Graduate Ventures has launched its second Seed fund with a total size of €125 million, including €100 million already committed at the first closing. The Dutch early-stage investor, founded in 2021 by alumni of Delft University of Technology and Erasmus University Rotterdam, focuses on startups emerging from domestic university ecosystems. Invest-NL has contributed €10 million, joining institutional and entrepreneurial backers seeking to strengthen the Netherlands' technology pipeline.
Fund Size and Backing
The new vehicle is 56% larger than the €80 million target announced in May 2026 and 2.5 times the size of its first €50 million Seed fund. Graduate Ventures raised the initial €100 million within 10 months. Backers include Peter Wennink, former chief executive of ASML, and Frank Slootman, former chief executive of Snowflake, alongside Oost NL and a group of Dutch entrepreneurs and alumni.
Investment Strategy and University Networks
Graduate Ventures invests in artificial intelligence, deep tech, healthcare, and climate technologies. Seed investments range from €500,000 to €3 million, while Pre-Seed checks do not exceed €100,000, and the firm operates with about 10 professionals. It works with eight universities and three university medical centers, has supported more than 90 startups since 2021, and welcomes around 20 students every year.
Founder Network and Giving Back
Graduate Ventures was founded by four alumni of Delft University of Technology and Erasmus University Rotterdam. The firm draws on around 200 alumni with entrepreneurship experience to provide expertise, connections, and access to markets. Co-founder and chairman Van Houten said the platform shows that a large group of successful entrepreneurs and alumni in the Netherlands can help the next generation with venture capital and hands-on support.
Invest-NL and the QuantWare Example
Invest-NL's €10 million commitment is designed to help scientific knowledge and technology move from research to market. Graduate Ventures combines capital with a network of experienced alumni who provide expertise, connections, and market access. One notable beneficiary is QuantWare, a Delft University of Technology spinout developing quantum computing technology, in which Graduate Ventures first invested in 2021; the company later closed a €152 million Series B round.
Bridging the Dutch Funding Gap
The firm's State of Dutch Tech 2026 report found that venture capital activity reached 265 deals worth €2.64 billion in 2025, an 11.5% increase from 2024. However, financing rounds below €15 million are becoming less frequent, and the Dutch scaleup ratio stood at 21.6%, compared with 39.2% in Germany and 52.2% in the United States. In artificial intelligence, only 21.2% of Dutch startups reached scaleup status, compared with 31.1% in Europe and 80.9% in the United States.
A Distinctive University-Linked Model
Graduate Ventures competes with early-stage investors such as Norrsken Evolve, Peak, and Ground State Ventures, but its mandate remains distinctive. The fund invests only in companies originating from Dutch universities; its Pre-Seed fund requires at least one founder from a partner institution, and its Seed fund is open only to Dutch university alumni. That approach is intended to replicate the giving-back culture associated with Stanford and MIT alumni in the United States.
The €125 million second Seed fund will test whether a dedicated alumni network can retain promising Dutch companies and help them secure larger future rounds. Graduate Ventures argues that capital alone is not enough, and founders also need support from people who have built companies, can think alongside them, and can open doors. By backing university-linked startups at the earliest stage, the firm aims to close the scaleup gap and strengthen the Netherlands' position in deep tech and climate innovation.