Graduate Ventures launches €125M second seed fund to back Dutch tech startups

Graduate Ventures has launched its second €125 million seed fund, with €100 million already committed. The fund, launched by alumni of Delft University of Technology and Erasmus University Rotterdam in 2021, has since invested in over 90 tech startups. The Graduate Ventures platform features a network of more than 200 experienced entrepreneurial alumni who provide founders with expertise, connections, and market introductions.

The company now partners with eight universities and three university medical centers, providing nationwide coverage to support startups with capital and hands-on support from its investor and alumni network. Alongside the new seed fund, Graduate Ventures operates a pre-seed fund, investing in sectors such as artificial intelligence, deep tech, healthcare, and climate – all crucial to ensuring a competitive and prosperous future for the Netherlands.

Frans van Houten, co-founder and chairman of Graduate Ventures, expressed his delight at the large group of successful entrepreneurs and alumni coming together to support the next generation of entrepreneurs. The second fund is backed by notable entrepreneurs like Frank Slootman (Snowflake), Michiel Muller (Picnic), Jonas Ruyter (DataSnipper), and Peter Wennink (ASML).

Collaborating institutions include Invest-NL and Oost NL. Peter Wennink, former CEO of ASML, commented, "Startups and scale-ups are essential to the future of a prosperous Netherlands. Graduate Ventures meets the need for venture capital and support to help these startups and scale-ups succeed."