Graduate Ventures closes €125M second seed fund for Dutch tech startups

Graduate Ventures has launched a €125 million second seed fund, with €100 million already committed. The firm was founded by alumni of leading technical and business universities in the country.

The fund targets local tech startups at the seed stage, according to reporting. Graduate Ventures did not disclose the full investor base, but its first fund attracted backing from a mix of institutional and private investors. That vehicle has since deployed capital into a portfolio of companies, including startups in logistics and AI-driven sectors.

With €125 million, Graduate Ventures now ranks among the larger dedicated seed funds in its home market. The size suggests confidence in the region’s early-stage ecosystem, which has seen steady activity despite broader challenges in European venture funding. When we covered B2B SaaS startups rebuilding tech stacks last month, global venture funding was reported to be down from its peak but still elevated compared to earlier years.

The fund’s focus on local startups also reflects a regional dynamic. While larger rounds in the country’s tech hubs often dominate headlines, seed-stage capital remains unevenly distributed. Graduate Ventures’ model—combining university networks with institutional backing—could offer a blueprint for other markets facing similar gaps. Whether the firm can sustain its deployment pace without compromising returns will be a key question moving forward.

Sources: tech.eu