THE GUIDE to the Amsterdam Venture Capital Scene Navigated by a network of historic canals and a progressive spirit, Amsterdam has solidified its position as one of Europe's most dynamic tech epicenters. Fueled by a deep pool of international talent, a strategic location as a gateway to the European market, and a collaborative culture of open innovation, the city attracts a world-class community of founders and active VCs. Amsterdam's vibrant ecosystem is buzzing with activity across key sectors like FinTech, SaaS, and AI & Deep Tech, driven by strong university and research networks. Its legacy as a global trading hub also fuels innovation in Logistics and Supply Chain Tech. Backed by supportive government initiatives like StartupAmsterdam, a thriving network of accelerators like Rockstart and Startupbootcamp, and a high quality of life that attracts global talent, Amsterdam continues to be a powerhouse for building and scaling impactful technology. Did I miss anyone? Reach out here.
Early to Late stage VCs
Introduction: Peak is a highly active and founder-friendly early-stage venture capital firm that invests in companies across Europe. They are known for providing hands-on support to help startups scale for their Series A. Sectors: SaaS, marketplaces, and platform companies. Notable Investments: StuDocu, OneFit, Creative Fabrica.
Introduction: henQ is a prominent Amsterdam-based VC firm specializing in early-stage funding for innovative B2B software startups that stand out from the crowd. Ticket size: 1M-10M Sectors: B2B Software, Developer Tools, Enterprise IT. Notable Investments: MEWS, Sendcloud, Kanpla, Cloudtalk, WEMOLO
Introduction: Founded by successful entrepreneurs for entrepreneurs, DFF is an early-stage fund that focuses on marketplaces and network-effect driven companies in Europe. They offer deep operational expertise. Sectors: Marketplaces, Network Effects, and SaaS. Notable Investments: VonWood, Metycle, Kennek.
Introduction: Rockstart operates as both a venture capital fund and an accelerator, investing in early-stage companies from pre-seed to Series B. They provide not just capital, but also a structured program for growth. Sectors: AgriFood, Energy, and Emerging Technologies. Notable Investments: Sendcloud, Peerby, Wercker.
Introduction: Antler is a global "day zero" investor, helping founders find co-founders, providing early funding, and offering a robust network and operational support. They are highly active in the pre-seed and seed stages. Sectors: Multi-sector, globally scalable ventures. Notable Investments: Airalo, Wrtn, Sona.
Introduction: Newion is an early-stage VC firm that exclusively invests in B2B software companies in North/West Europe. They are known for their "controlled growth" approach, helping startups achieve lean and scalable success. Sectors: B2B Software, SaaS, Cloud. Notable Investments: Collibra, Foleon, Reek.
Introduction: Prosus Ventures is the venture investment arm of Prosus, one of the world's largest technology investors. From their Amsterdam base, they invest in a wide range of technology startups across various stages. Sectors: Fintech, Edtech, Food Delivery, E-commerce. Notable Investments: Stack Overflow, Udemy, BYJU'S.
Introduction: A prominent fintech specialist, Finch Capital invests in high-growth financial technology companies. They provide a hands-on approach and deep sector expertise to help companies scale. Sectors: Fintech, PropTech, InsurTech, AI-driven Finance. Notable Investments: NomuPay, Zopa, Fourthline.
Introduction: Prime Ventures is a well-established and highly active firm in Amsterdam, specializing in investing in technology companies at various stages. They focus on scalable software ventures with proven business models. Sectors: Technology, SaaS, Enterprise Software. Notable Investments: Just Eat Takeaway, Reapit, Mendix.
Introduction: This fund invests in early to growth-stage European scale-ups. With a focus on strategic guidance, they support businesses poised for rapid growth and market leadership. Sectors: Technology, Enterprise Software, Fintech, Healthcare. Notable Investments: Cleyrop, Doctify, Farewill.
Introduction: Endeit Capital provides growth equity to European tech scale-ups. They are known for their active role in helping portfolio companies with international expansion and strategic development. Sectors: Digital Economy, B2B/B2C Software, E-commerce, Media. Notable Investments: Chronext, Roamler, TourRadar.
Introduction: As an institutional VC firm, INKEF invests in both early and late-stage companies. They have a strong focus on transformative innovations that can create significant value. Sectors: Technology, Healthcare, Deep Tech. Notable Investments: Urban Sports Club, Precirix, NMD Pharma.
Introduction: A leading life sciences firm with a strong focus on biotechnology and healthcare. Forbion is a significant player in the European life sciences investment landscape, known for its deep industry expertise. Sectors: Biotechnology, Pharmaceuticals, Medical Devices. Notable Investments: GlycoEra, Aiolos, LAVA Therapeutics.
Introduction: This is a specialized venture capital fund focused exclusively on the crypto and web3 spaces. They invest in companies that are building the foundational infrastructure for a decentralized future. Sectors: Crypto, Web3, Blockchain Infrastructure. Notable Investments: Sophon, Finoa, ZKsync.
