A Conversation on the Future of Innovation with the Dutch Minister of Finance
Last week, our Co-Founder and General Partner, Eva de Mol, met with Dutch Minister of Finance Eelco Heinen for an inspiring and forward-looking discussion on the future of innovation, technology, and finance in the Netherlands.
At a time when global competition for talent, capital, and innovation leadership is fiercer than ever, Eva shared a clear message: the Netherlands has what it takes to lead — but only if we take bold, strategic action now.
Key points raised during the meeting included:
🔹 Talent
Invest in digital skills education early — with initiatives like Codam College, founded by Corinne Vigreux, showing how it can be done.
Improve stock option and equity participation frameworks to attract and retain world-class tech talent, keeping the Netherlands competitive with ecosystems like the US and UK.
💰 Capital
Introduce tax incentives for early-stage investment, inspired by models like the UK’s EIS/SEIS, to encourage private investment in high-risk, high-potential startups.
Stimulate a “flywheel effect,” where successful founders reinvest their capital and experience into new ventures.
Allocate at least 1% of Dutch pension fund assets to startup investments — backing the next generation of innovative Dutch companies.
⚖️ Infrastructure & Regulation
Make regulatory frameworks more innovation-friendly by removing barriers that hinder the growth of tech companies.
Ensure policy keeps pace with the dynamic nature of startups and scale-ups.
This meeting reaffirmed the importance of close collaboration between policymakers and the tech ecosystem to ensure that the Netherlands not only keeps up, but leads.
Want to learn more? Read the full manifesto here.