Amsterdam-based Arcola, a private equity firm, announced that it has acquired a majority stake in Straatweg Group, a Dutch manufacturer of speciality plastic components for the food, healthcare, and sustainable energy industries.

Straatweg Group has a manufacturing site in China and recently opened a new production facility in Breukelen, The Netherlands, to better serve its customers in Asia, Europe, and the US. Some of the group’s brands include Orange Plastics, Qbig Packaging, IBC Store, and Used to create New.

“The global flexible packaging industry, valued at approximately $150B (€141.7B) in 2021, is forecast to generate strong revenue growth over the coming years, primarily driven by a market shift towards more speciality packaging in the food and healthcare product segments. The Straatweg Group’s activities fit squarely within these high-growth areas,” says Benoît Lammens, founder of Arcola.

“Through the smart application of technology, selective acquisitions and by strengthening existing and building new international strategic partnerships, we believe the Straatweg Group is well-positioned to outperform the wider market’s growth trajectory,” adds Lammens.

Flexible packaging market opportunities

Flexible packaging is a modern, cost-effective way to package goods using non-rigid materials. It is popular for its versatility and ability to protect products from damage. The packaging is made from a variety of materials, including metal, plastic, and paper.

Market research reports the value of the global flexible packaging market at €235.5B ($248.9B) in 2022. The same study projects the market to reach €298.3B ($315.5B) by 2027 with a 4.8 per cent CAGR during the forecast period. 

The market growth is attributed to its versatility to be formed into various shapes and sizes, such as pouches, bags, and sachets, that the food and health industry needs. Flexible packaging films and pouches also offer excellent resistance against punctures and tears, and their seals help prevent spoilage and wastage to protect food flavour and texture.

Flexible packaging can use up to 75 per cent less energy and produce one-tenth of the amount of carbon dioxide emissions compared to metal cans. It also requires less water and energy to manufacture and can reduce food waste.

Assisting SMEs achieve robust growth

Private equity investors can find outsized opportunities in the SME sector, which is often overlooked and hard to access. By identifying niche market champions and working with strong management teams, private equity investors can help these companies achieve robust future growth and returns.

Arcola says it partners with experienced entrepreneurs in related industries to support its portfolio companies in Benelux. The entrepreneurs provide deep market insights, extensive networks, and co-investment opportunities, while Arcola gives the portfolio companies access to capital and resources.

In the Straatweg Group acquisition, Arcola partnered with entrepreneur and investor Marc van der Put, founder and former CEO of 2Connect.

“A decisive factor in our decision to partner with Arcola was the unique combination of private equity growth know-how with the proven entrepreneurial business-building expertise that co-investor Marc van der Put brings to the table. This represents a real added value for us in supporting the Straatweg Group as we continue to build our national and international market presence over the coming years,” says Straatweg Group co-owner Jaap Sondaar.

The Netherlands-based Swipe4Work, a vacancy app that claims to help people find their “dream job,” announced that it has secured €400K in a fresh round of funding to accelerate the growth of its app.

Swipe4Work will use the funds to improve its product, integrate AI applications, and expand its platform in all of the Netherlands.

In a company statement translated from Dutch, Mattheüs Nubé, co-founder of Swipe4Work, says, “The investment is a milestone for Swipe4Work and allows us to improve our product, implement AI applications and boost brand awareness.”

“In the meantime, we continue to listen to feedback from employers and job seekers to make the application process fairer, faster and more fun,” adds Nubé.

Investors in this round

The investment came from NOM, the regional development agency for the Northern Netherlands, and G-Force Capital, a Dutch-based early-stage investment fund that backs startups in the digital domain.

Niek Huizenga, Investment Manager at G-Force, says, “In these times of staff shortages, the traditional job platforms are simply not good enough. Young people look at their work, career and employer in a completely different way.”

