The educational toy industry in Benelux thrives by creating products that make learning engaging and fun for children. Companies operate across various segments, including board games, building kits, and educational software. Many are adopting technology to enhance user experiences, such as incorporating mobile apps with physical toys. The sector is poised for growth, driven by a shift towards experiential learning and parents' increasing focus on educational value. Moreover, sustainability is becoming a key consideration, with brands exploring eco-friendly materials. As awareness of developmental benefits rises, so does demand for innovative educational toys that foster essential skills.


This list features a mix of venture capital and private equity firms primarily headquartered in Belgium and the Netherlands. Founded between 1898 and 2020, these investors range from small teams to large entities, with some managing significant funds and engaging in multiple investments throughout 2024. Notable players include Sofina, with a rich history in various sectors, and NPM Capital, focusing on long-term partnerships in education and tech. Each has a distinctive approach to supporting educational initiatives, highlighting their commitment to advancing innovative solutions in the toy space.


Top 13 Educational Toy Investors in Benelux


1. Brighteye Ventures


Brighteye Ventures is a Luxembourg-based venture capital fund founded in 2017, specializing in Edtech investments. The firm supports early-stage Edtech startups by providing funding, strategic guidance, and access to a network of industry experts. With a focus on helping companies refine their products and scale effectively in the educational technology sector, Brighteye Ventures has made several notable investments. For instance, they participated in a Series C funding round for Epic!, an on-demand digital library for kids that serves millions of children and is widely used in U.S. schools. Additionally, they invested in Memby, a Lithuania-based EdTech startup that raised a pre-seed investment, showcasing their commitment to innovative educational solutions. Their recent investment in Sdui, which raised a significant Series B round, further emphasizes their active role in the Edtech space.


2. Sofina

  • Website: sofinagroup.com
  • Type: Venture Capital
  • Headquarters: Brussels, Brussels, Belgium
  • Founded year: 1898
  • Headcount: 51-200
  • Number of deals in 2024: 4
  • LinkedIn: sofina

Sofina is a Brussels-based venture capital investment company founded in 1898, specializing in providing patient capital to growing businesses across various sectors, including telecommunications, consumer goods, and energy. The firm partners with entrepreneurs and family-owned businesses, offering strategic advice and long-term investment solutions to foster sustainable growth. Notably, Sofina has invested in Skillmatics, which raised over $15 million in Series B funding in April 2022, focusing on educational games for children. They also invested in Labster, which raised $47 million in Series C funding in April 2022, providing virtual lab simulations for educational purposes. Furthermore, Sofina has been involved with Knewton, a company that has raised significant funding to develop adaptive learning technologies, enhancing personalized learning experiences for students. These investments highlight Sofina's active role in supporting educational initiatives, particularly in the context of toys and learning tools for children.


3. European Innovation Council (EIC)


The European Innovation Council (EIC) is a public entity based in Brussels, Belgium, established to support innovation and entrepreneurship across Europe. Founded in 1958, the EIC offers various funding programs, including the EIC Accelerator and EIC Pathfinder, aimed at helping startups and SMEs develop and scale their technologies. The EIC provides business acceleration services, networking opportunities, and prizes to foster innovation in diverse sectors. Notably, the EIC has been involved in funding educational toy companies, such as Robo Wunderkind, which raised funds through both venture rounds and grants. This company specializes in creating programmable robotic kits for children, promoting STEM education through play. Additionally, the EIC has supported other innovative projects, although not all are directly related to educational toys. Overall, the EIC's commitment to fostering innovation in educational technology makes it a significant player in the educational toy investment landscape.


4. Cvc

  • Website: cvc.com
  • Type: Private Equity
  • Headquarters: Luxembourg
  • Founded year: 2005
  • Headcount: 1001-5000
  • Number of deals in 2024: 16
  • LinkedIn: cvc-capital-partners

CVC Capital Partners is a prominent private equity firm based in Luxembourg, founded in 2005. The firm specializes in private equity, credit, secondaries, and infrastructure, managing approximately €193 billion in assets for over 1000 clients, including pension funds and institutional investors. CVC has made significant investments across various sectors, including a notable acquisition of Hamleys, a leading toy retailer, in 1989, which positions them within the toy industry. Additionally, they acquired a 30% stake in GEMS Education, a major player in the education sector, indicating their interest in educational services. However, their focus appears to be broader than just educational toys, as evidenced by their other investments like Douglas Holding. Overall, CVC's involvement in the toy sector through Hamleys suggests a connection to educational toys, but their investment strategy encompasses a wider range of industries.


