Fundraising is one of the most important and time-consuming jobs for entrepreneurs. But most entrepreneurs understand that if their business idea is strong, there is a higher chance of finding investors.
The 2022 Global Startup Ecosystem Report (GSER) shows that the Netherlands is now home to some of Europe’s biggest tech companies and startups.
Another report by Dealroom reveals that Amsterdam-based startups have raised €698M so far in H1 2022. While this is a 75 per cent decrease year on year, the first half of 2022 is already the second-highest H1 for Amsterdam VC Investment, adds the report.
Amsterdam ranks 3rd for new funds raised in 2022, second only to London and Berlin.
We have compiled a list of Amsterdam startups currently fundraising. This list has been compiled with inputs from StartupAmsterdam’s collaboration with Golden Egg Check and Startup Fountain.
Amsterdam-based startup analysts, Golden Egg Check helps keep track of all startups, scale-ups and VC deals. It offers an online tool to assess companies’ potential, feasibility, and investor readiness. The company’s aim is to make the Netherlands the No. 1 startup ecosystem in Europe by providing data, insights, and networks within the (Dutch) tech and VC ecosystem. It also organises monthly, curated online speeddating event for startups, scaleups, angel investors, and VCs called StartupRoulette. With this event, each startup gets three carefully matched 20-minute speed dates with investors and vice versa.
Startup Fountain is an open fundraising platform offering free introductions for startups and investors. It charges no success fees and the sign-up is free of charge too.
Here is the list of Amsterdam-based startups that are seeking fresh funds.
Manufy
Founder/s: Rob ten Hoove, Michiel Dicker, Karel Bosman, René van Doren, Nout Knabben
Manufy was launched in 2020 after a group of Dutch entrepreneurs saw a lack of online representation of sustainable manufacturers. The Amsterdam-based startup aims to connect brands and manufacturers efficiently, transparently, and sustainably.
Through Manufy, fashion brands can easily find Europe-based manufacturers, relying on the premise that near-shoring is better for the environment. Furthermore, every fashion brand can kickstart production with the help of Manufy’s network of freelancers and production tools.
Currently, the Amsterdam-based platform has more than 3400 active brands and 1200 active manufacturers. As a result, Manufy expects to generate at least €10M in order value next year.
Ozarka
Founders: Beth Massa and Michael Massa
Funding expectations: €500K seed round with €190K left to go in the round.
Ozarka aims to replace single-use food containers with high-quality reusable dishes, custom-designed for takeout. The company is on a mission to solve the waste problem in takeaway and home delivery meals at all levels: from reusable packaging to zero-waste delivery.
Angels are invited to invest starting at 25K or higher. Anchor investors are Erika and Matt Papakipos (Google, Facebook). Other investors are top senior executives or CxO’s from Apple, Amazon.com, Microsoft, Techleap.nl, Netflix, Lyft, Airbnb, Bunq, and NVIDIA.
CEO Beth Massa says, “We use technology so that you don’t have to. We don’t need to be cool or awe-inspiring. We want to be invisible.”
Ozarka’s meal packs are made of silicone, borosilicate, and durable polypropylene. It is free from BPA and phthalate, and is dirt and odor repellent, claims the company.
Every Mother Knows
Founder/s: Angela Fusaro
Funding expectations: €500K. The company says the runaway for the investment is 12-18 months. The funds will be used for the tech development of the talent platform, marketing, and business development activities.
Every Mother Knows is a fast-growing talent platform that connects mothers to career and job opportunities at diverse, flexible, and family-friendly companies.
The company is on a mission to close the gender and talent gap in today’s job market by bringing the skills and talent of mothers who are currently on a career break back into the workforce.
Through Returnships, Job Coaching, Meet & Match, and digital Diversity Hiring tools, Every Mother Knows currently works with corporate partners such as Rituals and Workiva.
Robin Retail
Founder/s: Robin Broekhuizen
Robin Retail was founded in 2018 with an aim to re-localise fashion consumption. The platform claims to bring together Amsterdam’s best fashion and lifestyle boutiques, making local gems accessible to all.
Homeground.io
Founder/s: Tom Lateveer and Laurens Bosman
Homeground.io is an Amsterdam-based culture management platform on a mission to help early-stage ventures align their teams for optimal performance while scaling up.
The company’s SaaS tool provides a system that can be easily deployed to define their values and help integrate company identity, addressing an important issue in line with today’s culture-focused people practices.
Through the platform, the results from the assessment can then be applied in hiring, onboarding, training, and general business processes as a company scales to stay aligned with its DNA and avoid the pitfalls of a dispersed organisation.
Anywyse
Founder/s: Julien Jukema
Anywyse is an Amsterdam-based audio learning platform where everyone can become a creator. The platform provides students with audio modules of 10-15 minutes called Wysers.
These modules are written and voiced by selected students and voice actors. The Wysers are built on a format created primarily for memorising material rather than the more “linear listening” found in podcasts.
The company was formed during the acceleration programme of the Humanities Lab, University of Amsterdam. The Humanities Lab offers a platform for education about entrepreneurship and is aimed at staff, Ph.D. students, students, and alumni.
Share Council
Founder/s: Quintus Willemse
Share Council is a purpose-driven company focused on making Employee Participation (ESOP) as easy as possible throughout Europe.
The Dutch company offers a blockchain-based participation platform on which entrepreneurs can digitise their business and make employees, customers, suppliers, and other stakeholders co-owners of the organisation.
The company is on a mission to end the extreme capital wealth divide by making every European SME employee co-owner of the company they work for.
Share Council claims to help companies achieve unconditional employee commitment, become resilient, and drive consistent, stable growth.
Cruit
Founder/s: Zenno Bruinsma and Steye Kaersenhout
Cruit is a referral software that turns employees, communities, friends, and family into a source of candidates.
The company’s app, available on Android and iOS, helps organisations reach the networks of employees’ friends and family and let them refer their networks to its job openings.
Milon
Founder/s: Jelle Postma
Milon is a full-service investment fund focused on the high-yielding private equity asset class. The platform provides access for retail investors to the unique investment opportunities of private equity and venture capital.
Bash.Social
Bash is a social network platform for events. The platform lets users easily host and share invites for private events, including birthdays, dinners, weddings, and more.
Recrout
Founder/s: Karim Akhlal
Recrout combines social science and SaaS technology to help hiring companies predict the best hires and select the right people. The company’s Applicant Matching System (AMS) enables every organisation to digitise and automate their recruitment process and objectively make the best matches based on the ideal job and culture fit.
Healsens digital preventive care
Healsens is an AI-powered digital health consultant focused on preventive care. The platform’s smart electronic medical record keeps an eye on the user’s daily activity and provides insight into how to live a long and active life.
Keep an eye on Startuproulette.nl for future editions. The next one is scheduled to take place on September 1.