“Swipe4Work responds very well to this and knows how to serve the target group perfectly. And just as important, it is a very good team consisting of passionate and experienced HR professionals, marketers, financial specialists and IT professionals,” adds Huizenga.

Boudewijn Hulst, Investment Manager NOM, says, “As NOM we are committed to inclusion and equality, also in the labour market. Swipe4Work fits in seamlessly with this, with a platform that connects employees and employers based on aspects that really matter.”

The vacancy app

Founded in 2022 and co-owned by Mattheüs Nubé and Lotte van der Kolk, Swipe4Work aims to simplify the job application process in a competitive labour market by making it fun, fast, and fair.

Since its launch, the app has connected approximately 150 companies, including Belsimpel, Klippa, and Parkos. With over 10,000 downloads, Swipe4Work caters to both active and passive job seekers. 

The app’s feature allows users to find suitable job matches efficiently through swiping, eliminating the need for a CV and cover letter. The app’s matching algorithm assesses users based on skills, personality, and interests, going beyond traditional qualifications. 

Originally active in the Northern Netherlands, Swipe4Work is expanding to the Randstad region and aims to cover the entire Netherlands soon.

Nubé says, “For generations Y and Z, CVs and traditional motivation letters are outdated. They want equal opportunities for everyone, regardless of gender, age, ethnic or cultural background.”

“Swipe4Work promotes inclusion by allowing candidates to apply anonymously and easily until the match is made,” adds Nubé.

Starting in November, the company plans to enhance the application experience by incorporating visual elements, including company videos within the job listings. 

This update aligns with the preferences of the current generation, providing candidates with a better understanding of a company’s core values and working environment.

Amsterdam-based Overstory, a global vegetation intelligence platform, announced on Friday that it has secured $14M (approximately €13.24M) in a Series A round of funding. 

The round was led by B Capital and joined by The Nature Conservancy, Convective Capital, Semapa Next, Bentley iTwin Ventures, Pale Blue Dot, CapitalT, Moxxie Ventures, and Overwater Ventures.

Driving sustainability: climate, AI, and utility convergence

According to Overstory, utility teams are under immense pressure after facing daily challenges of climate change, wildfires, extreme weather, and power outages. With aging infrastructure and shrinking budgets, there’s a critical need for innovative technology. 

The rapid evolution of AI offers the potential to enhance existing processes and unlock new possibilities, revolutionising how utilities respond to modern demands and climate shifts.

This is where Overstory looks to make a difference. 

Founded in 2018 by Indra den Bakker, Anniek Schouten and Roelof Pieters, Overstory aims to use artificial intelligence to understand and protect the world’s vegetation. 

The company’s focus areas include enhancing power reliability, preventing wildfires, and optimising operational efficiencies for utility teams. 

Through technology, Overstory claims to address urgent environmental needs and contributes significantly to combating climate challenges.

Indra den Bakker says, “Because the specialised AI that we developed integrates with existing data and workflows, our utility customers can immediately spot the areas along their power lines where there are risks of wildfires and outages.” 

“We are grateful for the partnership with our investors and look forward to furthering our mission to combat the climate crisis,” adds Bakker.

Capital utilisation

Overstory says it will use the funds to boost the growth of its vegetation intelligence platform and team. The company aims to help utility partners deliver power safely and reliably, contributing to the mitigation of wildfires and the climate crisis. 

“We take pride in our ever-expanding community of investors, teammates, and customers who are committed to mitigating wildfires and the climate crisis, protecting and restoring natural resources, and using innovative technology to operate efficiently and effectively,” says Overstory.

Investing in tech, quality, and partnerships

Overstory mentions that its expertise lies in both technology and forestry, allowing them to understand its customers’ needs deeply. Its vegetation intelligence platform processes extensive satellite imagery, providing unprecedented insights at both territory-wide and tree-level scales. 

The company has partnered with over 40 electric utilities globally, including four of the top 10 US utilities, innovative coops, and leaders across Canada, Brazil, and Europe.

