Meet the startups from Rotterdam and South Holland region that raised funding in Q3 2024; 14 are hiring
After challenging years of the pandemic and economic downturns, tech ecosystems globally are getting back. The Dutch tech ecosystem remains one of the most robust and valuable hubs, particularly in South Holland. This vibrant region, known for its deep-tech focus, has become a hotspot for startups, with the city of Rotterdam frequently grabbing the headlines.
Focus on deeptech & deeper impact
South Holland’s emergence as the standout region for deeptech is evident in the sheer number of startups and scale-ups operating in the area. According to Techleap’s State of Dutch Tech 2024 report, South Holland is home to 21 per cent of all startups and scale-ups in the Netherlands, and an impressive 29 per cent of all Dutch deeptech startups.
In comparison, North Holland accounts for 23 per cent of deeptech startups, while North Brabant is home to 19 per cent. These statistics position South Holland ahead of other regions, emphasising its growing influence and critical role in fostering the deep-tech ecosystem in the Netherlands. Beyond deeptech, South Holland is also establishing itself as a leading hub for impact-driven startups and scaleups. It has experienced consistent year-over-year growth over the past decade.
According to Techleap.nl’s report, the region excels in energy transition, circularity, well-being, and digitalisation, aligning with the Sustainable Development Goals. In a testament to the region’s potential, five campuses in South Holland received €3M in subsidy to enhance their research and innovation capacity and to propel advanced technologies.
Rotterdam’s Nearfield Instruments tops the funding list
According to the recently published Quarterly Startup Report, €424 million was invested in Dutch startups in Q3 2024, on par with the same quarter in 2023 (+0.3%).
Investments in cleantech and high-tech companies drove Q3. Nearfield Instruments in Rotterdam stood out, especially by raising €135 million, the second largest capital raise in the semi-conductor fabrication equipment market in Europe and the US in the past five years, according to Mergermarket.
The company develops Metrology & Inspection (M&I) solutions for semiconductor manufacturing.
The Thriving Rotterdam – The Hague Metropolitan Area
The Rotterdam – The Hague metropolitan area has emerged as a leading hub for startups and scale-ups, that accelerate transitions in the Netherlands. Its ecosystem drives towards a future-proof economy, focusing on sustainability, inclusivity, and digitalisation.
At the core of this thriving ecosystem is Up!Rotterdam, an initiative dedicated to providing startups and scale-ups with better access to talent, (international) markets, and capital. Up!Rotterdam works closely with over sixty partners and provides access to programs from leading organisations to support the growth of these companies.
As part of this flourishing landscape, many startups that raised funding in Q3 are now looking to expand their teams with top talent. Below is a list of startups and scaleups from Rotterdam and the South Holland region that raised funding in Q3 2024; fourteen are hiring right now.
Founder/s: Hamed Sadeghian and Roland van Vliet
HQ: Rotterdam
Fund raised in Q3: €135M
Hiring: Yes| Click here
Nearfield Instruments is a developer of Metrology & Inspection (M&I) solutions for the semiconductor manufacturing industry. The Rotterdam-based company addresses the complexities of advanced semiconductor manufacturing with process control solutions, including the QUADRA 3D metrology system.
QUADRA offers non-destructive, high-throughput, high-resolution metrology capabilities and is validated and deployed in high-volume manufacturing by major chip manufacturers worldwide.
Founder/s: Andreas Saari, Jane Walerud, Pol Knops and Marta Sjögren
HQ: Rotterdam
Fund raised in Q3: €22.81M
Hiring: Yes| Click here
Paebbl is a climate-tech startup that turns captured CO2 into building materials that store carbon permanently. The company is on a mission to create a large-scale carbon removal solution within the next decade.
Since its inception, Paebbl progressed from lab tests to a pilot unit that produces 250kg of CO2-storing material daily. In May 2024, the Rotterdam company achieved a milestone by sequestering its first ton of CO2 and casting its first concrete structures using captured carbon, demonstrating the practical impact of its technology.
CEO: Mattijs Slee
HQ: Schiedam
Fund raised in Q3: €30M
Hiring: Yes| Click here
Founded as a spin-off of TU Delft, Battolyser Systems develops the world’s first fully flexible alkaline electrolyser with battery functionality for green hydrogen — Battolyser. The company’s technology can switch on and off following intermittent renewable energy.
The next-generation Battolyser is a 2.5MW plug-and-play skid and 5MW module integrated with a Balance of Plants on site.
Founder/s: Krijn de Nood, Daan Luining, and Dr Mark Kotter
HQ: Delft
Fund raised in Q3: €7.6M
Hiring: Yes| Click here
Meatable is a startup specialising in cultivated meat technology. Cultivated meat, which is produced from a single sample of animal cells, is set to be a viable alternative that could mitigate the environmental and societal impacts of conventional meat production.
Meatable’s technology platform aims to partner with the meat industry to scale up the production of cultivated meat products.
