Graduate Ventures has been recognised as one of Europe's leading start-up hubs in Europe's Leading Start-Up Hubs, the annual ranking published by the Financial Times in partnership with Sifted and research firm Statista. The ranking identifies the European start-up hubs that contribute most to the success of the entrepreneurs they support. Since 2021, Graduate Ventures has backed founders bringing breakthrough technology to market, supported by an extensive network of seasoned entrepreneurs.
The final score is largely based on assessments by founders themselves, out of around three thousand start-up hubs across Europe. They evaluate the quality of mentoring, access to capital, legal support and the strength of the network. The track record of the start-ups supported and the hub's reputation within the sector are also taken into account.
From university research to global markets
Graduate Ventures was founded in 2021 by alumni of TU Delft, Erasmus University Rotterdam and Erasmus MC to accelerate start-up creation from these research institutions. The model — in which successful former entrepreneurs provide capital, expertise and networks to a new generation of founders — is inspired by comparable alumni funds at Stanford and MIT. In under five years, more than €59 million has been raised and invested across over 75 start-ups.
Graduate Ventures deliberately invests in sectors such as deep tech, medtech and climate tech. Dutch research universities hold strong positions in these fields globally, and the start-ups they produce have the potential to reshape entire industries. But the road from groundbreaking research to a market-ready product is long and capital-intensive. That's where founders benefit from experienced entrepreneurs who have walked that path before.
Technology with societal impact
The portfolio shows what that looks like in practice. QuantWare is developing scalable quantum processors. VitalFluid produces plasma treatment systems for crops as an alternative to chemical pesticides. Carapace Biopolymers is working on biodegradable seed coatings, and Hydryx captures methane from landfills and converts it into energy.
Workwize, one of Graduate Ventures' earliest investments, grew into an international IT asset management platform, raised a €12.6 million ($13 million) Series A round and was named by LinkedIn as one of the ten most promising start-ups in the Netherlands.
"Founders coming out of a university environment often have strong technology but lack the experience to bring it to market. Our network of over two hundred seasoned entrepreneurs and investors knows what that takes. They share that experience as hands-on sparring partners, working closely with each founder. Having the Financial Times recognise this approach is a strong signal that we are making a meaningful contribution to the Dutch start-up ecosystem," said Auke van den Hout, Managing Partner at Graduate Ventures.
Among Europe's most active investors
The FT ranking adds to a growing track record. In 2025, Sifted, the European tech publication and co-publisher of the ranking, placed Graduate Ventures in its top 100 of the most active investors in European tech. Together, those hundred funds accounted for nearly half of all European equity deals that year.