Overstory has enhanced reliability and wildfire prevention for clients like Powder River Electric Cooperative, Holy Cross Energy, and Fortune 500 utilities. The company claims to have monitored 2 million acres of land and safeguarded $6B worth of utility assets.

Moving forward, the Dutch company’s focus remains on refining their intelligence platform, employing advanced machine learning models, and expanding customer-friendly tools, all with the goal of fostering a safe, reliable, and biodiverse future.

Karen Page, General Partner at B Capital, says, “Utility companies now have an acute problem with the confluence of catastrophic wildfires, extreme weather, power outages and a changing climate. This has forced these providers to adjust the way they work and ultimately take a more data-driven approach.”

“We are proud to partner with the incredible team at Overstory and support their work to leverage AI and create a safer, more reliable grid,” adds Page.

Amsterdam-based Orderchamp, a digital wholesale marketplace, announced the launch of a new dropshipping solution, Dropshipping by Orderchamp. 

The new solution allows retailers to add thousands of premium items from the marketplace to their stores without investing in inventory. The items are then shipped directly to customers by the brands themselves.

Orderchamp’s solution helps retailers and brands thrive in tough economic times. It opens up new sales channels and reduces cash flow constraints for retailers, who can now choose which products to keep in stock and which complementary items to add for direct-to-consumer delivery via brands. 

The solution allows retailers to grow their product catalogues exponentially without risk for inventory. It also provides an easy way for brands to expand their reach and connect with new customers.

“Our mission remains clear: to empower independent retailers and brands to succeed in tomorrow’s market. We listened to the needs of our growing community of 7,000 premium brands and 150,000 retailers, and are excited to take this next step in risk-free wholesale,” says Joost Brugmans, co-founder and CEO of Orderchamp.

Dropshipping solution for European retailers 

Established in 2019, Orderchamp is an online B2B wholesale platform connecting brands and retailers across Europe. The company’s notable investors include henQ, Prime Ventures, former AfterPay CEO Stefan van den Berg, Vinted CEO Thomas Plantenga, and Deliverect CEO Zhong Xu.

Orderchamp offers a unique and high-quality assortment of over one million products from more than 7,000 different European brands. In addition to the Netherlands, the platform is active in Belgium, Germany, Austria, Denmark, and France. It also serves various customers throughout Europe.

Dropshipping by Orderchamp is built on the technological foundation of its thriving wholesale marketplace. The first 200 brands to offer dropshipping include home brands House Nordic and Jesper Home & vtwonen, beauty brand Rock Your World, and jewellery brand Bazou.

Full automation through integrations helps retailers and brands process orders efficiently, saving them precious time. The service is now available for Shopify and WooCommerce webshops, with more integrations with Lightspeed, Adobe Commerce (Magento), and Prestashop coming later this year.

Offline retail collaboration with TICA

Last August, Orderchamp opened its first offline experience, Orderchamp World, in collaboration with TICA, a lifestyle purchasing platform. The store embodies the two companies’ strategic partnership in September 2022.

Orderchamp World lets retailers explore and buy a wide range of brands that were previously only available online at TICA x Orderchamp. Customers can interact with the products, purchase, and order additional variations online using QR codes.

Some of the brands featured in the store are 1nig, 8 seasons design, Aardeko B.V., Ambiente Europe BV, Amennis Trading, APS Glass & Bar Supply, Art Collection International BV, Artisan Home, Asian Mix Interior, Avandi, Axbo Design, Azur Natural Bodycare, and B&B Trend Company. 

Customers can also find products from B-Cause, BBBLS, BDIFFERENT, Be-Uniq, Beads From Nature, Bell Arte, Big Products Import BV, BOB Bijzondere Binnenhuis Accessoires B.V., BOMMEL & BOMMEL delicatessen, and Bos Kaasgereedschappen B.V.

