Graduate Ventures has launched its second seed fund of €125 million, with €100 million already committed. Graduate Ventures now partners with eight universities and three university medical centres, giving it nationwide coverage to provide startups with capital and hands-on support from its network of investors, successful entrepreneurs and alumni of its partner universities.

The second fund is backed by a large group of leading entrepreneurs, including Frank Slootman (Snowflake), Michiel Muller (Picnic), Jonas Ruyter (DataSnipper) and Peter Wennink (ASML). Invest-NL and Oost NL are also participating.

In addition to its new seed fund, Graduate Ventures operates a pre-seed fund. Both funds invest in startups in sectors including artificial intelligence, deep tech, healthcare and climate – sectors that Graduate Ventures considers key to ensuring a competitive and prosperous future for the Netherlands.

“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,” says Frans van Houten, co-founder and chairman of Graduate Ventures. “This fully aligns with Peter Wennink’s message, former CEO of ASML and author of the report The Road to Future Prosperity.”

A venture-building approach with a track record since 2021
Since its founding in 2021 by alumni of Delft University of Technology and Erasmus University Rotterdam, Graduate Ventures has invested in more than 90 tech startups. Its platform also now includes a network of more than 200 experienced entrepreneurial alumni who support founders with expertise, connections and market introductions.

As innovation increasingly emerges from the academic world, Graduate Ventures now works with universities across the Netherlands. Following a successful start in the Rotterdam-Delft region, universities in Amsterdam, Eindhoven, Wageningen, Twente and Leiden have since joined the platform.

“Innovation often emerges from ecosystems surrounding academic centres. Graduate Ventures works closely with universities and medical centres in Rotterdam, Delft, Amsterdam, Eindhoven, Wageningen, Twente and Leiden,” says Auke van den Hout, managing partner at Graduate Ventures. “But capital alone is not enough. Founders also need support from people who have built companies themselves, who can think alongside them and open doors. That is why we connect startup founders with our extensive network from day one. The fact that we have already raised €100 million for our second fund in just ten months demonstrates the level of support for this approach – and the conviction that the Netherlands needs to build and retain more successful startups.”

QuantWare is a clear example of the impact of Graduate Ventures’ approach. Graduate Ventures invested in the Delft-based quantum technology company in 2021, when it was still at an early stage. Earlier this year, QuantWare raised €152 million in a Series B round.

Universities are also embracing Graduate Ventures’ approach. “Strong research is often the foundation for innovation-driven entrepreneurship, and therefore for tomorrow’s economy. Through Graduate Ventures, our entrepreneurial students and researchers gain access to capital and a nationwide alumni network. At the same time, we give our alumni the opportunity to contribute to the next generation of entrepreneurs,” says Luc Sels, President of the Executive Board of Leiden University.

Peter Wennink, former CEO of ASML, also shows his support: “Startups and scaleups are essential to the future of a prosperous Netherlands. Graduate Ventures meets the need for venture capital and support to help these startups and scaleups succeed.”

About Graduate Ventures
Graduate Ventures operates a pre-seed fund and two seed funds, investing in startups in artificial intelligence, deep tech, healthcare and climate. Graduate Ventures partners with eight Dutch universities (Rotterdam, Amsterdam, Delft, Eindhoven, Wageningen, Leiden and Twente) and three university medical centres (Rotterdam, Amsterdam and Leiden). To date, it has invested in more than 90 startups.

Graduate Ventures was founded in 2021 by Frans van Houten (former CEO of Philips), Sandro van Hellenberg Hubar (co-founder of Xindao), Gert Jan van der Hoeven (founder and managing partner of H2 Equity Partners) and Menno Antal (former managing partner of 3i Group), who now serve on the board of the Graduate Ventures Foundation.
The organisation is led by managing partner Auke van den Hout and a team of 10 professionals. Each year, around 20 students also work with Graduate Ventures to gain hands-on experience in venture capital and operate at the heart of the ecosystems surrounding the universities. More than 200 entrepreneurs and alumni from the partner universities are actively involved as supporters within the Graduate Ventures platform.

In 2025, Sifted named Graduate Ventures one of Europe’s most active startup investors. The Financial Times included Graduate Ventures in its Europe’s Leading Start-up Hubs 2026 ranking.

For more information, please visit: www.graduate.nl

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