Netherlands
Amsterdam-Delta
The Amsterdam ecosystem is thriving and has created an environment for talent and entrepreneurs to excel. I can see a new powerful growth spurt ahead if we continue to work together, connecting all ecosystem players in the city and across the Netherlands.
Highlights
Amsterdam is the most popular location for VC-backed startups in the Netherlands, with 45% of all Dutch funded ventures having their HQ in the city. Amsterdam’s homegrown startups employed 49,000 people in 2022, a 6% increase year-on-year, and more than 260 foreign startups employed another 23,500 people. Many international tech giants, including Tesla, Meta, IBM, and Google, have offices in Amsterdam, and the city’s ecosystem was valued the highest in the E.U. in H1 2022. Around 90% of VC funding flowing into Amsterdam comes from foreign investors.
The Dutch capital is also the home to The Next Web, which not only hosts the annual TNW Conference, but provides coworking space and programs to further boost the Amsterdam tech startup scene. Overall, Amsterdam is an international but closely connected ecosystem with a rich supply of support agencies and talent to drive innovation.
A new Demonstrator Lab at Science Park in Amsterdam opened in March 2022 with the goal of fostering an entrepreneurial culture in Amsterdam’s higher education ecosystem. The lab offers guidance and equipment to students and staff members of local universities looking to turn a research-based idea into a product or service. Blockchain Expo will be held in September 2023, and Aquatech Amsterdam 2023, a water trade show for process, drinking, and wastewater, will take place in November. AI-powered indoor farm startup Source.ag raised $10 million in a March 2022 seed round. Creative Fabrica has raised $68.5 million over five rounds, including a $61 million January 2023 Series B.
Ecosystem by the Numbers
Sub-Sector Strengths
Fintech
More than 20% of startup jobs in the Amsterdam ecosystem are in Fintech, with 1,200 added in 2022. Canadian cross-border payments network Buckzy and U.S. banking startup Trovata are set to open offices in the area. Amsterdam placed #2 in the 10th Global Green Finance Index. The city also took second place in the 2022–23 fDi Intelligence Global Cities of the Future rankings. Fintech event Money 20/20 EUrope 2023 took place in June. Amsterdam FinTech Week (XFW) is set for September.
Life Sciences
The Netherlands is the top European importer and exporter of medical devices. The city has access to 95% of Europe’s biggest consumer markets, with the Schiphol Airport housing a specialized pharma zone and the Port of Amsterdam biomass transhipment facilities. In 2022, Life Science Partners announced it had raised over €1 billion for its flagship fund, the largest Life Sciences VC fund raised in Europe to date. Cancer immunotherapies startup CimCure raised a €5 million seed round in June 2022. Lapsi Health raised a $3.7 million seed round in January 2023.
AI, Big Data & Analytics
The Global Observatory for Urban AI places Amsterdam among the world leaders in developing ethical AI solutions, listing 17 initiatives based here, and two of the city’s universities offer programs in AI. In January 2023, the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research announced an additional €25 million in funding towards opening 17 new AI labs and supporting students in the field. The AI & Big Data Expo Europe 2023 is set for Amsterdam in September, and the World AI Summit 2023 will take place in October. Business intelligence and analytics firm Pyramid Analytics raised $120 million in May 2022.
Reasons to Move Your Startup to Amsterdam-Delta
International Talent
Amsterdam’s modern, educated, multilingual workforce is a magnet for international companies. It ranked first in the EF Global English Proficiency Index 2022, indicating the highest level of non-native English speakers worldwide. Almost half of the city's residents hold a degree. The Global Talent Competitiveness Index 2022 ranked Amsterdam #11 for talent competitiveness.
Established Business Community
Amsterdam’s long history as an international business center means an outward-looking attitude is deeply ingrained in Dutch culture. The Dutch capital is welcoming to expats and foreign businesses. Amsterdam boasts excellent transport links, with Schiphol Airport Europe’s third busiest by passenger numbers. fDi Intelligence’s European Cities and Regions of the Future 2022/23 ranked Amsterdam #4 in business friendliness and #2 in connectivity.
Science & Tech Hub
The growing number of tech startups and established STEM companies means there is a strong community of scientific and tech professionals in the city. Research facilities including Lab42 in Amsterdam Science Park help connect young talent to industry experts. City government and academic institutions are investing in building new innovation hubs aimed at cultivating science-led entrepreneurship.
Explore more ecosystems
Get connected
Are you interested in diving deeper into this ecosystem? Drop us a message. Our Ambassadors and Partners can plug you in.