Summer is in full swing and so is the Dutch startup industry. No holiday fever, but lots of interesting updates.
News & Updates
B.Amsterdam opens third building
Accelerators are still booming and Amsterdam based B. Amsterdam is on a roll. They opened a third building in te former Mexx offices and are planning to expand to New York this autumn.
Startup Delta developed Smart Funding Canvas
Many startups struggle with determining their funding needs. Startup Delta jumped on the issue and developed a very helpful tool. The Smart Funding Canvas helps startups and investors to reflect on their funding strategy and formulate smart propositions in an early stage by a using a simple 3-step method: know yourself, make a choice and get smart. So Holland based startups: check the Smart Funding Canvas before you plan meetings with investors to show you understand their business, don’t waste any time and know where you stand!
Funding
Mol raises a million for VR-studio
VR-studio Force Field, led by serial-entrepreneur Michiel Mol, raised a one million dollar funding. The money will be used for the production of location-dependent VR-services. Mol, accompanied by co-founders Martin de Ronde, Arthur Houtman and Maarten Elshov, already has a team of 70 team members working for Force Field. Force Field recently released a VR-game for Samsung and Oculus Rift.
Solease receives €2.5 million from Dutch Energy funds
Solease is a startup providing solar energy in the Dutch province Noord-Brabant by renting out solar panels. The company makes it quick, easy and hasslefree for households and home owners without the need of making enormous investments. Energiefonds Brabant and Solease teamed up as Solease Noord-Brabant and the 2.5 million euro investment should at least provide solar energy to 500 households. They also released a crowdfunding campaign to expand their services to other Dutch provinces. Solease already works with partners in Utrecht, Limburg, Overijssel, Drenthe and Gelderland.
Endeit invests €15 million in cloud based POS systems
Endeit and German fund Radeberger invested in a series B to develop Gastrofix, a cloud based checkout system for the gastronomy industry. The company wants to expand their activities internationally focusing on the French, Dutch, and Scandinavian markets. Endeit is the investment fund of Joop van den Ende and Hubert Deitmers.
Monday Reads
Is it the end of the internet startups? The last decade no real innovative tech startup stood up, but since Travick resigned, the company’s future doesn’t look all rainbows and unicorns.
This Forbes article describes the differences between men and women working in the VC industry, and yes, this is really happening!
Many companies underestimate the risk of a cyber attack. Recent hacks proved the risks become more real every day and the costs of it turn out to be higher then rebuilding from a natural disaster!
Need inspiration for your pitch? This is the best three minute pitch you’ll ever see, according to VentureBeat.