Frequently Asked Questions

We are working for the Netherlands of 2050. A country that runs on very different technologies, energy sources, and business models than today. So, we are working towards progress. That requires new ideas, innovative entrepreneurs, and projects. But when the risk seems high and the market hesitates, more is needed to initiate transitions.

Invest-NL was established in 2019 to accelerate societal transitions. We do this with our capital, and by attracting capital from other parties.  To this end, we leverage our expertise and network.

We were founded to address societal transitions and provide financing when the risk appears too great and the market hesitates. Additionally, we ensure that laws and regulations cause less uncertainty and help parties collaborate better on complex investments. This enables the Netherlands to respond timely and effectively to major economic and societal challenges.

As a national financing and development institution, we are a private enterprise with the Ministry of Finance as our sole shareholder. We are not a government fund, but we are financed with public funds. We are a state participation at arm's length from the government. Similar to, for example, NS and De Nederlandsche Bank.

That is the capital that has been made available to us. The government (Ministry of Finance) is our shareholder. But we decide ourselves which companies we do or do not finance or in which funds we participate.

We do not think in terms of competitors. We don’t really have any either. We see ourselves as an addition to the ‘market’: we may only invest in a company if ‘the market’ is unable or unwilling to do so. We take the initial step. This makes it possible for other parties to participate in financings that would otherwise be too risky. Because we are allowed to take slightly more risks and wait a bit longer for our money than others, we enable other parties to get involved in financings that would otherwise have remained unfinanced. In this way, we mobilise capital and get things rolling.

As the national institution, our goal is to make the Netherlands more sustainable and innovative. When investments are needed and the market hesitates, we take the first step. Because we are willing to take risks, because we can invest larger amounts, because we can wait a bit longer for our money than others, and because we have access to national and European resources. We can also develop financial instruments that make it easier for other financiers to participate.

Go to our portfolio to see what our current investments are. On our homepage you will find how much we have committed (what we have promised) to funds and companies.

We collaborate with various knowledge and research institutions such as TNO, specialist advisory firms, and universities like Wageningen University & Research. With the latter, we developed, for example, the Assessment Framework Fermentation, a model that helps investors evaluate risks and opportunities in the fermentation industry. Also, in broader transition areas such as the protein transition, circular economy, and deeptech, Invest-NL actively seeks cooperation with knowledge institutions.

Over the course of five years, Invest-NL has developed into a key player in the Dutch funding landscape for societal transitions. By the end of 2024, more than € 1.1 billion in capital will have been committed. This is the amount we have pledged to companies and funds. This has led to a mobilisation of € 3.5 billion in private co-financing. Investments have contributed, among other things, to the protein transition, deep tech, green chemistry, sustainable energy, circular manufacturing industry, and accessible healthcare. Additionally, Invest-NL has developed new instruments and market models to structurally strengthen these sectors.

We are here for all entrepreneurs who want to innovate and make an impact, but struggle to secure the necessary funding because the market is not yet ready or the capital requirements are too large. These are often the entrepreneurs who are supposed to realise the Netherlands of tomorrow and are prepared to build a factory to make their product available to the market. But also established companies looking to develop new growth pathways, scale up, or expand. Or infrastructure projects and project developers seeking funding for capital-intensive infrastructure projects and energy or circular transitions. Our focus is on enterprises that have good plans for the transitions and for the future earning capacity of the Netherlands and that have difficulty securing conventional financing.

We focus on five strategic themes: Agrifood, Biobased and Circular economy, Deep tech, Energy, and Life Sciences & Health. For a description, go to ‘Our themes’

 An important condition is a good business plan to make the Netherlands more sustainable or innovative. Check our conditions here. If your company or project  meets these conditions, then answer the five questions in our financing check, and it will be immediately clear whether you are eligible for funding from Invest-NL.

No, we do not provide any grants. Our funding is provided as a stake, as a loan, or a combination of both. Read more about our types of financing.

The guarantee covers part of the funding from Invest-NL intended for small and medium-sized enterprises. Read here more about the InvestEU guarantee.