Founder/s: Menno Gravemaker
HQ: Delft
Fund raised in Q3: €6.5M
Hiring: Yes| Click here
Momo Medical focuses on preventing pressure ulcers through a monitoring system, demonstrating its commitment to improving healthcare outcomes through innovative solutions. The company’s BedSense App, a sensor plate placed under nursing home mattresses, offers caregivers real-time insights into memory care residents. Nurses and carers can use this app’s insights to provide person-centred care and to gain an overview of all nursing ward residents.
This technology allows caregivers to proactively prevent falls by setting personalised alerts and detecting potential bed exits up to 70 seconds in advance, ensuring a safer and more comfortable night for all residents.
Founder/s: Aaike van der Vugt, Prof Andreas Schmidt-Ott, Tobias Pfeiffer, and Tobias Coppejans
HQ: Delft
Fund raised in Q3: €6.5M
Hiring: Yes| Click here
VSParticle helps scientists speed up material development and identify the materials that will support future sustainable technologies. With its technology, materials can be reduced to nanoscale size and manufactured “at the push of a button.” This enables university researchers and corporate R&D teams to explore and develop novel materials that serve as the foundation for ground-breaking technologies.
Over the past year, VSP has shipped its flagship product, the VSP-P1 Nanoprinter, to research teams across Asia, the Middle East, Europe, and North America, including institutions like Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Materials Discovery Research Institute, and the Dutch Institute for Fundamental Energy Research.
CEO: Ronald Hoek
HQ: Rotterdam
Fund raised in Q3: €5M
Hiring: Yes| Click here
Blue Radix specialises in autonomous growing solutions for greenhouses. The Rotterdam-based company creates AI solutions for almost all daily decisions and actions in greenhouses to solve the scarcity of experienced growers and to feed the growing world population sustainably.
With Integrated Autonomous Climate & Irrigation Control by Crop Controller growers can optimise and realise their unique crop strategy with AI and reduce their climate computer work by 80 per cent.
CEO: Willem Mees van der Bijl
HQ: Rotterdam
Fund raised in Q3: €5M
Hiring: Yes| Click here
Experts at Erasmus MC and TechRes Lab founded Spatium Medical’s technology. The company is developing an insufflator that can personalise and stabilise the insufflation pressure: the optimal pressure for each patient while maintaining the surgeon’s working space. This leads to fewer postoperative complications and potentially faster recovery. It uses turbine technology for consistent pressure management, achieving up to 7x more stability.
Additionally, the technology synchronises with mechanical ventilation, reducing required pressures by up to 10 per cent and minimising pulmonary complications.
CEO: Rachel Abbott
HQ: Rotterdam
Fund raised in Q3: €4.25M
Hiring: No
Pan Cancer T is a spin-off from Erasmus MC, specialising in advanced T cell therapies for solid cancer treatment. The company’s lead candidate, PCT1:CO-STIM, uses an IP-protected T cell receptor (TCR) developed with their TCR discovery platform. This TCR targets ROPN1, a specific protein found in over 90 per cent of patients with triple-negative breast cancer and melanoma. The company’s strategy includes targeting unique targets present in various solid cancers and developing technologies to improve the longevity of T-cell therapies.
Pan Cancer T is actively conducting R&D programmes aimed at creating safe and effective adoptive T cell therapies that can benefit a wide range of patients, including those with triple negative breast cancer, bladder cancer, ovarian cancer, colorectal cancer, prostate cancer, skin cancer, esophageal cancer, lung cancer, and brain cancer.
CEO: Diederick Spee
HQ: Delft
Fund raised in Q3: €3.5M
Hiring: Yes| Click here
Kalpana Systems claims to have transformed thin film production with a machine that uses Spatial Atomic Layer Deposition (sALD) for high-volume, continuous output. Its flexible substrate transport system allows for rapid layer deposition, reducing costs significantly. The 3D helical design ensures consistent, high-quality sALD application at an industrial scale, increasing process speed by 1000. The machine integrates into existing production lines, making it versatile for various applications.
Founder/s: Pieter de Haas
HQ: Gorinchem
Fund raised in Q3: €2.4M
Hiring: No
Equinox Ocean Turbines is a company dedicated to providing the world’s third clean energy source in the form of ocean current energy. Equinox does this with its two-stage turbine technology, which concentrates energy before harvesting and uses intelligent materials to create a scalable and economical product.
The company focuses on boosting local economies and supporting developing countries by using local supply chains and production sites.
CEO: Richard van de Wateringen
HQ: Leiden
Fund raised in Q3: €2.1M
Hiring: No
IPD (Implant Preservation Devices) is a startup specialising in treating prosthetic joint infections. The company is developing a medical device using non-contact induction heating technology to treat prosthetic joint and metal implant infections. The implant is heated through induction technology while still inside the patient, eliminating bacteria on the implant and ultimately curing the infection.
