The hydroponics farming industry in Benelux is rapidly evolving due to a growing demand for sustainable agriculture. Companies in this sector utilize soil-less cultivation methods to produce fresh and healthy crops year-round, significantly reducing water usage and eliminating the need for pesticides. Noteworthy are innovative startups focused on vertical farms and smart technology integration, ensuring efficient resource use. With urban centers pressing for local foods, the industry is on track for exponential growth, positioned to lead agricultural practices in sustainability and efficiency while revolutionizing the way we grow food. The emphasis on environmentally friendly solutions is stronger than ever.


This article highlights a selection of 13 prominent investors in the Benelux region’s hydroponics farming sector. Ranging from venture capital firms to public entities, these investors are based in key locations like Amsterdam and Luxembourg. Founded between 1948 and 2017, they vary in size and investment approaches, with deal counts in 2024 reflecting their active involvement in supporting agrifood technologies. Wanting to push sustainable initiatives, these investors have participated in transactions benefiting innovative companies looking to change the face of agriculture through hydroponics.


Top 13 Hydroponics Farming Investors in Benelux


1. 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. It offers various funding programs, such as the EIC Accelerator and EIC Pathfinder, aimed at helping startups and SMEs develop and scale their technologies. The EIC also provides business acceleration services, networking opportunities, and prizes to foster innovation in multiple sectors. Notably, the EIC has invested in LIVIN farms, a company focused on sustainable food production through innovative farming techniques, including insect breeding, which is relevant to the hydroponics context. In 2020, the EIC provided €2.5 million in funding to LIVIN farms as part of the European 'Green Deal', highlighting its commitment to sustainable agricultural practices. Additionally, the EIC's involvement in other agricultural technology companies, such as Saia Agrobotics, further emphasizes its focus on supporting innovations that can enhance food production systems, including hydroponics.


2. EIT Food

  • Website: eitfood.eu
  • Type: Corporate
  • Headquarters: Leuven, Flanders, Belgium
  • Founded year: 2016
  • Headcount: 51-200
  • Number of deals in 2024: 37
  • LinkedIn: eit-food

EIT Food is a not-for-profit organization founded in 2016, based in Leuven, Flanders, Belgium. It is dedicated to transforming the food system through innovation, education, and entrepreneurship. EIT Food supports agrifood startups and entrepreneurs by providing resources, funding opportunities, and educational programs aimed at creating healthier and sustainable food solutions. In 2024, EIT Food was involved in several transactions, including non-equity assistance for startups like Evja, Ficosterra, and MyEasyFarm, which may be exploring innovative agricultural practices. They also provided a grant to Elaniti, which could be relevant to sustainable farming initiatives. Notably, they have supported Arborea, a company that has raised €3.6 million to scale its technology, potentially related to hydroponics, indicating their engagement with innovative agrifood technologies.


3. European Investment Bank (EIB)


The European Investment Bank (EIB) is a public entity based in Luxembourg, founded in 1958, that provides financial services including loans, equity investments, guarantees, and advisory services to support sustainable projects across various sectors. EIB's mission is to promote growth and job creation by funding initiatives that align with sustainability goals. In 2023, EIB participated in the debt financing of CrowdFarming, which raised approximately $16 million to support sustainable agricultural practices. Additionally, EIB has been involved in various other transactions, such as financing for MATR Foods, which raised over $22 million in 2024, indicating its active role in supporting agricultural ventures. These transactions highlight EIB's commitment to fostering sustainable agricultural practices, which may include hydroponics as part of its broader investment strategy.


4. Astanor

  • Website: astanor.com
  • Type: Venture Capital
  • Headquarters: Luxembourg
  • Founded year: 2017
  • Headcount: 11-50
  • Number of deals in 2024: 10
  • LinkedIn: astanor-venture

Astanor is an impact investment firm based in Luxembourg, founded in 2017, that specializes in the agrifood tech sector. They focus on supporting innovative companies that aim to create sustainable food systems through strategic guidance and investment. Astanor has been actively involved in several notable transactions, particularly in the hydroponics and vertical farming space. For instance, they led a $170 million Series C funding round for Infarm, a Berlin-based startup that is expanding its global network of vertical farms. Additionally, Astanor led a $23 million Series A funding round for Source.ag, a company that provides AI-powered solutions to optimize greenhouse operations, which is highly relevant to hydroponics farming. These investments reflect Astanor's commitment to driving growth and sustainability in the agrifood tech sector, particularly in areas related to hydroponics and innovative farming practices.


