New Fund Drives Sustainable Growth in North Holland
Haarlem, Friday, 12 September 2025.
PDENH, now under ROM InWest, fuels North Holland’s economy by investing in sustainable ventures, emphasizing early-stage support and resilience for innovative projects addressing environmental challenges.
PDENH’s Strategic Role in Sustainability
The Participatiefonds Duurzame Economie Noord-Holland (PDENH), as part of ROM InWest, is pivotal in driving sustainable economic growth in North Holland by investing in early-stage and resilient ventures. Leendert van Waart and Anthony Viellevoije, leading figures in the organization, have underscored the necessity for bold early investments and making strategic decisions to foster successful projects. PDENH primarily targets enterprises that address significant social challenges, such as energy transition, circular economy, and sustainable mobility, that are often overlooked by the mainstream market due to their complex technological maturity or prolonged exit timelines [1][2].
Targeted Investments in Innovative Solutions
PDENH’s investment strategy focuses on impactful companies like Sympower and Dexter, which are involved in grid balancing, and the deep-tech startup Thorizon. Additionally, by investing in Fairphone, PDENH contributes to improving working conditions in African mines, thereby showcasing a strong commitment to social welfare. PDENH’s portfolio is designed to catalyze substantial contributions to the Dutch economy and society, with a clear focus on long-term sustainable impact amid current geopolitical challenges [1][2].
Asperitas: A Case Study in Sustainable Innovation
Asperitas, a company based in Amsterdam, exemplifies PDENH’s focus on sustainable innovation. Recently, Asperitas successfully closed an investment round with contributions from PDENH, Invest-NL, STECON Group, and Shell Ventures, enabling the company to scale its immersion cooling solutions internationally. This technology is crucial for reducing energy consumption in data centers, addressing the rising demand driven by AI and high-performance computing workloads. Immersion cooling allows for substantial energy savings and a reduced environmental footprint, positioning Asperitas as a leader in sustainable digital infrastructure [3][4][5].
Long-term Vision for Sustainable Growth
The investments by PDENH are not only financial commitments but also strategic endorsements of technologies that promise long-term benefits for the environment and society. The organization’s role is to bridge the gap where traditional investors may hesitate, ensuring that transformative projects reach maturity and market readiness. By nurturing such ventures, PDENH helps solidify North Holland’s reputation as a hub for sustainable innovation, aligning with broader efforts towards achieving strategic autonomy and sustainability in Europe [1][2][5].