Founder/s: Hans van Leeuwen
HQ: The Hague
Fund raised raised in Q3: €2M
Hiring: No
Sostark is a technology incubator with a track record of successful projects. It specialises in high-volume wireless solutions across various industries.The company has developed several ventures through innovations, including:
- Wireless Sound Solutions (WSS)
- Event Wristbands
- Crowdband
- TokenMe
The company has received multiple subsidies and grants from the European Union and the Netherlands for various projects.
It includes funding for the development of wearable systems for healthcare under Kansen voor West, support for the Crowdband project from the EIT European Institute for Innovation & Technology, and research into 5G applications for construction sites funded by Target-X.
CEO: Toon Stilma
HQ: Leiden
Fund raised in Q3: €1.1M
Hiring: Yes| Click here
XS Innovations is a spinoff of Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC) and Delft University of Technology (TU Delft). The company has developed Dynamic AVF, a patented implantable device designed to control high blood flow and address the complications of hemodialysis treatment. Unlike traditional methods that maintain a constant high flow, the DAVF connects the artery and vein only during dialysis, keeping the AVF closed at other times to ensure normal blood circulation. This technology allows blood flow to be optimally controlled at 600 ml/min during dialysis and restored to normal levels during daily life.
By reducing the time high blood flow is present by 90 percent, the DAVF minimises complications and improves patients’ overall quality of life.
Founder/s: Jari Hazelebach
HQ: Rotterdam
Fund raised in Q3: €1M
Hiring: Yes| Click here
Speaksee is a speech recognition app designed to help hearing-impaired and deaf individuals participate in group conversations. The Rotterdam company has developed an app that converts spoken words into written text, using colour-coded microphones to identify up to nine speakers. The app translates group conversations into accurate text in 40 languages, with colours integrated into transcripts to distinguish speakers. It filters out background noise, helping users follow the conversation and understand who said what.
The company aims to increase inclusivity by using technology to remove language barriers, enabling everyone to reach their full potential.
Founder/s: Tijmen van den Elzen, Rory McElearney, Hans Scheffer and Michael Heerkens
HQ: Rotterdam
Fund raised in Q3: €1M
Hiring: Yes| Click here
Engaige aims to transform customer support by offering scalable, secure, and reliable AI-powered solutions. The platform helps companies streamline customer service, reduce costs, and enhance satisfaction while integrating with existing customer support systems for quick AI adoption.
The Rotterdam ompany’s automation platform utilises Agentic AI and large language models to streamline various tasks, such as resending orders and providing customer updates, while operating within a business’s specific constraints. This technology enables companies to enhance efficiency and improve customer service.
Founder/s: Gert Nutzel and Lucas Veel
HQ: Leiden
Fund raised in Q3: Undisclosed
Hiring: No
Fluss is a Dutch company developing compact and affordable wastewater purification systems for recreational boats. The company’s product, FlussGuard, is a compact wastewater purification system designed for boats. It offers automatic operation without needing land-based pumping stations.
FlussGuard integrates into existing boat setups, providing a cost-effective solution to improve water quality and enhance boating sustainability.
CEO: Thomas Parry
HQ: Noordwijk
Fund raised in Q3: Undisclosed
Hiring: No
SPHERICAL is dedicated to designing semiconductors for satellite electronic subsystems, ensuring faster, more efficient, and superior systems. The company was incubated at the European Space Agency BIC Noordwijk. The company received capital from the EIC Fund in the form of blended finance.
Founding Partner: Remco Pikaart
HQ: Rotterdam
Fund raised in Q3: Undisclosed
Hiring: Yes| Click here
Shipping Technology develops autonomous shipping and applications to support maritime management onshore and offshore through Artificial Intelligence (AI).
The company’s core product, the ST BRAIN integrates hardware and software to optimise nautical data, support autonomous sailing, and improve operational efficiency. The company also offers up to a 50 per cent insurance discount for vessels equipped with the ST BRAIN.
Shipping Technology’s growth strategy focuses on expanding data capabilities for fleet management and advancing the digitisation of maritime operations through innovative applications and strategic partnerships.
Founder/s: Daria Kozlova and Anton Balakirev
HQ: Rotterdam
Fund raised in Q3: Undisclosed
Hiring: No
Deep Breath is a medtech company that aims to optimise mechanical lung ventilation in ICUs through its AI-driven decision-support systems, enhancing patient outcomes and reducing healthcare costs. The company’s AI-driven platform continuously monitors patients’ conditions and provides real-time recommendations to medical staff. The system can detect early signs of complications, predict adverse events, and suggest optimal ventilator settings.
This technology allows healthcare providers to reduce the length of ICU stays, improve patient outcomes, and free up valuable resources.
Founder/s: William Lei
HQ: Rotterdam
Fund raised in Q3: Undisclosed
Hiring: Yes| Click here
Turff develops expense management software designed for the financial management of consumables. The software tracks expenses and provides features such as online payment and food and housing cost comparison, giving users real-time insight into their expenses.
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