Amsterdam-based Homed-IQ, an at-home medical diagnostics company, announced that it has secured €1M in a fresh round of funding from investment fund Healthy.Capital and private investors.

“We are delighted to welcome an investment of €1M, which will enable us to further realise our vision of accessible medical diagnostics,” says Robert de Jonge, CEO of Homed-IQ.

Douwe Jippes, co-founder and managing partner of Healthy.Capital, adds, “Homed-IQ plays a crucial role in transforming healthcare in Europe by combining innovation and accessibility.”

“Through their advanced platform, they contribute to delivering sensible care, preventing unnecessary use of resources, alleviating staff shortages, and improving working processes in the health sector,” adds Jippes.

Healthy.Capital is an investment firm focusing on Dutch health and care startups. It offers smart capital and expertise, helping entrepreneurs build successful businesses in the digital health landscape.

Keeping diagnostic tests affordable and accessible in Europe

Homed-IQ is a company at the forefront of the European home medical testing market.

Home medical tests provide individuals with a simple and reliable way to monitor various health parameters, including blood markers and genetic information. These tests empower people to take control of their health and enable early detection of potential diseases.

Homed-IQ provides high-quality self-sampling health tests to consumers and offers diagnostic services to businesses, healthcare providers, and research centres. The company claims to streamline the testing process and offer a diverse range of products.

In Europe, these tests are increasingly customised to meet specific population needs, offering both general health checks and specialised diagnostics for chronic conditions.

In response to the rising demand for accessible healthcare solutions, Homed-IQ plans to expand into B2B markets, white-label solutions, and clinical research. Its strategic vision includes international expansion and product portfolio diversification.

Homed-IQ partners exclusively with certified laboratories, boasting a workforce of over 5,000 employees committed to “gold-standard” quality in analysis and diagnosis. 

Its network of accredited laboratories throughout Europe ensures timely, high-quality test results, all conveniently delivered to customers’ homes.

Currently, Homed-IQ is active in Germany, Belgium, Austria, and the Netherlands.

How was Homed-IQ formed?

Homed-IQ, founded by friends Geert Brinkers and Robert de Jonge, originated from De Jonge’s personal experience with type 1 diabetes in 2019. 

Frustrated by the complexity and inefficiency of traditional medical testing, particularly the inconvenience of regular blood tests, De Jonge envisioned a simpler, more accessible solution.

Partnering with Brinkers, they established Homed-IQ to transform the medical testing process.

Their goal was to create a flexible, user-friendly, and universally available at-home testing service. Homed-IQ aims to empower individuals by providing convenient, efficient, and affordable testing solutions, revolutionising healthcare accessibility and patient experience.

The Dutch startup ecosystem, known for its dynamic and thriving environment, is privy to a diverse pool of talents and innovation to shape its future.

These talents, that include entrepreneurs, thought leaders and community builders, have made remarkable strides in the vibrant Dutch tech hub. 

What’s more important is the diverse pool from which these talents come. And celebrating each of them is a boost to the entire Dutch startup ecosystem. 

Black Achievement Month

The “Black Achievement Month” is a tribute to the exceptional entrepreneurs and leaders of colour who have made immeasurable contributions to the ecosystem.

While the entrepreneurial journey can be challenging for anyone, it can be even more so for individuals who belong to historically marginalised communities. 

Despite these obstacles, numerous black visionaries in the Netherlands have broken barriers, created groundbreaking startups, fostered innovation, and built bridges within their communities.

In this article, we are shining the spotlight on these black entrepreneurs, thought leaders and community builders who have not only transformed their lives but have also enriched the entire Dutch startup ecosystem with their ideas, talent, and resilience.

Marian Spier

Marian Spier, a distinguished serial entrepreneur, is dedicated to driving positive change for women-led startups globally, while also providing invaluable guidance to organisations and corporations on their journey toward greater inclusivity.

