Following our country deep-dive series, we now turn to the Netherlands, one of Europe’s leading global ecosystems. Known for its strengths in sustainability, fintech, deeptech, and business software, the country combines strong research institutions with a pragmatic, commercially driven founder culture.
While Amsterdam remains the main start-up hub, innovation is clearly distributed throughout the country, with Eindhoven, Groningen, Breda, and The Hague providing technical expertise in areas such as advanced materials, quantum sensing, industrial decarbonisation, and AI infrastructure.
The following 10 startups, founded from 2023 onwards, reflect a combination of business software, climate change, deeptech, and industrial revolution. Presented in alphabetical order, they are positioning themselves for further growth in 2026 and beyond.
Founded in 2024, There is an AI-powered online marketing platform focused on small and medium businesses. The company manages and optimizes paid advertising campaigns in all channels such as Google, Meta, TikTok and Bing, combining automated bidding and targeting with human attention. Its model focuses on connecting customers with existing ad accounts and websites, then using AI-driven analytics to tailor campaigns based on data rather than guesswork.
In addition to paid advertising, Aizy integrates SEO strategies using insights gathered from campaign data, aiming to balance the visibility of short-term advertising with long-term growth. This platform includes reporting dashboards and dedicated performance support, aimed at SMEs who want to organize performance marketing without building in-house teams. The company saved €3.5 million in cash.
Founded in 2024, CIRCLE is developing an industrial-scale biorefinery designed to convert food waste streams and other biomass into bio-based chemicals. The project aims to restore an existing biogas plant to produce lactic acid and a compatible intermediate, which can be used to produce materials such as polylactic acid-based bioplastics. Its purpose is to demonstrate that waste streams can serve as feedstock for high-value chemical production at scale.
Supported by an international consortium and funded under the Circular Bio-based Europe Joint Undertaking framework, CIRCLE aims to increase the production capacity while strengthening the commercial use of bio-based lactic acid derivatives. The project has attracted €17 million in funding to advance its flagship plant and industrialization.
Founded in 2025, Dawnguard creates an AI-powered cloud architecture to strengthen the platform based on “security by design” principles. The software analyzes the architecture, documentation, or existing cloud environment and identifies potential security vulnerabilities during the design phase. The goal is to help organizations manage structural risks before systems are put into production.
This platform supports collaboration between security and engineering teams by creating validated infrastructure and production-ready Infrastructure as Code. By changing security controls early in the development lifecycle, Dawnguard targets businesses looking to reduce downtime and maintenance costs. The company has secured €2.55 million in funding so far.
Founded in 2023, there develops AI-native compliance and business onboarding platform for managed businesses. The software translates KYC, KYB, and AML requirements into manageable tasks, allowing companies to automate identity checks, document reviews, and risk assessments. Its no-code onboarding tools are designed to reduce friction in customer acquisition while maintaining a comprehensive evaluation process.
The platform combines automated case management, lifecycle monitoring, and a rules engine that turns compliance rules into scheduled actions. By connecting with international registries and third-party data providers, Duna supports certification, audits, and periodic reviews within one system. To date, the company has attracted €40.7 million in funding.
Founded in 2024, Leverage develops AI-driven workflow automation software for companies that manufacture, move, and sell physical products. This platform aims to embed automation directly into existing ERP systems, allowing businesses to streamline processes such as invoicing, ordering, quoting, and production planning without changing core tools or training teams.
Lleverage works by mapping repeatable management processes, building customized AI workflows, and integrating them into a set of back-office systems to work within established environments. The goal is to reduce manual data entry, reduce errors, and improve operational efficiency while maintaining business-grade security and compliance standards. Currently, the company reports €5 million in revenue.
Founded in 2024, Next Sense creates a data-driven platform designed to support the decarbonisation of commercial real estate. The company offers natural construction performance, ESG-focused reporting, and AI-based control systems aimed at helping asset owners meet regulatory requirements such as CSRD and SFDR. Its aim is to make existing buildings more energy efficient rather than relying on new developments.
This platform combines data collection, simulation modeling, and automated optimization to improve energy efficiency and reduce carbon emissions. By combining performance information with performance management, Next Sense supports property managers in progressing towards net-zero goals and “Paris-proof” standards. The company saved €11.5 million in funding to advance its technology and deployment.
Founded in 2024, QT Sense develops quantum sensing technology for real-time cellular analysis. Its flagship platform, Quantum Nuova, uses fluorescent nanodiamonds to detect oxidative stress within living cells at a subcellular resolution. By measuring free radical activity directly within organelles, the system generates non-destructive, real-time data that can be analyzed on multiple samples simultaneously.
It is a standardized technology for academic research, drug development, and clinical applications, including drug screening, biomarker discovery, and disease mapping. By combining quantum physics, optics, and data analytics, QT Sense aims to expand how oxidative stress and cellular responses are measured in life science research. The company has attracted €10 million in funding so far.
Founded in 2023, RE&UP Recycling Technologies creates a fabric-to-fabric recycling process that aims to reduce reliance on virgin cotton and polyester. The company produces what it calls Next-Gen Cotton and Next-Gen Polyester, recycled fibers designed to match the performance criteria of conventional materials while being sustainable and recyclable. Its purpose is to transform end-of-life waste into materials suitable for industrial production.
Utilizing textile manufacturing expertise and in-house research and development, RE&UP operates within a circular manufacturing model that seeks to address large volumes of post-consumer and post-industrial waste. By introducing recycled fibers as targeted alternatives to virgin packaging, the company aims to support alternative supply chains in the fashion and related industries. The business brought €70 million in funding to increase its recycling capacity.
Founded in 2024, Stacks creates AI-powered software designed to support accounting teams during the financial close. This platform brings close management, account reconciliation, journal entries, and variance analysis into a single workspace that connects directly to the company’s ERP system. Its tools aim to automate trade matching, flag differences, and reduce the manual work often associated with month-end and year-end transactions.
By combining workflows with AI-driven reconciliation and reporting features, Stacks focuses on helping finance teams shorten the stages of analysis and gain real-time visibility into performance measures. The system is built with security standards like SOC 2 Type II and ISO 27001 compliance in mind. The company saved €28.4 million in capital to support its expansion.
Founded in 2024, Superflox manufactures industrial air pollution control systems based on patented flameless oxidation technology. The company’s systems are designed to treat waste gas at its source, converting harmful gases into carbon dioxide and water vapor while significantly reducing nitrogen oxides. The technology can be installed as a bolt-on solution to existing industrial buildings, avoiding the need for major repairs or rebuilds.
SuperFlox focuses on sectors such as oil and gas, chemical production, biofuels, and carrier gas management, offering impressive components from container-sized systems to large industrial installations. Its approach focuses on enabling compliance with environmental regulations, including continuous reporting requirements under European systems. The company has secured €7 million in funding to support the deployment and scaling of its technology.
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