Amsterdam is one of Europe's most vibrant startup ecosystems, combining Dutch innovation with international entrepreneurship. The city offers a rich network of support for startups through various accelerators and incubators, each bringing unique value to the ecosystem.
This guide explores the leading accelerators and incubators shaping Amsterdam's evolving startup landscape. These programs support domestic and international startups seeking to establish themselves in the Dutch market.
Target Audience: Early-stage companies.
Niche: Industry-focused innovation.
Startupbootcamp was founded in 2010 as part of a global network of industry-focused startup accelerators. It provides mentorship, office space, and funding opportunities to early-stage companies and offers structured programs that help startups scale through expert guidance and industry connections.
Target Audience: Tech startups.
Niche: Technology innovation and scaling.
Rockstart was established in 2011 and focuses on supporting tech startups through comprehensive acceleration programs. It provides mentorship, funding, and access to a vast network of investors and experts and specializes in helping startups scale through industry-specific knowledge and resources.
Target Audience: Science-based startups.
Niche: Academic entrepreneurship.
ACE Incubator was founded in 2015 to support science-based startups from the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences. It provides funding, mentorship, and office space for academic entrepreneurs and creates bridges between scientific research and commercial applications.
Target Audience: Tech startups.
Niche: Technology innovation.
TNW was Established in 2006, offering resources and support in collaboration with Google for Startups. It provides mentorship, networking opportunities, and access to technology resources and creates connections between startups and global tech ecosystem players.
Target Audience: Local Amsterdam startups.
Niche: Local ecosystem development.
StartupAmsterdam was launched in 2015 as a City of Amsterdam initiative to support local startup growth. It partners with corporates and investors to provide comprehensive startup support programs and focuses on strengthening Amsterdam's position as a leading startup hub.
Target Audience: Tech entrepreneurs.
Niche: Technology and scalable solutions.
Yes!Delft was founded in 2005 as a leading tech incubator in the Netherlands. It helps entrepreneurs build scalable companies through expert guidance and network access and provides structured programs focusing on technology commercialization and business growth.
Target Audience: Science-based startups.
Niche: Life sciences, chemistry, and physics.
Amsterdam Science Park was established in 2013 to support scientific innovation and commercialization. It provides funding and expertise from the University of Amsterdam and focuses on turning scientific breakthroughs into viable businesses.
Target Audience: Entrepreneurs across sectors.
Niche: Ecosystem and community building.
B.Amsterdam was founded in 2016 as a comprehensive startup ecosystem hub. It offers office space, resources, and community support for entrepreneurs and creates an environment fostering collaboration and innovation across sectors.
Target Audience: Tech startups.
Niche: Technology innovation.
Hatch Incubator launched in 2018 and focuses on supporting innovative tech startups. It provides mentorship, funding opportunities, and investor network access and specializes in helping early-stage tech companies develop and scale.
Target Audience: Digital technology scale-ups.
Niche: European digital innovation.
EIT Digital was founded in 2010 to support European digital technology scale-ups. It provides growth support through mentoring and pan-European investor access and focuses on accelerating digital innovation across Europe.
Target Audience: Innovators and entrepreneurs.
Niche: Community and networking.
Venture Cafe was established in 2017 as a community hub for innovation. It connects innovators with resources to grow their ventures and creates regular networking and knowledge-sharing opportunities.
Target Audience: Early-stage startups.
Niche: Early-stage support.
The Startup Factory was founded in 2015 to support early-stage startup development. It provides mentoring, workshops, and access to funding networks and focuses on building strong foundations for startup success.
Target Audience: Student-led startups.
Niche: Academic entrepreneurship.
The Hague University Incubator supports student-led startups from The Hague University. It provides guidance, resources, and networking opportunities and creates pathways for students to develop entrepreneurial skills and ventures.
Target Audience: Tech startups.
Niche: University-linked innovation.
UtrechtInc supports tech startups from the Utrecht University ecosystem, provides mentoring and funding opportunities for innovative ventures, and creates connections between academic research and commercial applications.
Target Audience: Tech startups.
Niche: Community and collaboration.
Startup Village offers a co-working space designed for tech startup collaboration. It provides resources and community support for growth and creates an environment fostering innovation and knowledge sharing.
Target Audience: Social innovation startups.
Niche: Urban challenges.
Civic Innovation Lab focuses on projects addressing urban social challenges. It provides support for startup development in civic innovation and creates solutions for city-specific problems through entrepreneurship.
Target Audience: Social entrepreneurs.
Niche: Social impact.
Impact Hub is part of a global network supporting social entrepreneurship. It offers co-working spaces and support programs for impact-driven businesses and creates a community for social innovation and sustainable business development.
Target Audience: Technology-focused companies.
Niche: Tech innovation.
Techstars Amsterdam provides mentorship-driven seed-stage investment programs. It is part of the global Techstars network, which supports tech entrepreneurs. It offers a structured acceleration program with international reach.
Target Audience: Healthcare entrepreneurs.
Niche: Health technology.
NLC specializes in supporting health tech entrepreneurship development, helping transform healthcare ideas into viable businesses, and providing funding and expertise specific to healthcare innovation.
Target Audience: Sustainability-focused startups.
Niche: Environmental impact.
Greenhouse supports sustainability-oriented ventures and green startups. It provides resources focused on environmental impact initiatives and creates opportunities for eco-friendly business development.
Amsterdam's startup ecosystem showcases diverse support mechanisms through these 20 accelerators and incubators. The city's programs demonstrate particular strength in technology, sustainability, and social impact, reflecting Dutch values and innovation priorities.
The ecosystem benefits from strong connections between academic institutions, corporate partners, and government initiatives, creating a comprehensive support structure for entrepreneurs at all stages.