5. MPA Capital

  • Website: mpa.capital
  • Type: Private Equity
  • Headquarters: Brussels, Brussels, Belgium
  • Founded year: 2019
  • Headcount: 1-10
  • LinkedIn: mpaeducation

MPA Capital is a private equity investment firm based in Brussels, Belgium, founded in 2019. The firm supports mission-driven entrepreneurs and companies that address the human talent shortage, providing both investment and consultancy services. MPA Capital has a particular focus on the EdTech sector, which includes companies that enhance learning experiences and educational outcomes. Notable transactions include their investment in Kide Science, which raised $1,127,550 in a seed round in March 2019, and Watobe, which raised $500,000 in a pre-seed round in April 2020. Additionally, MPA Capital participated in funding rounds for Blackbullion, a financial edtech platform, indicating their active role in supporting educational initiatives. These investments reflect MPA Capital's commitment to fostering innovation in education, making them a relevant player in the educational landscape.


6. Gimv

  • Website: gimv.com
  • Type: Venture Capital
  • Headquarters: Antwerp, Flanders, Belgium
  • Founded year: 1980
  • Headcount: 51-200
  • Number of deals in 2024: 8
  • LinkedIn: gimv

Gimv is a venture capital investment firm based in Antwerp, Flanders, Belgium, founded in 1980. The firm partners with innovative companies across various sectors, including Consumer, Healthcare, Life Sciences, Smart Industries, and Sustainable Cities. Gimv provides investment management and strategic support to help businesses grow sustainably. Their clientele primarily consists of entrepreneurial companies seeking capital and expertise to navigate market challenges. Notably, Gimv has made investments in the educational sector, including a majority equity investment in Studiekring, a tutoring provider in the Netherlands, which aims to expand its services and reach. This investment reflects Gimv's commitment to supporting educational initiatives, which could extend to the educational toy industry as well.


7. Rockstart

  • Website: rockstart.com
  • Type: Venture Capital
  • Headquarters: Amsterdam, North Holland, Netherlands
  • Founded year: 2011
  • Headcount: 11-50
  • Number of deals in 2024: 16
  • LinkedIn: rockstart

Rockstart is a startup accelerator and investment firm based in Amsterdam, Netherlands, founded in 2011. They empower early-stage founders across various sectors, including AgriFood, Energy, and Emerging Technology, by providing investment, mentorship, and networking opportunities to help startups scale and succeed. Notably, Rockstart has invested in educational-focused startups such as Bomberbot, which raised funds to develop a platform for teaching coding to children, and hackU, which also has educational elements. Their business model emphasizes supporting purpose-driven entrepreneurs, which aligns with the mission of enhancing education through innovative products and services.


8. Brabantse Ontwikkelings Maatschappij (BOM)


The Brabantse Ontwikkelings Maatschappij (BOM) is a venture capital firm based in Tilburg, North Brabant, Netherlands, founded in 1983. BOM acts as a development agency that supports startups and scale-ups in the Brabant region, providing funding, expertise, and networking opportunities to enhance business growth. They have been involved in various sectors, including sustainable food and energy, but also have a notable presence in the educational sector. BOM has made investments in companies such as Serious Toys B.V. and Gynzy, both of which focus on educational products. Additionally, they led a funding round for Knowingo, a Dutch Edtech startup that utilizes AI and gamification to make online learning more engaging. These transactions highlight BOM's commitment to fostering innovation in education, particularly in the realm of educational toys and learning tools.


9. NPM Capital

  • Website: npm-capital.com
  • Type: Private Equity
  • Headquarters: Amsterdam, North Holland, Netherlands
  • Founded year: 1948
  • Headcount: 11-50
  • Number of deals in 2024: 1
  • LinkedIn: npm-capital

NPM Capital is a private equity investment firm based in Amsterdam, Netherlands, founded in 1948. The firm focuses on supporting medium-sized and large companies, particularly family-owned enterprises in the Benelux region. NPM Capital provides capital and strategic advisory services to help these businesses achieve growth and sustainability. They operate across various sectors, including technology and education, emphasizing long-term partnerships with their portfolio companies. Notably, NPM Capital has made significant investments in the educational sector, acquiring Futurewhiz, the parent company of online learning platforms Squla and WRTS, in December 2020. This acquisition highlights their commitment to educational technology. In June 2021, they acquired Infinitas Learning, further solidifying their presence in the education market. Additionally, their acquisition of Iddink Group in 2014 showcases their ongoing interest in educational solutions. These transactions reflect NPM Capital's strategic focus on enhancing educational offerings, making them a relevant player in the educational toy industry.


