In 2024, NL tech companies raised €3.1 billion in venture capital, up 47% from 2023, despite barriers to growth. The food sector did exceptionally well. It grew around 12% of the total VC investment and tripled its share of last year. Regarding the workforce, enterprise software leads employ 13% in the Netherlands, followed by food (8.4%). Thanks to this financial boost, the Netherlands ranks fourth in Europe regarding VC funding. That’s according to Techleap’s annual State of Dutch Tech report published earlier today.
These numbers follow a broader, positive European trend. According to the latest agri-food trade report published in January 2025, the EU agri-food trade reached record levels, with exports totaling €21.7 billion and imports at €16.2 billion. FoodTech ranked 6th in the top-funded European industry in 2023 with $4.5 billion. The sector held slightly better than the average European VC market drop of 37%.
Foreign investments take the lead, drastically fewer startups
The number of new Dutch startups that raised more than €100.000 in funding decreased significantly (104 in 2024; 172 in 2023). Interestingly, Dutch investors contributed only 15% of the funds, a sharp decline from 61%. In 2024, only 123 new startups raised €100,000 in funding, dropping back to 2020 levels. This decline is worrisome as startups are the foundation of a thriving ecosystem and essential for long-term growth and innovation. Given these trends, the decline in 2024 may significantly limit scaling opportunities for the coming years.
This decline underscores the challenge for startups to grow into scaleups. Only 21.5% succeed, compared to the European average of 23%. Factors such as talent shortages and strict regulations are significant obstacles. At the same time, foreign investment is increasing while domestic investment lags, reinforcing calls for policy changes to boost the ecosystem.
Constantijn van Oranje, Techleap’s special envoy and one of our keynote speakers last year, emphasizes that laws and regulations make it difficult for startups to raise investment money. “We think startups are fun and interesting, but ultimately, billion-dollar companies set the tone. So, to stay relevant in Europe, we must give those startups room to grow.”
