Nascent Ventures is an active seed fund

We launch high-tech startups

na·scent
Only recently formed or started,
but likely to grow larger quickly.
 (Cambridge Dictionary)

Nascent Ventures is an active seed fund that creates and builds high-tech startups based on ground-breaking technologies from Dutch research institutes and universities. Nascent Venture is unique because it sets up the startup company and provides both seed capital and management in one shot. We source high-potential technologies from the rich pool of world-leading physics research in the Netherlands in which more than Euro 350 M is invested per year. We focus specifically on ground-breaking technologies that are able to disrupt existing markets and create new markets.

Vision & Strategy

Nascent Ventures is based on a vision that spectacular advances in fundamental and applied physics provide a large and growing deal flow of breakthrough technologies and venture opportunities. The Netherlands is recognized as a global leader in this field of research. At the same time we observe that high-tech startup creation is inefficient, leading to low output and high failure rates.

Nascent Ventures has a unique investment approach:

  1. Find      We pro-actively scout high-potential technologies in the Netherlands
  2. Found  We establish and build high-tech startups and act as CEO in the first years
  3. Fund     We provide pre-seed and seed capital

Nascent Ventures has a unique investment approach

Find  –  Found  –  Fund

Nascent Ventures establishes the startup itself and receives founder shares at nominal value. The founder shares provide an effective buffer against dilution in follow-on rounds. The Fund manager acts as CEO of the startup in the first period enabling the startup to navigate the critical pre-seed phase in a cost effective manner. The combination of founder shares and cost efficiency enable the Fund to achieve a superior Return on Investment.

Management

Hans Brouwer is a serial entrepreneur who has built a number of successful high-tech companies. Steven Tan is a seasoned professional with a strong background in venture capital and technology transfer. Hans and Steven are long time business partners and collectively have 50 years of experience in high-tech and startups.
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References

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“The fund concept and approach appeals to me very much. It’s exactly what we need for our technologies.”

Sjoerd Wittkampf, Technology Transfer Manager at ECN

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“Hans has a deep understanding of what it takes to transform an idea into a product. He certainly knows how to build a company and how to leverage on his extensive network to gain access to anything that may be needed at the right time and in the most efficient way.”

Prof. Davide Ianuzzi, VU University

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“Steven Tan is a champion in launching startups. He has a keen eye for spotting promising technologies and knows how to deal with universities.”

Olivier Heyning, CEO of Lumicks B.V.

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“I see many interesting technologies coming from physics research but translating them into business case is not easy. I am confident that this team can pick up our technologies and build successful startups.”

Annemieke Galema, Director of Office of Research & Valorisation of University of Groningen

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“Steven is one of the most experienced Technology Transfer professionals in the Netherlands. His contributions to the development of the Dutch TTO landscape are highly appreciated by his colleagues.”

Oscar Schoots PhD MBA, CEO of Utrecht Holdings BV and CEO of Stichting Incubator (Part of University of Utrecht)

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“Hans is a highly experienced technology entrepreneur with a proven track record in start-ups and scale-ups. He is business-savvy, has outstanding business ethics and is on top of this a pleasure to work with.”

Jos Joore, Biotech entrepreneur (Memtas B.V. and Pepscope B.V.)

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“Steven is a very experienced startup specialist who knows how to prepare a startup for venture capital investment.”

Nityen Lal, Managing Director of Icos Capital

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“Investing in support of knowledge transfer from universities to industry calls for new financing models which could address both the information and risk patterns of this activity. The availability of such instruments is a necessary condition for attracting larger amounts of private capital without which inventions cannot be transformed into innovations.”

Jacques Darcy, Head of Technology Transfer and Intellectual Property at European Investment Fund

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“The future of innovation lies in finding new forms of financing.”

Eppo Bruins, Former Director of STW, a joint Venture of Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research and the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs

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“Dutch physicists are number one in the world”

Wim Saarloos, former Director FOM

Focus

Nascent Ventures invests in innovative nano-technologies originating from fundamental and applied physics research in the Netherlands, including optics, photonics, nano-biology, advanced instrumentation, components and circuits, mechatronics, embedded systems and advanced materials.
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Investment process

The Fund will screen and select technologies from based on a proprietary due diligence process on various aspects of the technology, including: uniqueness, performance, application space, research, team and fundability.
Once a technology has been selected the Fund will proceed in four steps:

  1. Founding the Startup
  2. Providing Convertible Loan
  3. Managing and Building the Startup
  4. Equity round
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Contact

Feel free to contact us for more information or if you have a specific question.

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