STARTUP STATISTICS 2026

The Dutch tech ecosystem counted 11,301 active tech companies in 2025, a steady increase from previous years. Of these, 1,320 startups raised more than $100,000 and 285 scaleups crossed the $10 million threshold (Techleap.nl, State of Dutch Tech 2026).

The downside: the number of newly founded startups that raised more than $100,000 dropped from 197 in 2023 to just 128 in 2024 — a decline of 35%. According to Techleap, this trend is "alarming" and threatens the pipeline of innovation in the long term.

Business registrations

The Dutch Chamber of Commerce (KvK) registered a total of 2,581,399 business establishments as of January 1, 2025, a 3% increase year-over-year. However, for the first time in ten years, the number of new business starters declined. Companies founded by native-born Dutch residents dropped by 12%. Founders born abroad remained relatively stable, declining by just 3%.

The number of bankruptcies rose by 34% in 2024, from 3,326 to 4,467. The sharpest increases were in healthcare and construction — two sectors that also recorded the most business closures. Retail was the only sector where new business starts increased, driven partly by e-commerce and direct-to-consumer models.

The number of freelancers continued to grow: from 1,710,161 to 1,772,367, an increase of 4%. This points to a shift from traditional entrepreneurship to more flexible work arrangements, although not all freelancers can be considered startups.

Startups that leverage AI for marketing and growth tend to be more resilient against these negative trends. Digital capabilities and automation are becoming increasingly decisive for survival. The gap between digitally savvy founders and traditional entrepreneurs grows wider every year.

Key statistics: number of startups

• 11,301 active tech companies in the Dutch ecosystem (Techleap 2025)
• 1,320 startups that raised more than $100,000
• 285 scaleups above $10 million in funding
• 128 new startups with $100K+ funding in 2024, a 35% decline vs. 2023
• 2,581,399 registered business establishments at KvK (January 2025)
• 1,772,367 registered freelancers, +4% growth
• 4,467 bankruptcies in 2024, +34% vs. 2023
• First decline in new business starters in 10 years (KvK Business Dynamics 2024)
• Starters born in the Netherlands: -12%
• Retail the only sector with an increase in new starters

Sources: Techleap.nl State of Dutch Tech 2026, KvK Business Dynamics 2024, CBS Statline

Dutch startups and scaleups attracted a total of $2.9 billion (EUR 2.64 billion) in venture capital in 2025. The fourth quarter was the strongest at $940 million — more than double Q4 2024 ($458 million) and an 89% increase over Q3 2025 (Dealroom, KPMG Venture Pulse).

Earlier in the year, the market showed mixed results: Q1 2025 saw a 58% decline to $504 million, but Q2 recovered strongly with $822 million (+67% vs. Q2 2024). The number of deals dropped by 14.5%, indicating that capital is flowing toward larger, later-stage rounds.

Investments by quarter (2025)

Shifting investor landscape

A notable shift: non-traditional investors (corporate VCs, family offices, sovereign wealth funds) accounted for 44% of all Dutch VC deals in 2025 — a record. This reflects a broader trend of non-traditional capital increasingly finding its way into tech startups.

At the same time, US investor participation in breakout rounds ($50-100 million) tripled to 40%. European participation in those same rounds dropped from a quarter to just 21%. This shift means Dutch scaleups gain access to deeper capital markets, but also become more dependent on the cyclical patterns of American venture capital.

Dutch investors saw their share in growth financing rounds decline from 61% to just 15%. The consequence: the most promising Dutch scaleups are increasingly dependent on foreign capital. This carries risks for corporate governance and the long-term anchoring of these companies in the Netherlands.

Five of the ten most active VC funds in the Netherlands are government-backed, including Invest-NL and the EIF. This underscores the important role of public capital in addressing market failures in early stages.

Key statistics: venture capital

• $2.9 billion total invested in 2025 (Dealroom)
• $3.4 billion VC in 2024, a 47% increase vs. 2023
• $940 million in Q4 2025, the strongest quarter
• Number of deals: -14.5% vs. 2024
• Non-traditional investors: 44% of all deals (record)
• US participation in large rounds: tripled to 40%
• Dutch share in growth financing: from 61% to 15%
• Rounds under $15 million are becoming less common
• The Netherlands is the 4th largest VC market in Europe
• 5 of the 10 most active VC funds are government-backed

Sources: Dealroom.co, Dutch Startup Association, Golden Egg Check, KPMG Venture Pulse Q4 2025

Entrepreneurship is risky, and the numbers confirm it. According to CBS data, 50% of Dutch startups fail within five years. Within two years, 30% shut down. The global average is even higher: roughly 90% of all startups ultimately fail.