Her entrepreneurial journey began in 2012 when she embarked on a consulting venture, rapidly expanding her reach to encompass an impressive and diverse clientele across 15+ countries. 

Furthermore, Marian’s commitment to empowering female entrepreneurs led her to establish FEM-START, a pioneering platform to bridge the global funding gap for women entrepreneurs. 

Beyond her entrepreneurial pursuits, Marian holds advisory and board member roles in prestigious organisations such as Van Doorne, the Van Gogh Museum, VandenEnde Foundation, Harper’s Bazaar, and Soho House Amsterdam.

Kimberly Ofori

Kimberly Ofori, a former banker turned management consultant and successful digital entrepreneur, boasts a dynamic career filled with remarkable achievements. 

Over the past decade, she has demonstrated her entrepreneurial prowess by founding and selling two companies, while her professional journey has taken her to various corners of the world, engaging with clients in the Middle East, Africa, the United States, and Europe. 

With an extensive background spanning multiple industries and continents, Kimberly brings invaluable experience.

Kimberly now runs Ofori & Co, a strategic innovation consultancy where she supports fast-growing companies and large corporations to scale innovations to new markets and on organisational design, culture change and leadership.

She is currently seated as chair of the executive board at VOAW, the advisory board of several startups, and functions as an advisor for entrepreneurship programmes run by the UNDP and the European Innovation Council.

Ruben Brave

Ruben Brave is a Dutch internet pioneer, a board member at impactful tech or media-related organisations, a media professional, and a serial entrepreneur in technology, media, and telecommunication (TMT). 

He stood at the cradle of leading Dutch online initiatives of some of the largest companies in publishing, sports, telecom, and travel.

With his company, Entelligence, he builds public benefit corporations in collaboration with knowledge institutions, such as the Center for JobKnowledge Research that has developed an innovative assessment to determine the growth potential of individuals. 

Ruben has a profound insight and understanding of the network economy and is a frequent author on media-related issues.

Jerrel van Eer

Jerrel van Eer boasts a wealth of expertise spanning over 15 years within the CRM sector. As a seasoned consultant and product owner, he is passionate about conceiving and delivering customer-centric solutions.

His primary specialisation lies in Salesforce, where he excels in implementation, optimisation, and integration for medium and enterprise-level enterprises.

Leveraging his extensive skill set, Jerrel plays an instrumental role in assisting companies in maximising their operational efficiency, offering them top-notch IT solutions. 

His primary objectives include:

• Aligning business goals and requirements.
• Crafting strategic architectural designs.
• Executing innovative solutions with precision.

He has a proven track record of driving innovation, enhancing efficiency, and maximising customer satisfaction by leveraging cutting-edge technologies and agile methodologies.

Jerrel van Eer also has a strong interest in UX management and best practices. 

Virgill Olvira

Virgill Olvira founded Mindset Media, a multicultural digital agency in Amsterdam. With a diverse team, they create compelling media campaigns.

He is an energetic and inspired professional who blends innovative marketing and sales strategies in his work. He has a talent for developing strong and long-lasting relationships with clients, which helps him make meaningful connections.

Sacha Martina

Sacha Martina, the founder of Your Talent Agency, is a dynamic and accomplished professional dedicated to empowering businesses in the Netherlands with a diverse and international workforce. 

Her agency, Your Talent Agency, is a trusted partner for companies such as Instruqt, Trunkrs, Lepaya, Pacmed, Aidence, Otrium, and many others, helping them grow by acquiring top talent.

Beyond her entrepreneurial works, Sacha is a seasoned diversity and inclusion specialist and a captivating public speaker. 

As a woman of colour in the business world, she has firsthand experience confronting bias and prejudice. This journey has driven her to advocate for greater awareness of multiculturalism, equality, and social justice issues.

Sacha’s professional background in HR and People & Culture has equipped her with the skills to lead international (tech) companies and translate business objectives into tangible goals, using OKRs and KPIs to optimise people teams. 