10. Rubio Impact Ventures


Rubio Impact Ventures is a venture capital firm based in Amsterdam, Netherlands, founded in 2014. The firm specializes in impact investing, providing growth capital and strategic support to entrepreneurs addressing significant social and environmental challenges. Their investment areas include clean energy, mental health, and education, emphasizing collaboration with portfolio companies. Notably, Rubio has invested in several educational technology startups, such as Bomberbot, which focuses on coding education for children, and Cleverly, which offers 1-to-1 online coaching for kids. Additionally, they led a funding round for Lingvist, a language learning app, showcasing their commitment to enhancing educational tools and resources for children. These transactions highlight Rubio's active role in the educational sector, particularly in areas that can be associated with educational toys and learning tools.


11. Prosus Group

  • Website: prosus.com
  • Type: Venture Capital
  • Headquarters: Amsterdam, North Holland, Netherlands
  • Founded year: 2019
  • Headcount: 10001+
  • Number of deals in 2024: 21
  • LinkedIn: prosus-group

Prosus Group is a global technology investor and operator based in Amsterdam, Netherlands, founded in 2019. The firm focuses on enhancing everyday life through technology across various sectors, including online classifieds, food delivery, payments, and notably, education technology. Prosus serves over two billion customers worldwide and partners with local entrepreneurs to foster community growth and sustainable business practices. Among their notable transactions in the education sector, Prosus has invested in BYJU'S, a leading edtech company that raised $540 million in December 2018, and Brainly, a Polish edtech startup that has received multiple rounds of funding totaling over $140 million. These investments highlight Prosus's commitment to supporting innovative educational solutions, making them a significant player in the educational technology landscape.


12. Peak

  • Website: peak.capital
  • Type: Venture Capital
  • Headquarters: Amsterdam, North Holland, Netherlands
  • Founded year: 2008
  • Headcount: 11-50
  • Number of deals in 2024: 8
  • LinkedIn: peak-capital

Peak Capital is a venture capital firm based in Amsterdam, Netherlands, founded in 2008. The firm specializes in investing in early-stage companies primarily within the SaaS, marketplace, and platform sectors. They have a strong focus on supporting innovative founders and helping businesses scale. Notably, Peak Capital has made investments in the educational technology space, including a €350k investment in LessonUp, a Dutch edtech startup aimed at enhancing educational experiences. This investment reflects their commitment to the educational sector, which is relevant to the educational toy industry. Additionally, they have participated in other funding rounds for educational startups, indicating a broader interest in educational tools and resources.


13. Noshaq

  • Website: noshaq.be
  • Type: Venture Capital
  • Headquarters: Belgium
  • Founded year: 1985
  • Headcount: 11-50
  • Number of deals in 2024: 11
  • LinkedIn: noshaq-be

Noshaq is a venture capital investment fund based in Belgium, founded in 1985. The firm specializes in providing financial solutions and strategic support to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the province of Liege. Noshaq focuses on funding, project structuring, and business development, particularly in sectors such as biotech and sustainable development. Notably, Noshaq has invested in Soundbops, which raised $61,679 in a seed round in 2018, a company that creates educational music products aimed at children. This investment highlights Noshaq's engagement in the educational sector, particularly in innovative products that enhance learning through play. Additionally, they have invested in YouScribe, a digital reading platform, which, while not directly an educational toy, supports educational content delivery. This indicates a broader interest in educational initiatives.



Educational Toy Insights: Key Investors in Benelux


InvestorHeadquarterSizeFoundedDeals 2024
Brighteye VenturesLuxembourg1-1020177
SofinaBrussels, Brussels, Belgium51-20018984
European Innovation Council (EIC)Brussels, Brussels, Belgium201-500195857
CvcLuxembourg1001-5000200516
MPA CapitalBrussels, Brussels, Belgium1-1020190
GimvAntwerp, Flanders, Belgium51-20019808
RockstartAmsterdam, North Holland, Netherlands11-50201116
Brabantse Ontwikkelings Maatschappij (BOM)Tilburg, North Brabant, Netherlands51-200198310
NPM CapitalAmsterdam, North Holland, Netherlands11-5019481
Rubio Impact VenturesAmsterdam, North Holland, Netherlands1-10201413
Prosus GroupAmsterdam, North Holland, Netherlands10001+201921
PeakAmsterdam, North Holland, Netherlands11-5020088
NoshaqBelgium11-50198511


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