Surprisingly, a funding round doesn't always help: 7 out of 10 startups close their doors after raising external capital. Money alone is no guarantee for success. Investors bring expertise and networks, but the pressure to grow fast often leads to premature scaling — increasing expenses before the business model is proven.

The average lifespan of a Dutch startup that raised external capital is 3.5 years. Bootstrapped startups (growing without external capital) tend to survive longer but grow more slowly. The choice between rapid growth with risk and gradual growth with stability remains one of the fundamental trade-offs for every entrepreneur.

Why startups fail: the top 5 reasons

The number of bankruptcies in the Netherlands rose by 34% in 2024 to 4,467 (KvK). The healthcare and construction sectors were hit hardest, with both more closures and fewer new starters. Entrepreneurs who embrace digitalization significantly increase their chances of survival.

Key statistics: failure rate

• 50% of startups fail within 5 years (CBS)
• 30% fail within 2 years
• 70% close after a funding round (Emerce)
• 90% of startups globally fail eventually
• Leading cause: no market need (42%)
• Second cause: cash flow problems (29%)
• 4,467 bankruptcies in 2024, +34% vs. 2023
• Healthcare and construction: sharpest rise in business closures
• Startups with product-market fit have 3x higher survival rate

Sources: CBS Statline, KvK Business Dynamics 2024, Emerce, CB Insights, BusinessPartners.nl

AI & Deep Tech

Deep tech is the Dutch powerhouse: it accounts for just 12% of the ecosystem but produces 41% of all scaleups and attracts 41% of all venture capital. The scaleup ratio for deep tech companies is 39% — more than double that of non-deep tech companies (17%).

AI attracts 27% of all Dutch VC investments. The Netherlands has the highest AI talent density in Europe: 10.9 AI professionals per 10,000 inhabitants. Despite this talent, the conversion rate to scaleup status is only 21.2%, compared to 80.9% in the US.

Deep tech now accounts for more than $7.5 billion in combined startup value, spread across fields such as photonics, quantum technology and semiconductor research. The Eindhoven and Delft regions are the epicenters.

FinTech

The Netherlands is a European fintech hub with 7 unicorns in the sector, including Adyen (publicly listed), Mollie and Bunq. The focus is shifting toward international expansion and increasingly larger late-stage rounds (Series C+). Embedded finance, crypto regulation and open banking are emerging themes.

The Dutch payment infrastructure — historically strong due to iDEAL and the early adoption of debit card payments — provides fertile ground for fintech innovation. New players are targeting B2B payments, treasury management and compliance automation, areas where much manual work can be automated.

HealthTech

In 2025, more than $880 million was invested in healthtech rounds, with expected growth of 25-40% in 2026. Focus areas include:

• AI-driven diagnostics: cancer detection, cardiac conditions, image recognition
• Digital therapeutics & mental health: apps and platforms for psychological care
• Biotech & personalized medicine: CRISPR, mRNA technology
• Medtech hardware + software: wearables integrated with data analytics
• Healthcare logistics: supply chain optimization for hospitals

The aging population and increasing pressure on the healthcare system make healthtech a sector with structural growth potential for the coming decades.

Climate Tech

Battery innovations, carbon capture, advanced nuclear technology and net-zero solutions benefit from lower interest rates and the momentum of the EU Green Deal. Climate tech is one of the top 5 VC sectors in the Netherlands for 2026. The Port of Rotterdam and the Maasvlakte offer a unique testbed for industrial sustainability innovations, from green hydrogen to circular materials.

Sector breakdown of the Dutch ecosystem

Key statistics: sectors

• Deep tech: 12% of ecosystem, 41% of all scaleups
• AI attracts 27% of all VC investments
• 75% of AI investments come from foreign investors
• AI talent density: 10.9 per 10,000 inhabitants (highest in Europe)
• Deep tech value: $7.5 billion+ combined
• Healthtech: $880M+ invested in 2025
• FinTech: 7 unicorns in the Netherlands
• Deep tech scaleup ratio: 39% vs. 17% non-deep tech
• Climate tech in the top 5 VC sectors for 2026
• 36% of European VC deals go to deep tech

Sources: Techleap.nl, Dealroom European Deep Tech Report 2026, VentureCapital.nl, KPMG

WBSO: the main R&D tax incentive

The WBSO (R&D Tax Credit) is the largest fiscal innovation incentive for Dutch businesses. In 2025, $1.8 billion is available. Companies can deduct up to 32% of their R&D labor costs, with an increased rate of 40% for startups. This applies to the first tier (under $385,000), above which the rate is 16%.

