Dutch Province Launches Program That Has Already Helped 1,200 Entrepreneurs Raise €290 Million
Amsterdam, Thursday, 30 April 2026.
Noord-Holland’s investment readiness program reveals impressive track record after 8.5 years of operation. The initiative provides up to six days of personalized support to help innovative small businesses become attractive to investors and secure funding connections.
Strategic Partnership Enhances Regional Innovation Ecosystem
The collaboration between PIM and ROM InWest, which began in January 2026, represents a significant expansion of support for innovative enterprises in Noord-Holland [1]. ROM InWest now serves as the program manager for PIM in the region, bringing additional expertise in helping startups, scale-ups, and SMEs accelerate their financial viability and secure funding [1]. This partnership specifically targets companies that develop innovations with both societal impact and financial returns, provided they are based in Noord-Holland [1]. The collaboration aims to better connect the Noord-Holland ecosystem for entrepreneurs and build on PIM’s established success in the investment readiness space [1].
Comprehensive Support Structure for Mission-Driven Enterprises
PIM’s support framework extends far beyond basic business advice, offering tailored guidance that can include developing financial models, creating business plans, and connecting entrepreneurs with relevant ecosystem partners [2]. The program specifically focuses on SMEs operating in mission-driven sectors, including Energy Transition & Sustainability, Agriculture, Water & Food, Health & Care, Safety, and Key Technologies [2]. This targeted approach ensures that supported companies align with broader societal objectives while maintaining commercial viability. Entrepreneurs interested in the program can schedule appointments through online platforms to discuss financing or growth opportunities with PIM advisors [2].
Real-World Impact Through Strategic Investments
ROM InWest’s investment portfolio demonstrates the practical outcomes of this strategic approach to innovation support. Recent investments include €1.3 million in Amplio Pharma, completed alongside Libertatis Ergo Holding, Amsterdam UMC Ventures Holding, and Innovatiefonds Noord-Holland [1]. Another notable success story involves HeartEye, a Dutch MedTech startup founded in 2021 that raised €1,675,000 with investments from ROM InWest, Pim Berger (co-founder of Schuberg Philis), and Mphasis [1]. HeartEye is developing innovative mobile technology for conducting 12-channel ECGs in just 30 seconds, exemplifying the type of healthcare innovation the partnership seeks to support [1].
Nuclear Innovation and Cross-Provincial Collaboration
The partnership’s influence extends beyond traditional SME support into cutting-edge sectors like nuclear technology. ROM InWest is involved in supporting THORIZON, a company developing molten salt reactors that convert nuclear waste into energy [1]. This involvement is part of a broader eight-party Memorandum of Understanding that includes EPZ, NRG PALLAS, the provinces of Zeeland and Noord-Holland, Impuls Zeeland, ROM InWest, and Invest-NL [1][3]. The collaboration plans include a PIONEER nuclear demonstrator to be built at NRG PALLAS in Noord-Holland, with THORIZON One targeting Zeeland as the location for Europe’s first commercial molten salt reactor [3]. These developments highlight how regional investment programs can facilitate large-scale technological advancement across multiple provinces.