Innovation continues to shape the future, and Dutch startups are once again demonstrating that bold ideas can drive meaningful impact in the real world.
Highlighting this spirit of ingenuity is the KvK Innovation Top 100, an initiative dedicated to showcasing the creativity and capability of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across the Netherlands.
The 100 most innovative SMEs have now been announced, which includes 10 startups from Amsterdam. These companies operate across sectors such as agriculture, energy, circular economy, health, and digital technology, offering solutions that address both societal and industry challenges.
In 2025, a new wave of technology ventures is addressing some of society’s most pressing challenges, each offering solutions for both societal and industry needs.
Showcasing innovative Dutch SMEs
The Kamer van Koophandel (KvK) is the Chamber of Commerce in the Netherlands. It operates as an independent administrative body, providing information, advice, and support to businesses. The KvK also manages the Commercial Register. On its website, KvK mentions, “Our mission is to make life easier for you as an entrepreneur.”
One of the KvK’s key initiatives is the KvK Innovation Top 100. For twenty years, this platform has highlighted innovations from Dutch businesses. Companies such as tampon brand Yoni Care and clothing brand Labfresh have participated in the past. Starting this year, startup entrepreneurs without revenue can also join the Top 100.
The KvK Innovation Top 100 showcases successful innovations from small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the Netherlands. Since its inception, the platform has presented 1,900 products and services, and it will highlight 100 new innovations in the coming year.
The award does not carry a monetary prize. Its value lies in demonstrating the capabilities of Dutch SMEs and providing recognition in the innovation sector.
The nominees have been announced
The 100 most innovative SMEs in the Netherlands have been announced for the 2025 KvK Innovation Top 100.
A professional jury assessed all entries and selected the nominees. The jury accounts for 80 per cent of the final ranking, while public votes account for 20 per cent. Participants can encourage public votes to improve their ranking.
Voting is open until October 21. This year, companies without revenue can also participate. Startups can gain visibility and recognition, which may help them find investors or partners.
The KvK Business Days will take place at the Jaarbeurs in Utrecht on November 14. During the event, the expert jury will announce the winners in each of the five categories—circular economy, energy transition, labour market and society, agriculture, water and infrastructure. The overall winner, who will succeed Concord Neonatal as the most innovative SME in the Netherlands, will be revealed afterwards.
In addition to the five category awards and the overall winner, the event will present five Innovation Promise Awards to young companies and startups with concepts that have not yet fully reached the market.
Amsterdam-based startups that made it to the list
Ten startups based in Amsterdam are included in the 2025 KvK Innovation Top 100. These companies represent a range of sectors and are recognised for their innovative products, services, and business concepts.
Check them out below!
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ChainCraft
Category: Agriculture, Infrastructure and Water
ChainCraft converts residual flows from the food and agricultural industries into fatty acids for use in perfumes, cosmetics, cleaning products, and food. The process uses fermentation technology to produce fatty acids that can replace petroleum-based chemicals in existing facilities.
The approach supports the circular economy by turning waste into raw materials, reducing CO2 emissions, and providing economic and resource opportunities for regional industries.
FarmToHome
Category: Agriculture, Infrastructure and Water
FarmToHome connects Dutch farms and regional producers directly with consumers through a digital platform. The system plans and adjusts pickup and delivery routes, groups nearby farms, and sets fair prices.
Consumers order from multiple suppliers in a single basket with one delivery. Farmers receive 70–80 per cent of the sales price and maintain direct contact with customers. Trials show reduced food miles, increased farm income, and high on-time delivery rates.
The Great Bubble Barrier
Category: Agriculture, Infrastructure and Water
The Great Bubble Barrier uses an air bubble system to direct plastic waste in rivers and waterways to the side for collection and disposal. The system covers the full width and depth of a waterway without a physical barrier and captures up to 86 per cent of floating plastic from 1 mm to 1 m in length.
