July 2025 has been a big month for innovation in the Metropolitan Region Rotterdam The Hague (MRDH), with groundbreaking companies across Delft, The Hague, and Rotterdam securing significant investment to accelerate their missions. From quantum computing and climate-resilient water systems to radically simple investing and AI-driven compliance, these ventures are putting our region on the global innovation map.

Groove Quantum – €10M EIC Accelerator funding for Next-Gen quantum chips

Delft-based Groove Quantum has been awarded €10 million through the highly competitive European Innovation Council (EIC) Accelerator programme, one of only 40 deep-tech startups selected from over 1,000 applicants across Europe. The package includes a €2.5 million grant, with the remainder in equity financing.

Groove is pioneering germanium-based qubits built using standard semiconductor manufacturing techniques. This approach enables compact, high-fidelity quantum chips that can scale rapidly, a crucial step towards practical quantum computing.

Founded in 2024 by Anne-Marije Zwerver and Nico Hendrickx as a spin-out from QuTech, Groove is deeply embedded in Delft’s vibrant quantum ecosystem. The funding will drive advances in qubit design, chip fabrication, and system integration, moving the world closer to real-world quantum applications.

FieldFactors – €1.65M to Scale BlueBloqs Rainwater Reuse Globally

Also from Delft, FieldFactors has secured €1.65 million to expand its award-winning BlueBloqs rainwater reuse technology to new cities and regions worldwide, with a focus on Europe and Latin America.

The oversubscribed round was led by Connect the Drops and joined by Tailwind Climate, Amplifica Capital, Vanzal Limited, and the Water Innovation Fund, all bringing both capital and sector expertise.

BlueBloqs enables local capture, treatment, and reuse of rainwater, helping urban areas reduce water stress, manage stormwater, and boost climate resilience. With this funding, FieldFactors will scale production and support new projects on multiple continents.

UpToMore – €3M to bring “The Most Boring” investment app to Europe

The Hague-based fintech UpToMore has raised €3 million to fuel the European expansion of its intentionally simple investment platform. Co-founders Karl de Bolster and Michael van Balen – both former bankers – set out to build an app for the 95% of people put off by complexity or high fees.

With a fixed monthly cost of €0.99 and an annual investment fee of just 0.1%, UpToMore makes investing accessible for everyone. Users simply deposit money, and it’s automatically invested in a globally diversified ETF portfolio.

Crucially, the company holds a UCITS licence from the Dutch AFM, enabling passporting across Europe. A cornerstone of its strategy to roll out in multiple countries by the end of 2025.

Passionfruit – €250K from Smarter Ventures to streamline ESG compliance

Rotterdam’s Passionfruit has secured €250K from Smarter Ventures to scale its AI-powered ESG and compliance automation platform for the food industry. The investment comes with strategic support through Smarter Ventures’ Venture Grower programme, pairing capital with hands-on entrepreneurial guidance.

Passionfruit’s technology can automate up to 90% of the manual work involved in responding to ESG, quality, and food safety questionnaires, freeing teams from repetitive tasks and speeding up audits.

Already used by major clients like FrieslandCampina, Volcafe, and FunnyFoods Factory, the platform has proven its impact, with FunnyFoods reporting a 75% reduction in time spent per compliance questionnaire.

Why this matters for MRDH

These four funding wins highlight the breadth and depth of innovation in the MRDH region, from the quantum labs of Delft to the AI hubs of Rotterdam. Together, they represent a powerful mix of deep-tech, climate solutions, fintech, and applied AI, sectors with global growth potential and tangible societal impact.

As these companies scale, they’re not only creating jobs and attracting talent but also strengthening MRDH’s reputation as a global hotspot for innovation.