The Netherlands startup ecosystem: The place to be in Europe

Marten Lammertink

Second Secretary

Netherlands Embassy Seoul

Startups play important role in Dutch economy, even though cumulative economic value relatively small

• Startups key drivers of innovation through tech hubs and technology clusters

• Government focus both on inbound and outbound, >€50 mln funding p/y

• Succes stories:

Online file-sharing | $100-200 mln valuation | ≈ 30 FTEs

Online payments | $2 bln+ valuation | ≈ 450 FTEs

Online media reader | $13 mln valuation | ≈ 80 FTEs

Online travel agency | $130 mln exit in 2005 | ≈ 5,000 FTEs

Why should you come to the Netherlands?

The Gateway to Europe

Small country, big tech footprint: 10+ tech hubs

StartupDelta launched in 2014 to support Dutch startups, „linking pin‟ Dutch startup ecosystem

• Public-private initiative of government and university hubs

• Aim is to boost startup ecosystem in Netherlands and attract foreign startups to the Netherlands

• Headed by a Special Envoy, Prince Constantijn of the Netherlands, since July 2016

• Ambition to be among top 5 startup ecosystems by 2020

“Orange Carpet” treatment: Startup Visa

• Affords ambitious entrepreneurs

from outside EU 1 year to launch

new business in Netherlands

• Later stage startups can rely on

easy residence/work permits for

≤5 years

• Application takes 2-6 weeks

• Expats in Netherlands have 30%

Tax-free allowance on gross salary

Services to help startups scale-up to Europe

These fast growing (tech) companies all have a EU hub in the Netherlands

November 2016: startup mission to Korea

• Part of trajectory (Joint Statement NL-ROK)

• Headed by Prince Constantijn of the Netherlands, StartupDelta Special Envoy

• 7 startups and 1 hub

• Aims:

1. Support Dutch startups with access to market/investors

2. Promote Netherlands as „place to be‟ for Korean startups

• Roundtable Seoul CCEI, Pangyo Startup Campus, Special Get in the Ring Edition, MOUs

• 2017: mission from Korea to NL??

Mission delivered strongs results and follow-up

• Improved market access to Korea for Dutch startups

• Orange Bridge MOU helps startups find their way to Netherlands and Korea

• Increased interest for Dutch ecosystem in Korea (media exposure)

• Startup Mentor Network Korea established

• Solid connection between hubs KEF and ECE (MOU), promoting entrepreneurship education

Need help/more info? Contact us!

• General questions: seo-ea@minbuza.nl

• Startup ecosystem, startup visa: www.startupdelta.org

Thank you for your attention!

Backup

Three key advantages of the Netherlands

#1 European

Digital Forum

#3 Research

among European startups

#4 Global Startup

Ecosystem Ranking

Ranking the Dutch startup ecosystem

Dutch startup-ecosystem increasing in popularity in Europe and beyond

Startups grow fast into unicorns