Amsterdam is the hub of the Netherlands' tech ecosystem. However, Utrecht, which is not far from Amsterdam, has its fair share tech investors and startups, as shown by our recent survey of locals.StartupUtrecht, UtrechtInc and Holland Startup bring together local ecosystem wranglers to help build the startup ecosystem. The Netherlands Enterprise Agency and StartupDelta, the great Netherlands tech advocate organization, also help them.With 350,000 residents, Utrecht is fourth largest city in the Netherlands. Dotslash Utrecht is home to offices and coworking spaces such as MindSpace, MindSpace, and Tribes. There are also accelerator programs such as Startupbootcamp or Techleap.Distimo, unicorn GitLab and MoneyMonk are just a few of the notable startups hailing from the region. There are also newer ones like SnappCar and Blendle, Merus and Nibblr.The ecosystem is strong in sustainable energy and medtech, food technology, life sciences, marketplaces as well as deep tech, gaming, media, and gaming, according to our survey respondents. They think it is weaker in design and hardware, fintech, robotics, and agritech.Our respondents named Channable as a notable startup, along with Goin Connect and Fundsup. This just shows that the region has an active and growing ecosystem.According to various descriptions, the investment scene focuses on software, clean tech and life sciences. One person said that Amsterdam is the best place to invest in software, while Utrecht is not so good. There are many local investors as well as nationally operating VCs.Many respondents believe that people will prefer to move away from the city center towards the nearby villages because there is more space and nature around. However, fewer people will move into the city, and remote work is still possible in the Netherlands. This may be due to Utrecht's central location in the country and its attractive ecosystem.We surveyed:Jorg Kop, investment manager, ROM Utrecht RegionWhich industry sectors is your tech ecosystem strong? What do you love the most? What are its weak points?Digital, gaming and e-health.What are the most exciting startups in your area?Channable, Pandora Intelligence, Sensorfact, SnappCar, Faqta, StuComm, DiManEx, Prolira, CART-Tech.What is the investment climate like for tech investors? How is your local investment scene? What is their main focus?Local informal investors as well as national operating VCs are common.Will people move in or leave your city because of the shift to remote work during the COVID-19 pandemic?Because of Utrecht's central location in the middle, and the attractiveness the ecosystem offers, many others will move in.Who are the top startup people in your area (e.g. investors, founders and lawyers, designers etc.)? What are your top startup people (e.g., investors, founders),?Sjoerd Mol (Benvalor), Erik Stam (Utrecht University), Robbert-Jan Hanse (Holland Startup), Heerd Jan Hoogeveen (Startup Utrecht), Jorg Kop (UtrechtInc and ROM), Edgard Creemers (ROM).What do you think the tech scene of your city will look like in five years?From an international brand perspective, part of the Greater Amsterdam Region. We closely work together with all key regions in NL.Stefan Braam, incubation lead, UtrechtIncWhich industry sectors is your tech ecosystem strong? What do you love the most? What are its weak points?Strong: AI, AI, health and sustainability, as well as learning. Weak: robotics, engineering, ag.What are the most exciting startups in your area?SnappCar, SnappCar and BikeFlip.What is the investment climate like for tech investors? How is your local investment scene? What is their main focus?Access to funding is easy. The Investor Scene focuses on early-stage, sustainable tech in healthcare, sustainability, and education.Will people move in or leave your city because of the shift to remote work during the COVID-19 pandemic?Due to the livability of the beautiful city and the flexibility working facilities, we see a rise in startup activity.Who are the top startup people in your area (e.g. investors, founders and lawyers, designers etc.)? What are your top startup people (e.g., investors, founders),?Jorg Kop (director UtrechtInc startup incubator), Heerd January Hoogeveen [director of StartupUtrecht], Arjan Van den Born (director, ROM Utrecht).What do you think the tech scene of your city will look like in five years?In five years, Europe's top five most populous countries will be growing fast.Irene Van de Poll, investment manager, ROM Utrecht RegionWhich industry sectors is your tech ecosystem strong? What do you love the most? What are its weak points?Utrecht is a strong region in life sciences, medtech and software (smart service), gaming, media, and other areas.What are the most exciting startups in your area?Channable, Faqta, Sensorfact, SODAQ, Picnic, Neurolytics, De Clique.What is the investment climate like for tech investors? How is your local investment scene? What is their main focus?Life sciences and biotech are a major focus. There is much research at Utrecht's science park as well as spin-offs. The science park is interested in organoids, 3D bioprinting and organ on a Chip, as well as medtech. Many of the VCs are also health-focused. Investors should also be focusing on IT/software/data/AI, VR/AR and other areas.Will people move in or leave your city because of the shift to remote work during the COVID-19 pandemic?They will likely stay because Utrecht is centrally situated in Europe and the Netherlands. It is easy to work remotely from the Netherlands. The internet speed is also great.Who are the top startup people in your area (e.g. investors, founders and lawyers, designers etc.)? What are your top startup people (e.g., investors, founders),?Jorg Kop is director of UtrechtInc. Bas van Abel is founder De Clique and Fairphone. Michiel Muller, CEO Picnic. Robbert Jan Hanse founder Holland Startup. Heerd Jan Holveen director StartupUtrecht.What do you think the tech scene of your city will look like in five years?There are more startups that have become successful scaleups. More money is being invested in new innovative companies. Utrecht is a place where international talent looks for work. Utrecht is at the forefront of sustainable and green solutions.Arthur Tolsma is the co-founder of Codean and its CEO.Which industry sectors is your tech ecosystem strong? What do you love the most? What are its weak points?Strong: Tech development in general, namely software, clean tech and marketplace. Large scale commercialization is less common.What are the most exciting startups in your area?Channable, Tover.What is the investment climate like for tech investors? How is your local investment scene? What is their main focus?Concentrate on software and clean tech.Will people move out of your city or stay there as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic?Stay in the city. Remote working is more popular, but there will be fewer people moving in.Who are the top startup people in your area (e.g. investors, founders and lawyers, designers etc.)