Raising Your First Check in Amsterdam

Fundraising in Amsterdam

Amsterdam has a growing VC scene. The 30% ruling makes it cheaper to hire, indirectly helping fundraising. WBSO R&D credits add non-dilutive support.

European fundraising is relationship-driven. Cold emails work, but warm intros convert 5x better. Start 3–6 months before you need money.

Where the Money Is

Local investors, accelerators, and funding sources for your stage. For curated links, see the Amsterdam playbook on the main page.

• •Seed Business Angel Scheme provides co-investment loans for angel syndicates (via RVO)
• •RVO administers WBSO R&D tax credits for tech startups
• •Dealroom and OpenVC list Dutch investors and funding rounds

Legal Instruments: Convertibles & Dutch Angels

The Netherlands uses convertible notes. Dutch BV structure is straightforward for investment.

The Dutch angel network (BANN) is well-organized. RVO offers innovation subsidies.

• •Netherlands has strong R&D tax incentives (WBSO) for tech startups
• •Techleap connects Dutch scaleups with investors

• RVO – Innovation Subsidies
• Techleap

Building Your Investor Pipeline

European fundraising is relationship-driven. Here's how to build your pipeline in Amsterdam.

• •Use Crunchbase and Dealroom to find investors who back companies at your stage and sector
• •Attend demo days and local events — B. Amsterdam and Startup Village are the main tech community campuses
• •Build in public on LinkedIn and X — European founders do this more than ever, and visibility compounds
• •Ask portfolio founders for intros — this is the #1 way to get a meeting

The Unwritten Rules

European fundraising has cultural norms that nobody tells you about. Here are the ones that matter.

• •Europeans value humility over bravado — show ambition through substance, not hype
• •Follow-up is expected and respected — European investors often need 3–5 touchpoints before committing
• •Government grants and co-investment are not 'charity' — top European founders stack them strategically
• •Valuations are lower, but so is dilution — European founders often retain more equity through exit