partners. These activities might lead to the development of technologies or startups that could be of interest to venture capitalists, but the university itself is not presented as an investment vehicle. The university's engagement with external parties through collaborations and research support suggests a potential interest in commercializing research outcomes. However, the website lacks specific details about investment criteria, target sectors, or financial instruments. Therefore, it is difficult to determine their investment approach without additional information.
Unknown Group
Unknown Group focuses on supporting entrepreneurs who are building solutions for a better world. They are constructing what they claim to be the largest impact campus in Europe, centered around a leading university for entrepreneurs. Their strategy includes identifying exceptional founders through initiatives like "Get in the Ring" and supporting their growth through campus facilities and university programs. They emphasize providing a physical space for founders to work, connect, and test solutions, alongside educational opportunities to further develop their businesses. The core of their investment and support strategy involves creating an ecosystem designed to foster the development of impactful and sustainable businesses.
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.
Utrecht Holdings
Utrecht Holdings is the Knowledge Transfer Office (KTO) for Utrecht University and the University Medical Center Utrecht (UMC Utrecht). Their primary goal is to translate research results from these institutions into societal impact. They achieve this by providing legal, strategic, and financial support to researchers, guiding them through the process of turning inventions into real-world applications. This includes evaluating inventions for potential, securing intellectual property (often through patents), connecting researchers with industry partners and investors, and offering funding for early-stage development through their Make It Matter voucher program (up to €25,000). They support the creation of new ventures or licensing technologies to existing companies. Their operational model involves a holding structure for start-ups and strategic entities, which allows for easier transfer or sale of shares, a clear overview of participation, and harmonized operations across entities. They also focus on corporate compliance with relevant rules and regulations. Utrecht Holdings actively works within the strategic themes of their partner institutions, including Life Sciences, Digital Innovations (AI), and Sustainability. Their team possesses expertise in scientific research, business development, intellectual property, finance, investments, and legal matters, facilitating partnerships that bring new products and services to market. They embody diversity and inclusivity in their knowledge transfer approach. Utrecht Holdings focuses on facilitating knowledge transfer by assessing the impact, patentability, start-up potential, and funding needs of research results. They operate under the policies and regulations set by Utrecht University and UMC Utrecht, managed by their respective Legal Affairs units. They strive to realize societal and economic impact from research results by organizing the transfer of inventions to existing market players or establishing start-up companies. The ultimate aim is to support science-based inventions in improving patient care through novel medical devices and therapies, and contributing to a more sustainable society. They have been supporting science for 25 years.
VP Capital
VP Capital is a family office originating from Van Puijenbroek Textile, established in 1865. They have evolved into an impact-driven investor leveraging capital and network for positive change for the planet and society. Since 2019, they implemented a strategy focused on reducing negative impact and promoting positive change in sectors such as agrifood, real estate, textile, clean technology, and energy. Approximately half of their managed assets are allocated to impactful companies and innovative enterprises. Starting in 2024, VP Capital reshaped its strategy to put impact at the forefront of every decision, assessed through a financial lens. They structure their impact strategy around 3 key challenges and 6 solutions, guiding all investments based on their potential to drive these solutions and challenges. They aim to realize impact through their own organization, their capital investments and donations, and their influence as an investor by actively engaging with their investments and network on topics like biodiversity, climate change, and inequality. VP Capital's investments are long-term commitments, screened against criteria like purpose, vision, and intended impact. The due diligence process identifies financial, legal, and sustainability issues. They are actively involved with their investments, with a VP Capital team member holding a seat in a governing body in at least 75% of their assets to promote sustainability, impact, and innovation. They also maintain an exclusion list and actively work with their portfolio companies on actions to reduce negative impact. They invest across asset classes including private equity, ventures, real estate, and publicly traded businesses. Investor additionality, potential impact, and realized impact are key in their decision-making process. They support companies that drive the future of sustainability by providing not only financial support but also sharing valuable knowledge, experience, and extensive networks. VP Capital has adopted an impact-first investment strategy, inspired by Kate Raworth’s Doughnut model, to achieve a balance between social needs and planetary limits. Their investment strategy starts with impact objectives and translated into asset class targets for capital allocation to the six solutions tied to their three impact themes.
