Loans

A common way of financing companies: you borrow from the investors/lenders an agreed amount (the principal) and reply the principal and interest to them after a specified period of time.

• Loans can be provided by the banks in the Netherlands, such as ING, Rabobank, and ABN Amro (the big 3) or other banks such as Triodos. The loan products of some banks are compared on comparison websites such as independer.nl (which is not really independent, so it makes sense to shop around). 
• If you cannot get a regular bank loan, (aspiring) entrepreneurs can turn to micro credit organizations such as www.qredits.nl for loans up to € 250,000. Qredits is a foundation that works with several banking partners as well  as partners such as Accenture to provide credit as well as coaching.

Crowdfunding

Crowdfunding allows entrepreneurs to raise (usually) small amounts of capital from a large group of individuals via the Internet to finance their business venture. In the Netherlands, the following crowd funding opportunities exist:

• Symbid is a Dutch crowd-funding platform for young promising firms.
• Projectgeld.nl is a Dutch crowd-funding platform for all kinds of projects.
• Geldvoorelkaar.nl is a Dutch crowd-funding platform for firms.
• The Dutch Deal is a Dutch crowd-funding platform for entrepreneurs.
• CrowdAboutNow is a Dutch crowd-funding platform for new and old entrepreneurs. The investment is to be paid back with interest to investors.
• Leapfunder is a Dutch crowd-funding platform for entrepreneurs.
• OnePlanetCrowd is a Dutch crowd-funding platform for sustainable enterprises.
• weShape is a Dutch crowd-funding platform for projects focused on social impact, art, sports, technology and education.

A global list of crowd funding websites is available here.
 

Angel investments

Angel investments are typically the earliest equity investors in startup companies. Angel investors are usually wealthy individuals that band together in investor networks.

• The Business Angels Netwerken Nederland is an association for Dutch Angel investors which offers information on their members.
• Groeigenoot offers financial support and expertise for new but also existing firms working within food, technology and health sectors.
• Vitulum Ventures is a Dutch micro VC centered in Amsterdam. It embodies the collaboration of 6 Dutch angel investors; Dennis Bruin, Camiel Dobbelaar, Chang Ng, Erwin van den Veen, Jaap Visser en Ian Zein. The firm invests in promising internet/mobile startups.
• Succesity support ambitious entrepreneurs to with their startup or the development of existing firms.

Venture capital

Venture capital refers to money invested in a project in which there is a substantial element at risk, typically a new or expanding business.

• Holland Venture is a Dutch venture capital firm with two funds. One invests in growing SME’s, the other invests in innovative ‘zorgondernemingen’.
• Technostars invests in young innovative technology entrepreneurs who offer new products or services. They offer capital, but also guidance and advice.
• henQ is a Amsterdam based firm which invests in young innovative entrepreneurs who are active in the field of Internet, e-Commerce, mobile (media), Analytics, Saas and Software development.
• 5square is an independent investment company that invests in inspirational entrepreneurs and their companies, thereby helping them to reach their full potential and achieve healthy sustainable growth.
• Netherlands Association of Venture Capitals Firms offers a search program where you can search for a VC firm based on VC amount, sector, location area, and business stage.
• StartGreen is a venture capital firm that manages two Venture Capital funds: the StartGreen Sustainable Innovation Fund and the StartGreen Consumer Products Fund. Both funds have a focus on innovative entrepreneurs aiming to commercialise a sustainable technology or to accelerate its growth.

Grants and funds

• Answers for Business is the Point of Single Contact (PSC) of the Dutch government for entrepreneurs and businesses. PSC helps you deal with things such as what grants you can apply for when starting business in the Netherlands.
• WBSO (R&D tax credit) and RDA (Research and Development Allowance) are two fiscal schemes by the Ministry of Economic Affairs that seeks to stimulate entrepreneurs to increase their investment in research. The contributions are in the form of a payroll tax deduction, social security contributions and deductible items from your income tax or corporate income tax return.
• Dutch Good Growth Fund (DGGF) supports Dutch SMEs and entrepreneurs in emerging markets and developing counties, by offering a source of financing for development-relevant local investments and exports. Applications can be submitted from 1 July 2014 for activities that create new local jobs, increase the production capacity of local industry, and contribute to the transfer of knowledge to the developing country concerned.

Government schemes

• Innovatiefonds MKB+ is a fund offered by the Dutch Ministry of Finance. It is divided into three part: 1) Innovatiekrediet for innovative but risky projects, 2) Seed Capital for creative or technological startups, 3) Fund-for-Funds which is still in development.