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Amsterdam startup ecosystem
Explore documented companies, programs, research institutions, and investors connected to Amsterdam. Superscout does not promise local investment access.
About
Amsterdam is considered one of the top startup hubs globally. It's known for its cultural diversity and high quality of life, two factors that draw entrepreneurs from all over the world. In 2020, the city's startups raised about €1.7 billion in funding, making Amsterdam the fourth-largest city for startup investment in Europe.
One successful example from the Amsterdam startup scene is Adyen, a leading fintech company that simplifies payments for businesses. Founded in 2006, Adyen went public on the Euronext Stock Exchange in 2018, reaching a market capitalisation of €21 billion. Other notable startups out of Amsterdam include Takeaway.com, a food delivery service that acquired the UK's Just Eat for £6 billion, and Elastic, a search company listed on the New York Stock Exchange.
The city's startup ecosystem is supported by a number of initiatives and institutions. StartupAmsterdam, an initiative by the City of Amsterdam, provides resources and networking opportunities for local startups. In the higher education sector, the University of Amsterdam offers a Master's program in Entrepreneurship in collaboration with VU University.
Amsterdam also has a robust venture capital scene. Leading VC firms such as Prime Ventures, henQ, and Peak Capital are based in the city, having backed successful startups including Catawiki, Sendcloud, and Ohpen. In addition, Amsterdam is home to Rockstart, one of Europe's first multi-vertical startup accelerators. Founded in 2011, Rockstart has accelerated more than 200 startups across ten different programs.
One of the key characteristics of Amsterdam's startup ecosystem is its international orientation. The city is home to a large expat community and business is commonly conducted in English. This, coupled with Amsterdam's strategic location in central Europe, make it an attractive base for startups seeking to expand globally.
In summary, with its combination of successful startup exits, supportive initiatives, robust venture capital scene, and international orientation, Amsterdam is a thriving hub for startups.
This month
On in Amsterdam this month
41 startup events in the next 30 days, 9 this week, 31 free. The city as a calendar, with the hosts and venues that keep it full.
Monday, Nov 2
SREday Amsterdam 2026 Q4
Meetup · Mark Pawlikowski · ING CedarFreeAmsterdam | Claude & Coffee
Meetup · Fernanda Grace Lins · The Miners Сoffee Oud-WestFreeTuesday, Nov 3
Stream Forward Amsterdam
Ververica GmbH · B. AmsterdamFreeThursday, Nov 5
Amsterdam | Claude x Supabase Community Meetup
Meetup · Fernanda Grace LinsFreeThe Block Party
Crypto Women Collective · SugarFactoryFreeStartup ecosystem standing
Where Amsterdam ranks
| Ranking | Edition | Listed as | Position | Since last edition | Trust | What it measures |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Global Cities Index | 2026 | Amsterdam | #21 | No prior edition | B | Performance, Growth, Talent, Competitiveness, Business Climate |
 Global Startup Ecosystem Report (GSER) | GSER 2026 | Amsterdam-Delta | =23 | Down 3 | C | Ecosystem, Performance, Finance, Talent, Innovation |
 Global Financial Centres Index | GFCI 40 | Amsterdam | #26 | Down 6 | B | Finance, Competitiveness, Business Climate |
 Global Innovation Index: Innovation Cluster Ranking (formerly Science and Technology Clusters) | 2026 | Amsterdam–Rotterdam | #26 | Down 4 | B | Innovation, Research, Activity |
 Global Startup Ecosystem Index (cities) | 2025 | Amsterdam | #26 | No prior edition | B | Ecosystem, Activity, Finance, Business Climate |
47 organizations with a profile
Who's based in Amsterdam
Investors 44
Investor
InvestorTransforming healthcare through innovation and investment.
InvestorMake Good Money - the world's first climate investing platform
The 3 most prominent of 44. Browse all investors
Accelerators 2
AcceleratorAccelerating business growth through systematic strategies.
AcceleratorEmpowering freelance consultants in Data and AI.
Venture studios 1
Venture studioBuilding the next generation of global tech companies.
Based here, most-ranked first
Universities in Amsterdam
UniversityListed in 7 rankings
UniversityListed in 2 rankings
Pick what describes you
Your way in
Raising in Amsterdam
Investors based here, and the programs that take teams at your stage.
Get investor introsFinding startups in Amsterdam
Accelerators and incubators here see the earliest teams first.
Get startups that fitScouting in Amsterdam
Campuses and communities are where teams form before anyone funds them.
- University of AmsterdamUniversity
- Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (VU Amsterdam)University
- How scouting works
From public sources
What the sources say about Amsterdam
Techleap announced a planned Oostenburg AI hub, named intended tenants and projected a September 2026 opening; later operation is not verified.
Source: The Stack opens in Amsterdam: Europe's bid to stop outsourcing its AI futureDutchStartup.ai's 2026 article reports its own database count for the Amsterdam Metropolitan Area and an editorial observation about cross-sector AI.
Source: The Amsterdam startup scene in 2026: AI cuts across every sectorDealroom says $628 million was raised in H1 and explicitly labels the $1.3 billion full-year figure a projection.
Source: AmsterdamDealroom reports $1.6 billion for 2025 and $47 million in closed Q2 2026; figures are dataset-attributed.
Source: AmsterdamI amsterdam reported Norrsken House's September opening and described Billie Wonder as an Amsterdam-based early resident.
Source: A first peek inside Amsterdam’s newly opened Norrsken HouseIO+ reported Solaq's Amsterdam base and pre-seed close led by Connect the Drops with Graduate Ventures participating; amount undisclosed.
Source: Drinking water from thin air: Solaq closes pre-seed round
Questions about Amsterdam
How does Amsterdam rank as a startup ecosystem?
Amsterdam is #26 of 1,473 in StartupBlink Index (cities) (2025). It appears in 5 published rankings; the table above lists each one.
How many startup investors are based in Amsterdam?
44 investors based in Amsterdam have a profile here, including Startupbootcamp, NLC Health Ventures and Carbon Equity. The real number is higher.
Are there accelerators or incubators in Amsterdam?
Yes. Amsterdam has 2 accelerators and 1 venture studio on record, including Business Accelerator and venturerock.
Which universities are in Amsterdam?
2 universities have a profile: University of Amsterdam and Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (VU Amsterdam).
Geographic proximity
Nearby cities to Amsterdam
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