2022 was an interesting year for the Dutch tech ecosystem with multiple changes and developments.
Like every other year, the startup analysis company, Golden Egg Check, tracked all investor deals made in 2022, with an extensive analysis of the part of the market where the Dutch tech ecosystem really struggles – angel investments.
Struggles in angel investments
In recent years, the Dutch tech ecosystem has seen a significant increase in the number of deals being made and the size of these deals.
However, the area where angels are most active, also known as the “Valley of Death,” has consistently struggled with little investment money.
Reduced investment in startups and scale-ups
Despite a record-breaking year for investments in 2021, 2022 saw a decrease in the total amount of money invested in startups and scale-ups with €2.9B.
This is almost half of the €5.3B invested in 2021.
However, the total number of deals did increase, with 393 deals made in 2022 compared to 371 in 2021.
Increase in angel investments
There was a significant increase in the number of angel investments under €1,000,000, from 70 in 2021 to 125 in 2022.
This is an encouraging sign as it shows that more startups are receiving much-needed support at the early stages of their development.
21 deals in Q4, 2022
There was also a sharp decline in the number of deals after Q1, with only 21 deals made in Q4. This suggests that this number may be the “new normal” for angel investments in the Dutch tech ecosystem.
The involvement of angels in investment deals above the €1M mark also decreased from 135 in 2021 to 125 in 2022.
While this could be seen as a bad sign, it is worth noting that there are more active and organised players emerging below the €1M mark, such as Graduate Entrepreneur, Antler, ASIF, and several angel syndicates.
This shows that there is maturity emerging in the ecosystem and that more investors are becoming interested in early-stage investments.
2022: Step forward for the Dutch tech ecosystem
Overall, 2022 was a step forward for the Dutch tech ecosystem with a positive trend emerging in angel investments under €1M.
However, the majority of deals are still being made in the €1,000,000 to €10,000,000 range.
More work needs to be done to help startups grow into successful scale-ups, and angel investments will continue to be essential in financing early-stage companies, says the startup analysis company.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the Dutch tech ecosystem is continuing to evolve, and 2022 saw some positive developments in angel investments.
There is still work to be done, but the trends are encouraging and the future looks bright for startups in the Netherlands.
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