The Dutch Agrifood Venture Hub was launched in Wageningen on 22 November 2023, to position the Netherlands further as a leading agrifood venture hotspot. The launch, attended by dozens of entrepreneurs and financiers, highlighted financing opportunities for startups and scale-ups in the food transition. The announced cooperation is aimed at transforming the Dutch agrifood sector and supporting innovative companies to contribute to the food transition as successful scale-ups.
Growth opportunities underexploited
The Dutch agrifood sector is highly regarded internationally for its pioneering role in knowledge, innovation and entrepreneurship. However, research by Invest-NL and others points to a remarkable trend: growth opportunities of Dutch impact startups in the agrifood sector remain underexploited. There is a need for patient capital and further development of commerce and business operations. In response, StartHub Wageningen, StartLife, the 9 Regional Development Companies (ROMs), Wageningen University & Research, Foodvalley NL and Invest-NL are joining forces to jointly accelerate innovation in the food transition.
“It is great that these partners are joining forces. Foodvalley NL as a practice leader is excited to be part of this vibrant movement. Together, we create a sustainable and inclusive ecosystem that propels us towards a brighter tomorrow.”
Anieke Wieringa, lead entrepreneurship
Working together on sustainable food transition
The aim of this collaboration is to transform the Netherlands into a global agrifood venture hub. By working together on investments, business development and support programmes, the partners aim to grow more Dutch companies into successful scale-ups that contribute to more sustainable food production and consumption.
The innovations of these startups are crucial for the required transition in food production and consumption. Many of these innovations are technological in nature and often require significant and patient capital investments. In addition, these entrepreneurs are often pioneers who explore and develop new markets, as shown in a study on the Fastlane programme conducted by Invest-NL and Foodvalley NL.
Partners with proven track record
Wageningen University & Research, Foodvalley NL, Invest-NL, StartLife, a number of ROMs and StartHub Wageningen have been working together for years on innovations in food transition and have a proven track record in successfully growing agritech companies. Moreover, Invest-NL and the 9 ROMs are prominent investors in start-ups and scale-ups within the Netherlands. Together, they have an investment potential of over EUR 3 billion and represent about 60 per cent of venture capital investments in the Netherlands. The partners bring together not only capital, but also development programmes, venture development and an extensive network.
THE GLOBAL WINDOW OF TURKISH FOOD AND AGRICULTURE The Global Window of Turkish Food and Agriculture Sector
