Investor Readiness Programme 2024 strengthens business plans of seven Dutch SMEs
On Monday 25 March, a ‘financial table’ event was held at KWR Water Research Institute in Nieuwegein to conclude the third Investor Readiness Programme. At the event, a group of entrepreneurs representing seven Dutch water technology presented their project proposals to several financiers, including Invest-NL and Rabobank, to discuss possible financing opportunities.
The Investor Readiness Programme is aimed at Dutch entrepreneurs, both start-ups and scale-ups, in the water technology sector who have specific financing requests for their companies.
These SMEs presenting their proposals were C.P. van Dijk Holding BV, Lobster Robotics, I-AM Center, Hypersoniq, Reefy, RN Solutions BV, and Solaq.
Dennis Kooijman from I-AM Center says “as a company that traditionally relied on organic growth, the Investor Readiness Programme has given us crucial insights to improve our interaction with investors. The Programme has helped us refine the way we present our growth plans and needs, so we are now better equipped to achieve our ambitious business case."
“as a company that traditionally relied on organic growth, the Investor Readiness Programme has given us crucial insights to improve our interaction with investors. The Programme has helped us refine the way we present our growth plans and needs, so we are now better equipped to achieve our ambitious business case."
Dennis Kooijman, I-AM Center
Capacity building programme
Prior to the event, these entrepreneurs had gone through two intense masterclasses and had received personal guidance by financial experts. The first masterclass was held on the financial landscape available to Dutch water technology start-ups and scale-ups, such as public subsidies and grants, crowdfunding, investment funds, and venture capital. In addition, participants benefited from a coaching session with experienced entrepreneurs and financial coaches.
The programme for the second masterclass, held on 8 February, included a theoretical part where topics such as equity and negotiation skills were addressed, and a more practical session for the start-ups to enhance their pitching through pitch coaching and peer-to-peer feedback.
The masterclasses were made possible by the Programme’s strategic partners who helped broaden the financial literacy and skills of the entrepreneurs. Special thanks to Adan Corporate, Atradius, Credion & Valor, Evers + Manders, Invest International, Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO), PureTerra, Rebel Group, Venture Value, and Wettermerk BV Marketing Bureau for their invaluable contribution.
Catalysing water technology projects
The Investor Readiness Programme is an initiative of the Netherlands Water Partnership (NWP), Wetsus, and Financing Tables Friesland that helps entrepreneurs in the Dutch water sector develop concrete financing requests to attract financiers. The Programme is supported by the Dutch Top Consortium for Knowledge and Innovation Water Technology, the Dutch Top Sector Water & Maritime cluster, and Water Campus Leeuwarden.
For NWP, the Investor Readiness Programme is a solid bet for SMEs in the Dutch water sector to strengthen the financial feasibility of their propositions so that more pioneering ideas translate into tangible projects. “It is great to be able to contribute to creating an enabling environment for water innovations. It's also very exciting to witness how the masterminds behind innovative business ideas apply the concepts shared during the Investor Readiness Programme and how they pitch their enhanced business proposals to potential investors,” says Rick Elmendorp, NWP Director and Chair.
“It is great to be able to contribute to creating an enabling environment for water innovations. It's also very exciting to witness how the masterminds behind innovative business ideas apply the concepts shared during the Investor Readiness Programme and how they pitch their enhanced business proposals to potential investors”
Rick Elmendorp, NWP Director and Chair