Value Factory
Based on the available information, Value Factory Ventures invests in companies that align with the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). They look for ventures with promising financial returns, which also contribute to positive social and environmental impact. From the portfolio company Pera, it can be inferred that Value Factory Ventures are targeting innovative ventures that have already gained market traction with reputable clients, such as Rituals and L’Oréal, showcasing a preference for companies that have achieved a degree of validation.
Voordegroei
Voordegroei provides loans to Dutch SMEs (midden- en kleinbedrijf), offering an alternative to traditional banks for companies in their 2nd and 3rd growth phases. They focus on financing companies for growth, innovation, sustainability, and international expansion. Voordegroei collaborates with capital providers such as De Goudse, OHV Vermogensbeheer, Invest-NL, and the European Investment Fund (EIF). They have launched the Fresh Dutch SME Fund and the Fresh Closed SME Fund to facilitate these financings. The Fresh Dutch SME Fund is a tradable investment fund investing in SME loans. The Fresh Closed SME Fund focuses on companies accelerating and scaling to the next phase, requiring funding for expansion, innovation, sustainability or international growth. Voordegroei aims to help entrepreneurs realize their ambitions by providing necessary financial resources through the Fresh SME Funds. The recent announcement of €40 million in additional capital from the EIF, Invest-NL, and De Goudse for the Fresh Closed SME Fund II demonstrates their commitment to supporting Dutch SMEs with a focus on growth, innovation, and sustainability. Furthermore, De Goudse's increased stake in Voordegroei from 10% to 22% signals strong confidence in the partnership and Voordegroei's approach to SME financing. They have also partnered with Nh1816 to launch a fund for intermediaries called VoordeAdviseur.
Waterland
Waterland is a European private equity firm that partners with ambitious entrepreneurs to build future-proof companies. Their investment strategy focuses on strengthening companies' competitive positions and driving sustainable growth through tailored buy-and-build strategies. With over 25 years of experience and a history of more than 1,300 investments, Waterland emphasizes a hands-on, entrepreneurial approach that combines collaboration, efficiency, responsibility, and thoughtful execution. They aim to create lasting success for their portfolio companies, leading to measurable results and attractive returns for investors. Waterland distinguishes itself by building long-lasting relationships with entrepreneurs, adding their experience to companies, and enriching their strategies to enhance resilience. They actively integrate Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles into their investment processes and portfolio, demonstrating a commitment to responsible investing and sustainable growth. Their local teams across Europe provide dedicated support to help companies achieve their growth ambitions. Waterland's investment strategy also appears to involve forming strategic partnerships between portfolio companies to facilitate expansion and market leadership, as evidenced by the strategic partnership between Palletways and Waterland, and the formation of strategic alliances like the Specialty Ingredients Distribution Group (SIDG). They actively pursue add-on acquisitions for their portfolio companies to create larger, more competitive entities, like SIDG's acquisition of i-ingredients and Deimos Group. They also occasionally exit investments through sales to larger companies or strategic partners.
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.
Brightlands Venture Partners
Brightlands Venture Partners (BVP) invests in innovative companies tackling global structural challenges across health, agrifood, and renewable chemistry systems. The firm focuses on outlier founders building scalable companies that strengthen essential societal systems. Rooted at the intersection of research, industry, and entrepreneurship, they partner with founders to turn technological breakthroughs into enduring companies. BVP provides more than just capital; they offer deep sector expertise to shape key decisions across clinical, regulatory, and commercial milestones. They aim to strike a balance between supportive and challenging, helping companies grow stronger and adding value through rigorous discussion and honest feedback to realize ambitions.
