Dutch venture capital drives AI and deep‑tech startup funding surge

Amsterdam‑based Keen Venture Partners announced the Keen SME Tech Fund, a venture capital vehicle dedicated to AI‑software startups serving small and medium‑sized enterprises. The fund will back companies from seed through Series B across the Benelux, France, Germany and the United Kingdom, focusing on AI for the physical economy, AI‑driven financial tools and no‑code agents that automate routine business processes.

In the same half‑year, Dutch deep‑tech firms raised more than €1.5 billion in new capital. Nearfield Instruments secured €330 million, General Intuition raised $320 million, hotel‑software provider Mews attracted $300 million, chip‑maker Axelera AI obtained $250 million, and quantum‑processor startup QuantWare closed a €152 million Series B round. Investors included global firms such as Fidelity, Khosla Ventures, EQT Growth and Innovation Industries, underscoring the Netherlands’ growing role as a hub for AI and deep‑tech financing.