Marianne Dorder – Servet

Marianne Dorder-Servet, the Information Manager at the Laboratory Amsterdam UMC, is dedicated to enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of information processes within organisations. 

With a wealth of experience, Marianne excels in pinpointing users’ information requirements and skillfully transforming their functional requirements and desires into tailored solutions.

She skillfully oversees the direction of information services (IV) within the laboratories, actively participating in the formulation of a long-term strategy and a comprehensive roadmap that outlines the necessary steps to achieve their goals. 

Kemo Camara

Kemo Camara is the founder and CEO of Omek, a professional platform designed to lift the African diaspora. 

For the past 20 years, he has lived, studied, and worked in cities across Africa, The United States, and Europe. 

Further, he has founded startups, built non-profit organisations, and played various leadership roles in community organisations. 

Shea Harty

Shea Harty is a social impact entrepreneur who founded the Empowerment Foundation to provide access to information and resources for immigrants who are unemployed and living in the Netherlands. 

The foundation is now expanding to help Women in STEM to increase the number of women leaders in STEM and to provide women founders with access to funding for their startups. 

Shea Harty is also a sought-after speaker at internal corporate events and prominent industry conferences. 

Her talks address a range of critical subjects, including diversity, inclusion, equity, community engagement, the imperative for more women in technology, conquering the fear of sales, and strategies to foster greater workplace engagement.

Tirza Snoijl

Tirza Snoijl is an accomplished project wizard with a remarkable ability to navigate through complexity and bring solutions tailored to the needs of entrepreneurs. 

Her expertise spans from meticulously crafting business plans to generating precise financial projections and perfecting the art of pitching. 

Tirza’s extensive experience allows her to easily identify potential weaknesses and develop strategies that strengthen an entrepreneur’s pitch. 

However, what truly ignites Tirza’s passion is her dedication to working with underrepresented entrepreneurial groups. She recognises the obstacles these aspiring business leaders encounter when pursuing financial support. 

For her, regardless of background, every individual deserves an opportunity to thrive.

Tirza’s commitment to levelling the playing field is evident through her sharing of knowledge and developing specialised tools and processes. 

Her ultimate objective is to empower entrepreneurs to bring about change within their communities and create intergenerational wealth.

Nancy Poleon

Before founding BrandedU in 2014, Nancy Poleon worked as a marketing manager for BMG in London to help artists such as Britney Spears, Alicia Keys, and Pink rock the stage. 

She realised her experiences from the entertainment world could be used in personal branding too, which resulted in the BrandedU Rock-’n-Roll Branding method.

It’s a unique personal branding method based on encouraging authentic behaviour. Because we believe that personal brands are built from the inside out and are based on authenticity. 

Where other programmes are often focused on changing women, Poleon’s venture encourages women to be themselves. 

Amsterdam-based Just Eat Takeaway.com, an online food delivery marketplace, announced on Wednesday that it has started a new share buyback programme to improve future earnings per share. 

Under the programme, Just Eat Takeaway.com plans to repurchase ordinary shares worth up to €150M, within the limit set by the general meeting (10 per cent of the issued shares).

The company plans to repurchase shares worth approximately 5.7 per cent of the current issued share capital. The closing share price on October 17, 2023, was €11.92.

The Dutch company says it will utilise the repurchased shares to cover its obligations under share-based compensation arrangements or will be cancelled to reduce the issued share capital.

The buyback programme will start on October 18, 2023, and is expected to finish by September 30, 2024.

“The execution of the share buyback programme will be done under the terms of an engagement letter with a third party, performed in compliance with the safe harbour provisions for repurchasing shares under the European Market Abuse Regulation. Shares are bought in the market and accumulated on the treasury share account until settlement under the employee incentive plans or cancellation. As the programme will be lead-managed by the third party within pre-defined execution parameters, transactions may be carried out during closed periods,” says the company. 

