The Groningen Startup Ecosystem
Small but mighty would perhaps be the best way to describe Groningen. The city is home to around 250 Startups, mainly focused in the areas of healthtech and digital services. Many people prefer megacities when it comes to founding, however, the founders of Groningen are extremely happy with their choice, citing a tight-knit open community that simplifies networking and the vast student population as the key factors for their choice.
Best things about the Groningen venture scene:
Talent. Home to two large universities with students making up 25% of the population, Groningen has seemingly endless resources in this area.
The community's openness makes newcomers feel at home almost instantly. Here, people don’t care where you’re from — they are simply happy to see you. You may come up with the craziest startup idea but you will still find like-minded individuals, all while not being frowned upon by the rest of the community.
Infrastructure — the city is full of all kinds of VC perks that can be used by founders. From RUG Ventures specialising in mentorship for innovative Startups (details further along), to the many free, WIFI-equipped coworking areas and motivated, ambitious students looking for their dream job. Groningen has everything a newborn startup may need for preliminary success.
Worst things about the Groningen venture scene
Growing, yet still limited investor pool makes the location less attractive for capital-intensive startups looking to raise. This also causes some outflow to other regions of the Netherlands such as opportunity-rich Amsterdam.
The roof is the limit — for founders looking to just get started, Groningen is perfect. However, if you want to grow and expand, you can only do so up to a certain threshold.
Industry-specific benefits — although generally open to startups from all industries, startups in certain industries have a higher chance to succeed due to the focus of the educational institutions — the city is primarily known for sciences, less for deeptech or, for example, defence.
Best spots in Groningen to work from your laptop
The Forum
Nieuwe Markt 1, 9712 KN Groningen
The Forum is an embodiment of the city’s soul. It is a place where students study, cultural and innovative events are held, and the city's history is embodied in the modern yet conservative design of the building. This place has it all—a place to work, a place to meet, and a place to think.
Eetcafe Lambik
Grote Kruisstraat 73, 9712 TR Groningen
This cozy small café is located by the northern park in Groningen. Its peaceful idyllic atmosphere creates a tranquil working environment. Perhaps this is the reason why it is so popular among the entrepreneur community in Groningen – it offers us the short escape from fast-paced life we all so dearly long for…
Zernike Campus
Zernikepark 1, 9747 AA Groningen
This powerhouse of innovation is THE place where you will find everything startup-related in Groningen. Originally developed in the 1960s the Zernike campus was named after the Dutch Nobel Prize winner Frits Zernike this location is a must-visit for young entrepreneurs. The atmosphere here is buzzing with motivation.
Douwe Egberts
Brugstraat 28, 9711 HZ Groningen & Rode Weeshuisstraat 4, 9712 ET Groningen
Theres two Douwe Egberts in Groningen. The first being smaller and contributes to a more classic design, while the latter is bigger and more modern. Whichever you choose – both provide a cozy working atmosphere and are well-liked by members of Groningen’s startup community.
Café de Sigaar
Hoge der A 2, 9712 AC Groningen
A classic Dutch cafe located in the old town. This spot is attractive due to its history – it’s a place where founders come to seek inspiration from the past to build a better future.
Best place in Groningen for an investor meeting
Brasserie Prinsenhof
Martinikerkhof 23, 9712 JH Groningen
This brasserie – located inside the best hotel in Groningen is the perfect spot for a semi-formal investor meeting lunch. Close to the city center, it boasts a solid reputation for ambience.
NOK Restaurant
Nieuwe Markt 1, 9712 KN Groningen
NOK is perfect both in terms of ambience & location. Hosted by the uppermost floor of the Forum, this centrally placed restaurant offers breathtaking views of the city, delicious cuisine and a casual atmosphere.
Bistro Vive la Vie
Oosterstraat 39, 9711 NP Groningen
This restaurant is adored by investors due to its cosy atmosphere and traditional Dutch cuisine.
Groningen investors that truly add value
RUG Ventures
RUG Ventures is a venture fund closely associated with the University of Groningen. Not only do they invest money, but one could also say that they invest themselves in every project they take part in. This fund has all of the power of the university behind it, making it a perfect partner for research-intensive startups.
Carduso Capital
A second fund tied to the University of Groningen and its medical center – Carduso focuses on high tech in the areas of sustainability, health and energy. This fund is similar to RUG Ventures mentioned above, yet they are set apart by their more laissez-faire approach and more narrow focus on green technologies.
G-Force Capital
G-Force – Groningen has only a limited number of VCs, so I decided to list all of them here. G-Force is what you could call a classic VC fund, for those looking to gain an insight into what fundraising looks like in the big scary world out there without leaving the comfort of their Groningen home – this fund could be for you if you manage to convince them that you are good enough.
Groningen meetups and events to attend
Groningen has quite a few regular meetups and events, ranging from tech and AI to business and leisure. There are fewer VC and Startup events, than say, in Amsterdam or the Hague, and you may need to travel to larger cities to attend conferences on these topics. Nevertheless, there are a couple of event sites for you to browse and find upcoming meetups and talks that may suit your needs. You can also check the investor sites mentioned earlier, and others such as NOM for their organized events.
Meetup.com - Meetup creates possibilities to find and build local communities, where you can both browse and organize events for any occasion.
Eventbrite.com - A self-service ticketing platform for live experiences that allows anyone to create, share, find and attend events.