Yes, Invest-NL establishes its own investment funds and actively participates in fund structures. For example, Invest-NL is co-founder of the Deep Tech Fund, which focuses on technologies with significant social value but high risks in the early stages. Joint funds have also been set up, such as the Dutch Future Fund in collaboration with the European Investment Fund (EIF). Through these funds, indirect capital is made available for promising Dutch startups and scale-ups, particularly in sectors where financing is difficult to get off the ground.

Market development at Invest-NL means that the organisation actively addresses obstacles in the market that hinder investments. This can range from developing new financial products to establishing standards and calculation models. For example, Invest-NL stimulates demand for sustainable solutions, helps coalitions of companies to jointly apply for financing, and develops models to assist investors in estimating risks and impacts. The aim is to make markets that are important for societal transitions grow faster. Read more about market development here.

The financial instruments of Invest-NL are solutions to enable investments where the market falls short. Examples include guarantee facilities such as the Sustainability Portfolio Guarantee with EIF and DEVEX instruments that facilitate the development of technology at an early stage. We also establish structures to entice private investors to participate in complex transitions, for example through project financing, venture debt or blended finance.

Invest-NL helps its portfolio companies make an impact by offering more than just capital. Entrepreneurs are supported in making their social contributions visible and measurable. This is achieved, among other ways, by guiding companies through ESG pathways, including EcoVadis assessments. These assessments provide companies with insights into their performance in the areas of environment, human rights, ethics, and purchasing. In conversations with portfolio companies, Invest-NL also works jointly with management to set concrete goals to stimulate sustainable growth.

Every investment is assessed based on its contribution to sustainable development goals: a CO₂-neutral and circular economy, better, affordable and accessible healthcare, employment, economic growth and innovation, biodiversity recovery, and the availability of clean and accessible drinking water. For monitoring and improvement, we conduct ESG assessments, primarily via the EcoVadis platform. These provide scores and specific recommendations. Invest-NL's impact approach is based on three principles of the International Finance Corporation (IFC): intentionality, measurability, and contribution. Impact is therefore an integral part of the entire investment process: from selection to reporting.

We are effective when we know how to resolve financing bottlenecks and mobilise capital for social transitions. Since its establishment in 2019, Invest-NL has committed over €1.1 billion in investments, which has mobilised €3.5 billion in private investments. Additionally, the investments contribute to R&D and employment: €389 million has been invested in research and development, and more than 14,000 future-oriented jobs have been created. Invest-NL is also regularly evaluated by the Ministry of Economic Affairs, as in the interim evaluation of 2023.

All current vacancies at Invest-NL can be found here.

The Invest-NL team shares a common mission but certainly consists of a diverse group of professionals with different areas of expertise. In addition to investment specialists, there are also staff members with knowledge of market development, legal and technical propositions, and supply chain collaboration. They are involved, among other things, in developing financial instruments, addressing market failures, and improving access to finance for innovative entrepreneurs. Additionally, the Public-Private Partnership team includes individuals who act as bridge-builders between the government and the financial sector. They focus on establishing blended finance structures, developing financing instruments in collaboration with the government, and promoting Invest-NL's societal mandate.

That's unfortunate to hear. We always try to respond as quickly as possible, but something may have gone wrong. Did you submit a plan two weeks or more ago and haven't heard anything yet? Then send an email (quickscan@invest-nl.nl) including your detailed business plan with a clear funding request once again.

To process your funding request, we require a comprehensive business plan with a clear funding question. This plan should include details such as the technology involved, the strengths of the team, the extent to which the company has been validated, and of course, a financial model. You can download a business plan format here. You don't have to copy it exactly, but make sure that all elements are included.

Questions and comments regarding the content or publication of an annual report? Send an email to pers@invest-nl.nl

If you have a different question, please send an email to info@invest-nl.nl. If you have a competition complaint, please read our Competition Complaint Procedure.

On our portfolio page you will find an overview of all the companies we have invested in. Here you will also find the links to their websites.