Operating continuously, it does not disrupt shipping or fish migration and can be installed within existing urban and infrastructure environments. The technology has been implemented in locations in the Netherlands and abroad and contributes to awareness and behavioural change regarding plastic pollution.
Tilap.AI
Category: Agriculture, Infrastructure and Water
Tilap.AI develops AI solutions for tilapia farms that enable early detection of Streptococcosis and Tilapia Lake Virus and provide automatic growth measurement. The software identifies symptoms within two days and alerts farmers, allowing them to act quickly to limit losses.
A new feature under development will estimate fish weight digitally, replacing manual weighing. The solution aims to reduce mortality, improve yields, and support food security for over one billion people who rely on tilapia as a protein source.
Capisoft
Category: Labour Market and Society
Capisoft is a software company that develops custom software and AI solutions to optimise business processes. Each project begins with an analysis to map out workflows, bottlenecks, and opportunities. Based on these insights, Capisoft designs and builds tools that automate tasks, improve efficiency, and create new business models.
Its clients include enterprises and scale-ups in industries such as logistics, legal services, security, and retail.
One example is Project Ocean, a platform developed for React, the world’s largest anti-counterfeiting organisation. Ocean centralises operations by connecting all departments in one portal. The platform uses internet crawlers to scan online marketplaces around the clock for suspicious product listings and applies AI models to determine whether these listings are counterfeit. This reduces manual work and enables the automatic assessment of millions of items each week.
Monny Financial Technology
Category: Labour Market and Society
Monny is an AI-powered financial coach that connects to bank accounts, categorises transactions, and provides an overview of income, expenses, savings goals, and debts.
Users can set their own goals and receive guidance through voice or chat, fully anonymous and GDPR-compliant, without needing a financial advisor.
Unlike traditional budgeting apps that focus on past spending, Monny answers forward-looking questions such as the affordability of vacations, safe savings levels, or strategies for debt repayment. It combines behavioural data, financial models, and AI-driven coaching to adapt to each user’s financial situation.
Over time, the app becomes more personalised, allocating income across fixed costs, variable spending, savings, and debts to give users clarity and control over their finances.
Syntho
Category: Labour Market and Society
Syntho is a synthetic data software provider that helps organisations generate and use synthetic data at scale. Its platform, the Syntho Engine, enables data teams to create test data that mirrors real production data while remaining privacy-safe. This addresses challenges such as regulatory restrictions, long approval times, and poor-quality test data.
By providing synthetic data that can be used without legal or privacy barriers, Syntho accelerates development, lowers error risks, and supports collaboration. The platform supports multiple methods of synthetic data generation and is designed for broad applicability across industries.
Aectual
Category: Circular economy
Aectual produces custom 3D-printed interior products such as wall panels, floors, furniture, and ceilings using recycled waste materials. The company operates a fully circular system in which products are taken back after use, shredded, and recycled into new applications.
Its process combines parametric design, XL 3D printing technology, and proprietary software that generates print files directly from customer configurations. This approach enables mass customisation, short delivery times, and cost savings while reducing CO2 emissions and eliminating waste.
Aectual collaborates with global brands and offers certified interior solutions suitable for large-scale commercial use in hotels, shops, and offices.
Liion Power
Category: Energy transition
Liion Power develops smart charging technology designed to extend battery life and reduce electronic waste. Its first product, Leo, is a universal USB battery life extender used in more than 60 countries.
Leo monitors charging status, regulates the process, and stops at the optimal limit to prevent battery wear. It functions independently as plug-and-play hardware and can be used with any USB device, including non-smart electronics. An accompanying app allows users to set custom charge limits and access additional features.
HerFuture
Category: Labour Market and Society
HerFuture is a platform that connects young women in IT and (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) with events, internships, jobs, and peers through a dedicated app.
The platform tracks each participant’s journey from first contact to employment, using data to measure and improve impact. More than 40 inclusive employers are connected.
HerFuture combines a mobile app, live events, and continuous data collection to personalise content and promote visibility of female talent across the technology and science sectors.