Invest-NL: stimulating scale-up growth

The Dutch government is investing an additional $990 million through Invest-NL through 2029 in innovative SMEs and the growth of promising startups into scaleups. The majority is allocated as core capital. Invest-NL also manages the Deep Tech Fund for quantum, photonics and advanced materials.

Other programs

• Seed Capital: specifically targeting deep tech startups that need early-stage funding
• Innovation Box: reduced corporate tax rate of 9% on profits from innovative activities
• Techleap: programs for Future of Compute (quantum, photonics), extended by the Dutch government
• National Growth Fund: phased out since February 2023, no new applications accepted

A key criticism: the total government support of $709 million for startups is a fraction of what neighboring countries provide. Entrepreneurs and startups that leverage AI and digital marketing effectively can still compete with limited resources.

Key statistics: government support

• WBSO budget: $1.8 billion in 2025
• WBSO deduction regular: 32% (first tier)
• WBSO deduction for starters: 40% (first tier)
• Invest-NL additional capital: $990 million through 2029
• Innovation Box: 9% corporate tax on innovation profits
• 5 of 10 most active VC funds are government-backed
• National Growth Fund: phased out
• Total government support for startups: $709 million
• Comparison: Germany $49.2B, France $5.4B

Sources: RVO.nl, Rijksoverheid.nl, AGConnect, Invest-NL, VentureCapital.nl

1. AI becomes the backbone of every startup

AI is no longer a niche but the foundation of every tech company. Enterprise AI, agentic systems and vertical applications in manufacturing, healthcare and defense are becoming the norm. Investors are looking for defensibility and real utility over hype. The percentage of Dutch companies using AI has nearly doubled in three years: from 34% in 2023 to 67% in 2026.

For growing startups, AI integration is not optional — it is a baseline requirement for competitiveness. From production optimization to customer service, from marketing automation to financial forecasting: AI touches every aspect of the business. Startups that don't leverage AI risk building a structural competitive disadvantage that becomes increasingly difficult to overcome.

2. Quantum computing & photonics reach commercial phase

Eindhoven and Delft remain European hotspots for quantum hardware, sensing and secure communication. Startups like QuiX Quantum are attracting significant investments through the Deep Tech Fund. The national Future of Compute strategy is accelerating this trend.

3. Climate tech benefits from EU Green Deal

Lower interest rates and EU policy pressure are driving investments in battery innovations, carbon capture and net-zero technology. The connection to Dutch ports and industry makes Rotterdam and the Maasvlakte natural locations for climate tech scaleups.

4. The early-stage gap becomes a systemic risk

The structural shortage of pre-seed and seed investments threatens the pipeline of new startups. If the number of newly founded companies continues to decline, the pipeline of future scaleups will dry up. The industry is advocating for more structural early-stage financing.

5. Internationalization accelerates

US investors tripled their participation in large rounds to 40%. This brings not only capital but also access to the American market. The downside: brain drain and HQ relocation to the US is a real risk.

6. Diversity as a competitive advantage

The number of female (co-)founded startups grew by 22%. Diverse teams demonstrably perform better: they generate 35% more revenue and attract more diverse talent. Incubators and accelerators are increasingly targeting programs at underrepresented groups.

7. Marketing as a growth lever for startups

In a market where fewer startups are being founded but more capital is available for the best-performing companies, marketing is increasingly decisive for which startups scale and which don't. Early traction, a strong online presence and data-driven customer acquisition are no longer nice-to-haves but essential growth engines.

For startups looking to accelerate their growth, an AI-driven marketing approach is increasingly the first step. By automating marketing and working data-driven, young companies with limited budgets can still compete at a high level. AI tools make it possible to execute SEO, content marketing and campaign optimization that previously required an entire marketing team.

Key statistics: trends

• AI usage at companies: from 34% (2023) to 67% (2026)
• Deep tech: 36% of all European VC deals
• US participation in large rounds: tripled to 40%
• Female (co-)founders: +22%
• Diverse teams: 35% more revenue
• Rounds under $15M: becoming scarcer
• Quantum & photonics: Eindhoven and Delft as European centers
• Climate tech: expected growth 25-40% in 2026

Sources: Techleap.nl, VentureCapital.nl, Capgemini Top Tech Trends 2026, Dealroom, State of Dutch Tech 2026