The Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO) helps entrepreneurs and organisations to invest, develop and expand their businesses and projects both in the Netherlands and abroad.
RVO, which is part of the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs, does this by supporting around 1.9M entrepreneurs every year through funding and network.
In 2024, RVO allocated €36M to six new seed capital funds to enhance efforts aimed at boosting innovative startups.
Provides interest-free loan
The Dutch government provides Seed Capital funding through an interest-free loan to an investment fund for up to 12 years.
However, to qualify, at least three independent shareholders must invest the same amount.
This helps innovative startups get the funding they need in their early stages, while private investors have more security for their riskier investments.
Each fund can secure up to €10M, with individual startups receiving between €100,000 and €3.5M.
This investment strategy is designed to enable a greater number of startups to achieve successful growth trajectories.
These are the six funds that received funding from the Netherlands government:
Cottonwood Technology Fund
Cottonwood Technology Fund is an early-stage venture capital fund focusing on impact investments in key enabling technologies, specifically Deep Tech and Hard Science.
The fund’s investment criteria include a sector focus on B2B High-Tech and Hard Science, encompassing areas such as Photonics, Micro- and Nanoelectronics, Nanotechnology, Advanced Materials, Climate Tech, Health Sciences, Advanced Manufacturing, and Robotics.
The fund targets companies in the Pre-Seed, Seed, and Early Stage business phases, with a minimum investment of €500K and a maximum of €3M for the first round. Additionally, the fund requires that companies have IP or patent-based technology.
Natural Ventures Netherlands
Natural Ventures is an impact-focused venture capital fund that addresses global food and water security.
The firm is backed by leading institutions and is managed by a team of experienced investors with a deep understanding of the agriculture and water technology sectors. Natural Ventures is committed to investing in companies using technology to create a more sustainable world.
Lumaux Capital
Based out of Eindhoven, Lumaux is an investment fund that invests in high-tech startups and scale-ups founded in the Netherlands.
The fund focuses on companies that have developed their product (soft- and/or hardware), and that are active in the field(s) of robotics, energy transition, and/or mobility.
The company provides all-round support (strategy, finance, legal affairs, and commercial aspects) and aims to be a trusted advisor for the management teams of our portfolio companies.
LUMO Rise
Eindhoven-based LUMO Labs launched the LUMO Rise Fund at €100M to invest in 30 to 35 impact-driven startups in Europe.
The fund will focus on emerging digital technologies essential for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals outlined by the United Nations.
These technologies include the Internet of Things, Virtual and Augmented Reality, Blockchain, and deeptech Artificial Intelligence, enabling unprecedented processing and evaluation of information.
LUMO Rise DeepTech Seed Capital – Focused on financing deeptech spin-offs from research and knowledge institutions in their early stages.
ECFG Growth Ventures
Based out of Eindhoven, ECFG is an independent and private fund manager that advises, guides, and invests in SMEs operating in the Business-to-Business segment.
Through Venture III, the company offers minority stake investments ranging from € 0.5M to € 4M, supporting companies in their commercial, organisational, and operational growth.
The focus is on B2B sectors such as high-tech manufacturing, agrotech, and ICT, with a preference for companies that combine software and hardware.
ECG Ventures I
Based out of Rotterdam, Value Factory Ventures (previously ECG Ventures) invests in agrifood, climate, and circular economy startups that use deep tech to tackle climate change and improve food security.
The firm focuses on early-stage startups, offering initial investments between €200K and €1M.
Value Factory Ventures’ strategy combines funding with hands-on support through our extensive network. The company aims for startups to become profitable within three to five years by leveraging technologies like robotics, AI, blockchain, and drones.
01
Not solo: How Xolo aims to help Dutch solopreneurs with its comprehensive business management platform