Monitor - Startup Ecosystem Utrecht Region 2026 (ROM Utrecht Region)

Summary

• The number of startups in the Utrecht region grew by 12.8% in 2025, compared to a national average growth of 9.3% in the Netherlands.p.9
• Venture capital investment volume in the Utrecht region nearly tripled in 2025, rising from approximately €88.6 million to €258 million.p.9
• Startups and scale-ups in the Utrecht region employ approximately 58,000 people, representing 7.5% of total regional employment.p.13
• The region recorded 69 investment rounds in 2025 totaling €258.1 million across 20 different industries.p.16
• Female-founded startups in the Utrecht region accounted for 95 companies in 2025, representing 8% of the national total of female-founded startups.p.21
• Startups with at least one female founder raised €25.58 million across 9 funding rounds in 2025, representing 13% of all regional rounds.p.23

Key insights

1. Utrecht, North Holland, South Holland, and North Brabant collectively concentrate 82% of all Dutch startups.p.9
2. The regional ecosystem value of Utrecht Region increased from approximately €13.5 billion to approximately €14.1 billion in 2025.p.9
3. The region counted 45 scale-ups in 2025, with 30 of them (67%) based in the city of Utrecht.p.12
4. About 89% of startups in the region remain in an early growth phase, while only 9% have reached the breakout stage.p.15
5. New Digital Society represents the largest innovation ecosystem in the region, accounting for 47% of startups.p.14
6. Biotech company Merus raised approximately $300 million (around €254.85 million) in June 2025 through a Post-IPO public offering of common stock.p.18
7. Only 28.1% of startups in Utrecht Region have documented founder gender data available.p.21