Just Eat Takeaway.com Q3 2023 trading update

In other news, the Amsterdam company  also announced an update for Q3, 2023. 

In the third quarter of 2023, the company witnessed a resurgence in its Global Transaction Value (GTV) growth outside North America.

Notably, GTV growth in Northern Europe and the UK and Ireland regions increased +6 per cent and +4 per cent, respectively. 

Reflecting on this momentum, the company has decided to raise its 2023 Adjusted EBITDA guidance to an estimated €310M (previously approximately €275M in 2023). 

However, in light of changing market dynamics, the company has also adjusted its GTV guidance for 2023, anticipating a constant currency growth rate of approximately -4 per cent. 

The company has also updated its free cash flow guidance, aiming for approximately break-even in the second half of 2023, followed by a positive trajectory. 

“The majority of our business has returned to GTV growth in the third quarter with particular strong momentum in Northern Europe and the UK and Ireland segments. Within the UK and Ireland we continue to invest significantly whilst at the same time increasing profitability. Although the recovery of North America is on a slower trajectory, we are satisfied that this segment too is rapidly becoming cash flow neutral,” says Jitse Groen, CEO of Just Eat Takeaway.com. 

“As a result, we are in a position to upgrade both our Adjusted EBITDA and cash flow guidance and now expect to be approximately cash flow break-even in the second half of 2023 and positive thereafter,” he adds.  

Amsterdam-based PULSE Sport, an athlete performance monitoring and sports management platform, announced on Tuesday that it has secured its first investment ticket of €250k in a pre-seed round from SportInnovator. 

PULSE Sport says it will utilise the investment to advance their pilot phases, enhancing their organisational structure, lab facilities, and ensuring a steady supply of crucial materials. 

The funds will also accelerate the development of their capital-intensive sensor technology, pushing the boundaries of innovation in sports monitoring. 

The Dutch company also aims to improve its app and AI development, providing athletes and sports organisations with cutting-edge tools and insights. 

PULSE Sport: Reshaping Athlete Health, Performance Monitoring

Founded in 2021, PULSE Sport is on a mission to redefine athlete health and performance management through advanced sensors and AI technology. 

The company’s sports psychology-based app and sensors monitor mental and physical health as well as team dynamics, providing personalised recommendations to improve performance and reduce injuries while nurturing athlete development.

With this, the company aims to solve issues that most athletes (professionals or amateurs) face or will face during their life – Over-Training Syndrome (OTS). It is defined as the situation that occurs when athletes train excessively without allowing enough recovery time between sessions.

The investor

SportInnovator is the Netherlands’ sports innovation network, supported by ZonMw (Dutch organisation for health research and healthcare innovation) and The Dutch Ministry of Health, Welfare, and Sports. 

Amsterdam-based Merqato, a data and market intelligence company, announced on Tuesday that it has received a €350,000 convertible loan from Innovatiefonds Noord-Holland. 

Thomas Beelaerts, co-founder of Merqato, says, “We will use the investment from Innovatiefonds Noord-Holland to further develop our ‘forecasting tool’ together with pilot partners. In this way we will contribute to better valorisation in the fresh produce market, which is still often a big challenge.”

Merqato: Predicting fruit and vegetable price and volumes

Founded in 2023 by Claire Bénard, Jan-Willem Snoeker and Thomas Beelaerts, Merqato is on a mission to optimise the value chain of fresh fruits and vegetables by developing predictive algorithms.

The company does this through the fusion of various data points, including corporate data and external data such as weather, energy prices and trade data. 

Machine learning models can then turn the enriched data into an accurate forecast. 

The output of the model is a recommended selling price and volumes for various fruits and vegetables. 

The platform will provide insight into historical trends and forecasts, which will better align supply and demand. 

Jan-Willem Snoeker, co-founder of Merqato, says, “We are proud of the confidence shown by Innovatiefonds Noord-Holland and pleased with the shared vision to work together to make the fruit and vegetable sector more effective and sustainable with data.”