Climate-KIC
Climate-KIC positions itself as Europe's leading climate innovation agency and community. They aim to transform climate ambitions into systemic action by grounding climate action locally. Their strategy revolves around place-based transformations, learning by doing, climate entrepreneurship, and contributing to Europe 2030 missions. They facilitate collaboration within their community of over 150 global members, including universities, research institutions, cities, NGOs, and startups, to accelerate the transformation of cities, regions, and value chains for enhanced adaptation and climate resilience. Climate-KIC cultivates a critical mass to scale up both the supply and demand for climate change solutions, focusing on innovation that makes the biggest difference in transforming systems, supporting ambitious climate leaders to create change at the speed and scale required for systemic transformation. Climate-KIC leverages its network of members, comprising of bright minds, dynamic companies, strategic thinkers, and forward-thinking cities and public authorities committed to climate action and deep decarbonization through innovation. This network includes SMEs, larger corporations, start-ups, graduate students, researchers, climate experts, cities, public authorities, and NGOs. Their approach emphasizes deep collaboration between organizations and individuals within the community, uniting forces to find and implement solutions in integrated ways. Their programs encompass a wide range of initiatives, including supporting farmers towards climate-resilient food futures through FoodFutures, aiding over 100 European regions on a transformative climate resilience journey, promoting sustainable food systems in Ireland through Deep Demo Ireland, enhancing Tanzania’s climate resilience through the Adaptation Innovation Cluster, building capacity of innovation ecosystems in Latin America & the Caribbean, and accelerating European cities towards climate neutrality via NetZeroCities. They also integrate gender mainstreaming into climate innovation and empower leaders in climate innovation through the Climate-KIC Academy. Climate-KIC's impact is further amplified through community empowerment and the translation of global limits into local action, bridging the gap between global frameworks and on-the-ground implementation. Methodologies like the Butterfly Model and Reduction Roadmap are employed to couple CO2 reduction with ecosystem protection, land restoration, and a shift from extractive practices to regenerative solutions. The organization acts as a pivotal link between global climate and biodiversity limits and concrete sectoral pathways, enabling transformative change across various sectors and regions.
Exor Ventures
Exor's primary strategy appears to be building and managing great companies for the long term. They focus on creating value through active ownership and strategic management of their portfolio companies. They look for established businesses with strong market positions and growth potential, rather than solely focusing on early-stage ventures, although they do engage in some early-stage activities through affiliated entities. Their letter to shareholders emphasizes a commitment to growth and working with exceptional people. The core focus seems to be on increasing Net Asset Value (NAV) and outperforming the MSCI World Index over time. They directly invest into mature companies that are already established in their respective markets. Exor holds significant equity stakes and voting rights in a diverse portfolio of global companies. Their involvement spans various industries, including automotive (Ferrari, Stellantis, CNH, Iveco Group), healthcare (Philips, Institut Mérieux), sports (Juventus Football Club), and technology (Via Transportation). The level of economic and voting rights varies across these investments, suggesting a tailored approach to governance and influence. Exor also founded Lingotto in 2023, a long-term investment management company, and John Elkann is also a trustee of MoMA showing investment and involvement in culture. They approach investments with a long-term perspective, emphasizing sustainable growth and value creation. This is evident in their involvement with established brands like Ferrari and Philips. While they mention an "investment approach" and a detailed checklist of financial and business issues, the specific criteria for new company investments are not explicitly detailed on the website, suggesting a case-by-case evaluation process.
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.
Future Food Fund
Invests in early-stage companies in Western Europe that disrupt the food & agriculture value chain, leveraging a diverse team with expertise in entrepreneurship, M&A, corporate finance, consulting, and B2C. Offers hands-on support and access to a specialized network spanning farming, logistics, IT, finance, and marketing.
Gilde Healthcare
Gilde Healthcare operates with a dual mission: to invest in solutions that improve healthcare outcomes and reduce costs, and to address global challenges through investments in climate solutions. Their Healthcare funds target businesses enabling better care at a lower cost, while their Climate Solutions fund invests in energy transition, biodiversity, waste management, and pollution reduction. They aim to achieve outsized returns on impactful companies active in healthcare or climate solutions by leveraging deep industry knowledge.
