Unlocking the Secrets: 7 Dutch Tech Strategies That Turbocharge Growth—Are You Missing Out?

The Dutch startup ecosystem, once brimming with potential, faces significant hurdles as it navigates the complexities of scaling new companies. In the latest episode of the series Why We Fail, industry leaders Lars Crama, CEO of InnovationQuarter, and Thomas Mensink, CEO of Golden Egg Check, express their urgent concerns regarding the state of innovation in the Netherlands. Crama succinctly emphasizes, “We don’t lack startups; we lack companies that can scale.”

InnovationQuarter serves as the economic development agency for the Province of Zuid-Holland, encompassing the greater Rotterdam and The Hague area. The agency plays a vital role in supporting local enterprises looking to expand and offers four investment funds aimed at nurturing startups, scaleups, and innovation at various levels. Meanwhile, Golden Egg Check, a startup analyst and pre-seed venture capital firm, collaborates with the Dutch Startup Association to release the Quarterly Startup Report. This report sheds light on funding trends and offers critical insights into the financial landscape for startups.

The most recent State of Dutch Tech 2025 report from TechLeap reveals a troubling trend: while the number of scaleups is increasing, fewer new startups are securing substantial funding of over €100,000. In the second quarter of 2025, investment levels soared to €747 million, but this surge was short-lived. The subsequent quarter saw a decline in both late-stage and pre-seed investments, with only 79 deals completed, marking the lowest level since 2020. This points to a significant bottleneck in access to capital, a critical issue that startups must contend with.

Mensink highlights the challenges inherent in a binary fundraising environment where startups either quickly secure funding or endure prolonged struggles. He notes, “Investors prioritize companies with traction and social proof. If you’re not in the ‘inner circle,’ fundraising becomes a long, lonely process.” This dynamic creates a barrier for many emerging businesses that may not yet have established themselves within the industry.

To address these challenges, Crama proposes adopting blended finance models that combine public and private capital to support high-risk, deeptech startups. “We need to align all stakeholders—private investors, pension funds, and public funds—to create a seamless funding pipeline,” he asserts. This collaborative approach is essential not just for individual startups but for the broader health of the ecosystem.

A critical part of this collaboration involves enhancing partnerships among universities, corporations, and investors. Mensink argues that aligning these institutions can effectively transform academic research into scalable businesses. Furthermore, in a bid to maintain competitiveness on a European scale, Crama stresses the importance of cross-border collaborations. By working together, Dutch startups can capitalize on their strengths and reinforce local value chains in crucial sectors such as battery technology, medtech, and quantum computing.

Crama also calls for a cohesive national strategy focused on startups and scale-ups, advocating for clear policies designed to drive innovation. “We need to double down on the data—where companies are, how they grow, and what they need,” he explains. By rationalizing the operations of the numerous organizations within the ecosystem, the Netherlands can better align incentives and reduce fragmentation. He emphasizes focusing on areas where the country has a competitive edge, such as battery technology, to foster integrated national and international value chains.

Mensink echoes this sentiment, emphasizing the necessity of cultivating deeptech ventures that leverage breakthrough science and engineering. He states, “We’re good at research, but we struggle to commercialize it.” To bridge this gap, he advocates for a more founder-friendly approach at universities and for corporate entities to act as early adopters, providing the necessary support for startups.

Additionally, Mensink proposes a flywheel effect to sustain innovation in the ecosystem: if employees benefit from the success of startups, they’re more likely to become founders or angel investors themselves. He further suggests implementing tax incentives to encourage angel investing, pointing out that the current landscape lags behind other countries, such as the UK.

Despite the challenges, Crama identifies himself as a “serious optimist,” believing that by 2030, the Netherlands can emerge as home to many new global deeptech champions, crucial to the future economy and strategic autonomy. “But that will only happen if we increase our ambition: to create new market leaders, not just startups,” he stresses. Mensink, while anticipating a “little dip” in funding next year, shares a similar optimism, asserting that the ecosystem will continue to mature.

The dialogue surrounding the Dutch startup ecosystem highlights a pressing need for systemic change. By addressing capital access issues, fostering collaboration, and focusing on strategic strengths, the Netherlands can work towards realizing its vision of an innovative future.