This will allow users to make data-based decisions in a cost-effective manner, which will also lead to less loss of value of produce.

The Dutch company claims to have developed a predictive price model for 30 different fresh products in the Spanish market that predicts 80 per cent better than the market benchmark.

However, this price model will be tested in the Netherlands through pilots with partners.

The company helps these customers by generating a reliable and long-term prediction of supply and demand.

In doing so, users gain insight into both volume and price. 

In addition, forecasts for the expected volume of supply and demand mean better supply chain alignment, leading to lower operational costs and less waste.

Claire Bénard, co-founder Merqato, says, “The innovation fund sends a signal about the importance of data and the value that can be extracted from data. Thanks to the algorithms, cooperatives and wholesalers can reduce their operational costs and create more value.”

The investor

The Innovation Fund North Holland is an initiative of the Province of North Holland, the University of Amsterdam, Vrije Universiteit, Hogeschool van Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC, and Sanquin. 

The Fund supports entrepreneurs in the province of North Holland in financing innovation in the Proof-of-Concept phase by providing convertible loans. 

The Innovation Fund North Holland manages two funds – a fund for innovative startups supported by the RVO, and a fund for academic startups supported by ERDF. 

Wouter Keij, fund manager at Innovatiefonds Noord-Holland, says, “Merqato is developing an innovative price-volume tool for market participants in the fruit and vegetable sector. A particular plus point of Merqato’s tool is that by better matching supply and demand, there will be less food waste.”

Amsterdam-based Fastned, a provider of a fast-charging network for electric vehicles, announced on Tuesday that it has secured €30.4M with the issue of new bonds.

Additionally, investors have extended €3.5M worth of investments from earlier issues. The company issued bonds with a 6 per cent coupon rate and a 5-year maturity period.

This marks the 13th round in Fastned’s bond programme, and brings the total investments raised from retail investors to over €163M.

Victor van Dijk, CFO of Fastned, says, “We are proud that investors increasingly see Fastned as an attractive investment and want to support our mission.”

“Our growing investor community plays a key role in supporting Fastned’s network expansion as we continue winning long-term tenders and high-traffic locations across Europe.”

“Every new station built gets us closer to our goal of one thousand stations by 2030, actively helping to curb climate change,” adds Van Dijk.

Accelerating the transition to sustainable mobility

Founded in 2012 by Michiel Langezaal and Bart Lubbers, Fastned is a major player in the development of fast-charging infrastructure for electric vehicles (EVs) across Europe.

“Our goal is a European network of 1000 fast charging stations in prime locations, where all-electric vehicles can charge with renewable energy from the sun and wind,” says Fastned.

With over 280 fast charging stations in several European countries, the company enables EV users to charge their vehicles with up to 300 km of range in just 15 minutes. 

Fastned is also expanding its network, planning to open its first stations in Denmark by the end of 2023, and in Italy by the end of 2024. Fastned is listed on Euronext Amsterdam under the ticker AMS: FAST.

The Amsterdam-based company ensures the future viability of its charging stations by equipping them with both the physical and electrical capacity to charge hundreds of cars daily.

This commitment to scalability allows Fastned to make electric vehicle charging accessible and convenient for a wide range of users, aligning with their mission to provide EV charging for everyone.

Revenue from charging services

In the third quarter of 2023, Fastned reports to have experienced significant growth with a 51 per cent increase in revenue from charging services. 

The company facilitated one million charging sessions during this period, enabling over 128 million electric kilometers and preventing an estimated 24.7 thousand tonnes of CO2 emissions.

Fastned also made substantial progress by expanding its network, entering new markets in Denmark and Italy, and securing prime lots in a major German tender. 

These developments reflect Fastned’s positive impact and ongoing efforts to expand its sustainable charging infrastructure across Europe.