Amsterdam’s Arches Capital backs homegrown startup Cruit: Know more

Amsterdam-based Cruit, an employee referral platform, announced that it has secured undisclosed funding in a round led by Amsterdam-based VC Arches Capital.

Arches Capital is a VC that focuses on generation-proof B2B software companies and currently supports 23 startups.

With over 100 active angel investors, Arches combines the engagement of seasoned entrepreneurs with the structure of a venture capital fund.

“At Arches, we invest in founders who are solving real problems in a scalable way. Cruit taps into one of the most underutilized assets in recruitment: your own team’s network. The product is simple, smart, and sticky — and their customers genuinely love it,” says Lotte Smit van Ditshuizen, Partner at Arches Capital.

Existing investor Slingshot Ventures also participated in the round, alongside Michiel Roodenburg, Co-founder of Crisp, who joins as an angel investor. The Dutch company will use the funds to accelerate its growth.

Cruit: Employee referral platform

Led by Steye Kaersenhout, Cruit is an employee referral platform that helps companies harness the hiring power of their teams.

The Dutch company makes the referral process easier and cuts down on extra work, helping companies hire faster and improve employee satisfaction and retention.

By using employees’ networks to find strong candidates, Cruit speeds up hiring and reduces the need for outside recruiters. The platform is easy to set up and can be ready to use in under a day.

Currently, Cruit is used by companies such as Van Lanschot Kempen, Vandebron, and Octopus Electric Vehicles, and is already active in over 30 countries.

“We’re thrilled to have Arches Capital on board,” says Steye Kaersenhout, Co-founder and CEO of Cruit.

“Their team and network of ‘Archangels’ bring not only capital but also hands-on operational expertise. This partnership will help us accelerate our commercial growth and continue building the most effective referral software on the market. Having our very first customer now join us as an investor makes me incredibly proud — it’s the ultimate vote of confidence,” adds Kaersenhout.