Amsterdam startup funding news, October 2022

CryptoRefills fintech finishes seed funding round.

Amsterdam-based fintech startup CryptoRefills has closed a round of investment led by Eric Barbier, an angel investor known for founding TransferTo, Sybase 365 and Triple A. The blockchain fintech allows customers to use cryptocurrency to purchase gift cards or top up their mobile credit. This seed round, for an undisclosed sum, will fund development of advanced new web3 and blockchain applications into the gift card market.

Fastned receives €75 million from Schroders Capital for fast EV charging stations

Fastned, a company that develops fast-charging stations for electric vehicles, has announced that it will receive €75 million in funding from Schroders Capital. The investment makes Schroders Capital the new anchor depositary receipts holder for Fastned, whose advisory board is now joined by Schroders’ Jérôme Janssen. This will fund government tenders, improvements to Fastned’s 215 existing charging stations across western Europe, and expansion towards a goal of 1,000 stations by 2030.

MENA financing platform FlapKap closes $3.6 million seed round

FlapKap, a revenue-based financing platform focused on financing e-commerce businesses in the MENA region (Middle East and North Africa), has announced $3.6 million raised in its first seed funding round. Backers included Bolt by QED, Nclude, Outliers and A15. This contributes to month-over-month growth of around 200% in terms of investment and clients serviced. The funding will expand FlapKap’s capacity to finance entrepreneurs across the region.

Stake of DJ Monitor acquired by AlphaTheta

Amsterdam-based DJ Monitor, a global pioneer in electronic music usage reporting and data, has been partly acquired by AlphaTheta Corporation, the parent company for leading DJ products brand Pioneer DJ. AlphaTheta has acquired a 25% stake in DJ Monitor with a view for both companies to share technology and collaborate specifically on fair distribution of royalties to producers of electronic music.

€15 million raised to expand mental health startup OpenBags

In a Series A funding round, Amsterdam-based medtech platform OpenUp has secured €15 million from investors including Rubio Impact Ventures and Achmea Innovation Fund. OpenUp connects individuals and employees with professional mental health services via a user-friendly interface, with clients across western Europe. The funds will boost expansion into additional European markets, including France, Spain and the UK.

Online supermarket Crisp secures €75 million in series C round

One of the largest startup investments this year goes to Dutch online-only supermarket Crisp. Following 2022’s expansion into Belgium and a 36% growth in product range, this €75 million series C round of funding was led by Target Global and Keen Venture Partners, besides contributions by renowned billionaire Adriaan Mol, Sander van der Laan and Joes Daemen. The funds aim to further this expansion of Crisp’s products and sales.

Ethical coffee sourcing startup Almacena bag €3.5 million in seed round

Netherlands-based Almacena are an agritech startup offering a B2B marketplace for agricultural products from Africa, with a focus on transparent and sustainable supply chains. Already the largest online supplier for the region after less than two years, representing 12% of Africa’s total capacity of coffee exports, Almacena will use the funds – €3.5 million in a seed round co-led by Eleven Ventures and VentureFriends, besides existing investor Acequia Capital – to expand into markets in the US and beyond.

Industrial sensor company Optics11 secures €5 million and announces new CEO

Optics11, an Amsterdam-based producer of quality fibre-optic sensors for challenging industrial environments, has announced raising €5 million through a new venture round led by FORWARD.one and previous investor Value Creation Capital. In conjunction, the company has hired a new CEO, Juha Van Riet. The company aims to grow commercial operations worldwide, with an expansion of products and solutions.

E-commerce engagement platform Vurdere raises €500,000 for move from Brazil to Netherlands

Vurdere, a Brazilian social engagement platform that works with e-commerce brands, has raised €500,000 in a seed funding round led by international investors including Core Angels Atlantic, Collider and 87Labs. Primarily, the funds will go towards further internationalisation – in particular a move of Vurdere’s headquarters from Brazil to Amsterdam.

DOPS Recycling Technologies gets a €300,000 loan from Innovation Fund Noord-Holland

Circular tech startup DOPS Recycling Technologies has received a €300,000 convertible loan from the Innovation Fund Noord Holland. The funds will go towards the company’s solution for creating raw materials from complex waste flows; its technology divides waste and biomass into molecules for reuse, producing far fewer emissions than incineration.

International calls app Talk360 secures additional €3 million for growth in South Africa

Dutch startup Talk360 has announced raising €3 million, taking its total seed funding to €7 million after an initial round in May. The app enables reliable and economical calls direct to landlines and mobile phones globally. This funding round, which included numerous South African investors, aims to grow the app’s market share in South Africa and launch a pan-African payment platform.

€0.5m invested in guest experience platform HolidayHero

Amsterdam-based travel software platform HolidayHero has announced €500,000 in a pre-seed round of funding led by SaaS tech angels and founders Ruud Stelder, Dennis Cuijpers and Hjalte Niehorster. The funds will expand the customer base and team of HolidayHero, whose software solutions help hotels and short-term rental hosts manage guest questions and provide additional services, aiming to improve user reviews.

Relocation services platform Quot8 Holdings acquired by ScanMovers

Amsterdam’s ScanMovers, a comparison platform for moving service providers, has acquired Sydney’s Quot8 – a fellow comparison platform for international movers. For an undisclosed sum, the acquisition is ScanMovers’ second in just over 18 months, expanding its market to 70 countries. The resulting synergies will help both platforms provide additional services on their various international websites.

Meeting management platform Meetingselect acquires hospitality tech Cyberdigma

Meetingselect, a platform based in Amsterdam for booking meeting spaces, has announced its acquisition of Utrecht-based company Cyberdigma: software developers for meeting and coworking concept seats2meet.com. The acquisition, for an undisclosed amount, aims to advance developments in the MICE sector (meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibits), through innovative tech such as instant bookings.

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