Graduate Ventures has announced the closure of its second seed fund, raising €125 million with €100 million already pledged. The fund draws support from a roster of accomplished business figures, including former ASML chief executive Peter Wennink and Frank Slootman of Snowflake, and will target startups working in artificial intelligence, deep tech, healthcare and climate technologies throughout the Netherlands.

Founded in 2021 by graduates of Delft University of Technology and Erasmus University Rotterdam, Graduate Ventures has already deployed capital across more than 90 technology startups. The organisation maintains a community of over 200 seasoned entrepreneurs and alumni who provide mentorship, introductions and strategic guidance to founders. Through partnerships with eight universities and three university medical centres, the firm now operates a nationwide network capable of delivering both financial backing and operational support.

Beyond the new seed fund, Graduate Ventures manages a pre-seed vehicle, with both focusing on sectors deemed critical to Dutch competitiveness and long-term prosperity. The organisation's track record includes QuantWare, a quantum technology company based in Delft that received investment in 2021 and subsequently raised €152 million in Series B funding earlier this year.

Frans van Houten, co-founder and chairman of Graduate Ventures, commented on the development: "It is great to see such a large group of successful entrepreneurs and alumni in the Netherlands coming together through the Graduate Ventures platform to help the next generation of entrepreneurs with venture capital and hands-on support from their networks."

Backers of the fund

The second fund counts among its supporters a diverse group of entrepreneurs and institutional investors:

  • Frank Slootman (Snowflake)
  • Michiel Muller (Picnic)
  • Jonas Ruyter (DataSnipper)
  • Peter Wennink (ASML)
  • Invest-NL
  • Oost NL

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.

Peter Wennink, former CEO of ASML

Source: Tech.eu