? What are your top startup people (e.g., investors, founders),?UtrechtInc.What do you think the tech scene of your city will look like in five years?Step by step improvementPaul Mignot is the founder and CEO of WiththegridWhich industry sectors is your tech ecosystem strong? What do you love the most? What are its weak points?Clean technology.What are the most exciting startups in your area?iwell.What is the investment climate like for tech investors? How is your local investment scene? What is their main focus?Clean tech focus. Increasing in momentum.Will people move in or leave your city because of the shift to remote work during the COVID-19 pandemic?Move in.What do you think the tech scene of your city will look like in five years?It has grown significantly. Amsterdam is becoming too expensive to live and pricing it out.Marcel Merkx is the founder and CEO of CargoSnapWhich industry sectors is your tech ecosystem strong? What do you love the most? What are its weak points?Strong universities in the medical and marketing space. We could use a little more IT education (developers). This isWhat are the most exciting startups in your area?SnappCar.Will people move out of your city or stay there as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic?Move in and stay. Utrecht is an emerging hub.Who are the top startup people in your area (e.g. investors, founders and lawyers, designers etc.)? What are your top startup people (e.g., investors, founders),?StartupUtrecht is the team.What do you think the tech scene of your city will look like in five years?Although Amsterdam is still far behind, it can leverage the central location in the Netherlands (which is easy to reach) to attract talent to this area.Jasper Voorendonk, marketer/founder, AgnostiPayWhich industry sectors is your tech ecosystem strong? What do you love the most? What are its weak points?Health tech/edtech most exited: the DLT/blockchain/fintech/open-source space in Utrecht. Weak: Hardware-based startups (better at Delft/Eindhoven).What are the most exciting startups in your area?GitLab, Channable and Pepscope. Goin Connect and Fundsup.What is the investment climate like for tech investors? How is your local investment scene? What is their main focus?Health tech is the focus.Will people move in or leave your city because of the shift to remote work during the COVID-19 pandemic?Stay: There is a lot of space and nature around.Who are the top startup people in your area (e.g. investors, founders and lawyers, designers etc.)? What are your top startup people (e.g., investors, founders),?Jorg Kop, Stefan Braam, Jasper Voorendonk.What do you think the tech scene of your city will look like in five years?Utrecht is the Dutch hub for high-scalability, early-stage tech startups.Redgrasp CEO Menno Vergeer was co-founderWhich industry sectors is your tech ecosystem strong? What do you love the most? What are its weak points?Strong in the life sciences.What are the most exciting startups in your area?Channable, Redgrasp, Trunkrs.Will people move in or leave your city because of the shift to remote work during the COVID-19 pandemic?People prefer to move away from the city center towards the nearby villages (all within a range between 10-20km).What do you think the tech scene of your city will look like in five years?It will continue to grow at the same pace as the global tech scene.Roelof Reineman, entrepreneurWhich industry sectors is your tech ecosystem strong? What do you love the most? What are its weak points?Strong: IT, digital, sustainable energy, medical, food. Weak: Design, hardware, fintech.What are the most exciting startups in your area?KokeRooWhat is the investment climate like for tech investors? How is your local investment scene? What is their main focus?Focus on creating a better world, and not just making a profit.Will people move out of your city or stay there as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic?Stay. Tt is a green, lush city with lots of space to live and breath.Who are the top startup people in your area (e.g. investors, founders and lawyers, designers etc.)? What are your top startup people (e.g., investors, founders),?Utrecht Inc (Jasper Voorendonk). Dotslash (Jelle Drijver). StartupUtrecht (Heerd Jan Hoogeveen).What do you think the tech scene of your city will look like in five years?Tough and persevering.Luuk Post, partner, De ContentkalenderWhich industry sectors is your tech ecosystem strong? What do you love the most? What are its weak points?We were strong in public affairs. We were weak in the for profit sector.What are the most exciting startups in your area?MoveshelfWill people move out of your city or stay there as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic?Utrecht is constantly growing; people will continue to move in.Leon Brunenberg, managing partner, Arches CapitalWhich industry sectors is your tech ecosystem strong? What do you love the most? What are its weak points?Software, SAAS, and B2B.What is the investment climate like for tech investors? How is your local investment scene? What is their main focus?It's okay in Amsterdam. Utrecht is a little slow.Will people move in or leave your city because of the shift to remote work during the COVID-19 pandemic?Stay.What do you think the tech scene of your city will look like in five years?Holland is second only to Amsterdam.Erik Stam, co-founder, Stichting Entrepreneurial Ecosystem ObservatoryWhich industry sectors is your tech ecosystem strong? What do you love the most? What are its weak points?Strong: health, edtech, IT.What are the most exciting startups in your area?Channable, Tover, De Clique, Bittiq, Neurolytics.What is the investment climate like for tech investors? How is your local investment scene? What is their main focus?IT, health, edtech, travel.Will people move in or leave your city because of the shift to remote work during the COVID-19 pandemic?Stay.Who are the top startup people in your area (e.g. investors, founders and lawyers, designers etc.)? What are your top startup people (e.g., investors, founders),?Jorg Kop, Heerd Jan Hoogeveen, Robbert Jan Hanse.What do you think the tech scene of your city will look like in five years?Expanding.