Introduction: This firm focuses on "impact-first" investments, backing early and growth-stage enterprises that aim to create a positive social and environmental impact alongside financial returns. Sectors: Circular Economy, Sustainable Mobility, Health. Notable Investments: Olio, SkinVision, Mosa Meat.
Introduction: A VC firm that invests solely in mission-driven companies based in the Netherlands. They have a strong focus on sustainability and are dedicated to funding founders who are tackling pressing environmental challenges. Sectors: Circular Economy, Sustainable Mobility, Cleantech, Food & AgriTech. Notable Investments: The firm is focused on early-stage and specific to their mission, and notable investments are not widely publicized.
Introduction: Acrobator Ventures backs early-stage tech innovators, with a particular emphasis on Eastern European founders expanding into Western markets. They leverage expertise in AI and growth marketing. Sectors: AI, Deep Tech, Enterprise Software. Notable Investments: Miro, Harver, Ready Player Me.
Introduction: HPE Growth is a private equity and growth capital firm that focuses on European technology companies. They invest in companies that are already profitable and have a strong market position, helping them to accelerate their growth. Sectors: Enterprise Software, SaaS, FinTech, E-commerce, Marketing Tech. Notable Investments: PPRO, Tiqets, eGym.
Introduction: CapitalT is a unique pre-seed venture capital fund that uses data to assess team potential. They focus on investing in early-stage startups with strong, scalable team dynamics. Sectors: B2B SaaS, E-commerce, Fintech. Notable Investments: eComID, Sojo, Sola.
Introduction: Axivate Capital is an investment firm that backs Dutch and European founders building companies in the digital media, e-commerce, and online travel sectors. They often take an active role in their portfolio companies. Sectors: Digital Media, E-commerce, Online Travel. Notable Investments: TravelBird, Corendon.
Introduction: 5square is an independent investment company that provides growth capital to companies in the mobile and fintech industries. They focus on businesses that are at or near profitability and are ready to expand. Sectors: Mobile, Fintech, B2B. Notable Investments: Klippa, DocuSign, Bunq.
Introduction: Slingshot Ventures is an early-stage venture capital firm that invests in consumer technology companies. They focus on startups that are addressing significant global challenges and have a clear vision for growth. Sectors: Consumer Tech, E-commerce, Digital Lifestyle. Notable Investments: Crisp, Lottie, VanMoof.
Introduction: This firm invests in early-stage to growth companies with a focus on deep technology. They support breakthrough innovations and businesses pushing boundaries in their fields. Sectors: Manufacturing, Energy, Biotech, Health Tech, Pharmaceuticals. Notable Investments: Pasqal, CimCure, Thorizon.
Introduction: Walvis is a venture capital firm with a focus on early-stage investments in tech startups. They provide capital and strategic support to help companies in their portfolio grow and scale. Sectors: Digital Platforms, SaaS, Consumer Technology, HealthTech. Notable Investments: Bloomon, Temper, Flitsmeister.
Introduction: KPN Ventures is the venture capital arm of KPN, the leading telecom and ICT provider in the Netherlands. The firm focuses on building value-creating partnerships with innovative European technology companies by providing access to capital, infrastructure, industry expertise, and KPN's extensive customer base. Their goal is to accelerate the growth of their portfolio companies Sectors: KPN Ventures invests in sectors that are strategically relevant to KPN's business, including Internet of Things (IoT), Cloud Computing, Cyber Security, Data & AI, Digital Healthcare, and Networking Technology. They look for companies that offer products or services that can enhance KPN's offerings for its business (B2B) and consumer (B2C) customers. Notable Investments: Airalo, ElevenLabs, Lendis, Sequence, Cloudify, and BOX ID
Introduction: Curiosity VC is an early-stage venture capital firm that invests in B2B software companies leveraging artificial intelligence. They specifically back founders in the Nordic, Baltic, and Benelux regions who have successfully launched their first product and are receiving positive customer feedback. Sectors: The firm focuses on four main socio-economic themes: Sustainable Living (PropTech, Energy, ClimateTech), Trusted Society (LegalTech, Privacy, Cybersecurity), Future of Work (Enterprise SaaS, HRTech, DevOps), and Future of Commerce (Fintech, Marketing & Sales Automation, Logistics). Notable Investments: Naq Cyber, Nimbles, Polarsteps, Scoupy, Neo Finance, and LiteBit.
Introduction: ASIF Ventures is a unique venture capital fund based in Amsterdam that focuses on supporting startups founded by students and recent graduates from the University of Amsterdam and Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. The fund is run by students and recent graduates, aiming to bridge the gap between young entrepreneurs and the broader VC ecosystem. Ticket size: €25K to €100K Sectors: They are sector-agnostic but tend to invest in a wide range of industries where student-led innovation is high, including SaaS, Deep Tech, Logistics, Edtech, and Fintech. Notable Investments: Workwize, Bringly, Ziemi, GreenCompute, Oasys Now, and GetEase.