Graduate Ventures was established in 2021 and is funded by donor and alumni capital. The fund manages a total of €59 million, of which €9 million is dedicated to early-stage investments managed by the Student Investment Team. We invest in startups across MedTech, DeepTech, DigitalTech, and ClimateTech: sectors where innovation meets real-world impact.
As students from Erasmus University Rotterdam and TU Delft, we form a bridge between academic innovation, technical solutions, and venture capital. Our team manages the end-to-end deal flow: we scout promising founders, conduct initial assessments and due diligence, and prepare investment proposals for the Investment Committee. We invest tickets of €75,000. Our mission is to empower the next generation of founders emerging from our universities by providing the funding, expertise, and network they need to grow.
Each year, a new Student Investment Team dedicates one full-time year, from Monday to Thursday, to Graduate Ventures. It is a unique opportunity to gain hands-on experience in venture capital while contributing directly to the growth of the Dutch startup ecosystem. Graduate Ventures is one of the most active early-stage investors in the Netherlands.
As students, we get the opportunity not only to study innovation, but to invest in it.
Eva Post, Head of Pre-Seed Fund
“It is always exciting to welcome a new Student Board each year and see them grow, learn to ask the right questions, and develop a strong understanding of the investment process.”
As a Student Investor at Graduate Ventures, we work from Monday to Thursday, with each day being dynamic and hands-on. We start by meeting founders to learn about their ideas, technologies, and business models. Together with the team, we dive deeper into the product and its technical foundations, consulting experts from within and outside our network to assess the feasibility and level of innovation behind each concept.
Once a startup captures our interest, we conduct due diligence, analyzing everything from market potential, technical foundations, and competition to go-to-market strategies and financial projections. This process allows us to build a clear picture of the opportunity and evaluate both the risks and long-term growth potential.
Based on these insights, we discuss whether the investment fits our portfolio. If the startup is a strong match, we gather additional information and prepare a comprehensive investment proposal outlining the opportunity, the rationale behind the investment, and the expected impact.
Beyond evaluating new deals, Student Investors also stay actively involved with portfolio companies. We support founders in navigating challenges and connect them with relevant experts, partners, and other resources that can help accelerate growth.
Alongside these responsibilities, every team member contributes to broader workstreams, such as organizing events like the Graduate Meetup and Founder’s Forum, supporting portfolio management and marketing activities, and working on personal and professional development.
Want to take a look at our 50 other portfolio companies? Look at our website: https://www.graduate.nl/portfolio
During a board year at Graduate Ventures, you not only gain hands-on experience in venture capital and the investment process, but also develop a broad range of personal and professional skills. Through Lunch & Learns with inspiring speakers from our network and visits to leading tech events such as VivaTech in Paris, we are exposed to new ideas, innovations, and industry expertise.
We also receive high-quality training from leading companies, including M&A training from Van Lanschot Kempen and financial assessment training at HAL Investments. In addition, each board member is responsible for their own workstream, taking full ownership of its planning, execution, and results. This provides valuable experience in taking responsibility, managing projects, and developing leadership skills.