Holland Capital
Holland Capital focuses on supporting growth in companies with technologies that have a substantial economic impact within the fund's term. These technologies should make existing activities more efficient or create entirely new economic activities. They also invest in innovative healthcare entrepreneurs who aim to bring a sustainable impact in healthcare; go-getters who possess the right amount of expertise in care processes and the power to implement. The firm has a clear investment strategy and aims to capitalize on multi-year trends in attractive growth markets, focusing on Healthcare and Technology. They combine successful entrepreneurship with extensive investment experience and an international network of industry leaders. Holland Capital seeks ambitious founders in scaling their company. They target products and technologies that have a substantial impact for customers in terms of efficiency, productivity, or strategic enablement. In healthcare, they look for entrepreneurs with knowledge of care processes, implementation power, and perseverance to improve the quality of care and manage healthcare expenditures. The firm has been investing responsibly and successfully in promising Dutch SMEs with growth ambitions for over 40 years. Their investment strategy involves a focus on Healthcare and Technology, providing growth financing and buy-out capital, and offering active (hands-on) support. The team strives for open, sustainable, and professional relationships with management teams, with the shared goal of achieving optimal growth.
Icos Capital
Icos Capital invests in breakthrough technologies that can deliver reduction and/or avoidance of 1 GT CO2e by 2050. They focus on Climate Tech, a rapidly growing market, and aim to achieve their target by bringing fast-growth innovators together with sector-leading corporations through their Collaborative Venturing Platform. This platform facilitates growth financing, engineering and production expertise, infrastructure, and market access. They look for ventures with sustainable profitability in line with expectations from top-tier venture capital funds, with an emphasis on research, due diligence, and working with portfolio companies to achieve financial and sustainability success. Icos Capital accelerates sustainability by investing in companies that address annual global greenhouse gas emissions. They recognize the multi-trillion market opportunity in Climate Tech and the growing number of companies with net-zero targets. The firm leverages a Collaborative Venturing Platform (CVP) to facilitate partnerships between startups and established corporations, offering growth financing, engineering expertise, production capabilities, infrastructure, and market access. The CVP program aims to accelerate sustainability. Their strategy focuses on decarbonizing to net-zero, a complex challenge they address by combining fast-growth innovators with sector-leading corporations. They are able to facilitate growth financing, engineering and production expertise, infrastructure and market access through their Collaborative Venturing Platform. Icos Capital emphasizes high-quality research and due diligence, performed by technologists, sector experts, and collaborative partners. They seek to invest in driven individuals with the potential to build best-in-class businesses and work with portfolio companies and corporate partners to ensure financial and sustainability success.
NLC - The European Healthtech Venture Builder
NLC Health Ventures is a European healthtech venture builder and early-stage investor focused on bridging the gap between scientific discoveries and market-ready solutions. Their mission is to transform patient lives by finding, building, and scaling the next generation of health innovations. They employ an entrepreneurial approach at scale, aiming to build 25 ventures per year, leveraging shared learnings and resources across their portfolio of over 100 ventures. This scaled approach increases the likelihood of bringing ideas to market and reduces risk for investors. NLC operates captive funds to scale ventures faster. NLC aims to make early-stage healthcare innovation investments accessible to both retail and institutional investors. They assess over 1500 technologies annually and have built over 110 ventures. Their expertise spans several key areas within healthcare, including cardiovascular & IGT, orthopedics & spine, therapeutics, and new markets (general healthtech). NLC emphasizes a culture of innovation and positive impact on healthcare and society. They prioritize connecting different perspectives and encouraging the exchange of ideas. They value decisiveness and optimism to effectively transform healthtech innovations. The company encourages its team to explore, question, and innovate, turning challenges into opportunities to advance global health. Their core values – Together, Open, Decisive, and Optimistic (TODO) – encapsulate their culture.