5. 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 venture capital firm and startup accelerator 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. Rockstart's business model emphasizes supporting purpose-driven entrepreneurs to drive positive change. Notably, they have invested in Nordetect, a company that develops technology for water quality monitoring and soil health, which is crucial for indoor farming and hydroponics. Additionally, Rockstart has invested in HydroNeo, further showcasing their involvement in the hydroponics farming sector. In 2024 alone, Rockstart has made 16 investments, indicating their active role in fostering innovation in agriculture and related fields.


6. Navus Ventures

  • Website: navusventures.nl
  • Type: Corporate
  • Headquarters: Maassluis, South Holland, Netherlands
  • Founded year: 2013
  • Headcount: 11-50
  • Number of deals in 2024: 3
  • LinkedIn:

Navus Ventures is a corporate venture capital firm based in Maassluis, South Holland, Netherlands, founded in 2013. The firm specializes in investing in high-tech companies focused on sustainable food and energy solutions. With a team that boasts over 75 years of experience in technological innovation and market deployment, Navus Ventures provides active support and guidance to its portfolio companies. In 2024, they have already made three investments, including significant funding rounds for companies like Blue Radix, which focuses on autonomous growing and AI-driven greenhouse technology, and Saia Agrobotics, which is scaling up its technology for market readiness. Their involvement in these transactions highlights their commitment to advancing agricultural technologies, particularly in the hydroponics sector, making them a relevant player in this field.


7. Future Food Fund

  • Website: futurefoodfund.com
  • Type: Venture Capital
  • Headquarters: Utrecht, Utrecht, Netherlands
  • Founded year: 2016
  • Headcount: 1-10
  • Number of deals in 2024: 5
  • LinkedIn: future-food-fund

Future Food Fund is a venture capital firm based in Utrecht, Netherlands, founded in 2016. The firm specializes in early-stage investments in food and agriculture technology startups across Western Europe. Their mission is to drive environmental impact through strategic investments aimed at creating sustainable food systems. Notable transactions include investments in OlsAro, a Swedish agtech startup focused on scaling technological efforts in agriculture, and AvL Motion, which is developing autonomous harvesting robots for asparagus. These investments reflect Future Food Fund's commitment to supporting innovative solutions in the agricultural sector, which may include hydroponics as part of their broader strategy to enhance food production and sustainability.


8. SHIFT Invest

  • Website: shiftinvest.com
  • Type: Venture Capital
  • Headquarters: Amstelveen, North Holland, Netherlands
  • Founded year: 2009
  • Headcount: 11-50
  • Number of deals in 2024: 4
  • LinkedIn: shift-invest

SHIFT Invest is a venture capital fund based in Amstelveen, North Holland, Netherlands, founded in 2009. The firm specializes in impact investing, targeting innovative enterprises that have the potential for significant environmental impact. They provide funding and support to early-stage companies across various sectors, including energy transition, smart food & agriculture, and sustainable mobility. Notably, SHIFT Invest has participated in several relevant transactions, such as investing in 30MHz, a company that focuses on agricultural technology and data platforms aimed at enhancing agricultural practices. Their investments in 30MHz, both in Series A and Series B rounds, highlight their commitment to advancing technology in the agricultural sector, which is closely related to hydroponics. Additionally, their investment in Saia Agrobotics, which focuses on robotics for agriculture, further emphasizes their interest in innovative agricultural solutions. Overall, SHIFT Invest's mission to contribute to sustainability aligns well with the goals of hydroponics farming.


9. Oikocredit

  • Website: oikocredit.coop
  • Type: Corporate
  • Headquarters: Amersfoort, Utrecht, Netherlands
  • Founded year: 1975
  • Headcount: 201-500
  • Number of deals in 2024: 12
  • LinkedIn: oikocredit

Oikocredit is a not-for-profit social investment organization based in Amersfoort, Utrecht, Netherlands, founded in 1975. It focuses on providing financial support to organizations in the financial inclusion, agriculture, and renewable energy sectors. Oikocredit aims to enhance the social impact of its partners, particularly those serving low-income communities, by offering loans and equity investments. Notable transactions include a $8.5 million Series B investment in Good Nature Agro, which is involved in sustainable agriculture, and a $1.5 million equity investment in Farmerline, an agritech startup in Ghana. These investments reflect Oikocredit's commitment to supporting innovative agricultural practices, which may include hydroponics, thereby contributing to sustainable food production and social development.


10. Anterra Capital

  • Website: anterracapital.com
  • Type: Venture Capital
  • Headquarters: Amsterdam, North Holland, Netherlands
  • Founded year: 2013
  • Headcount: 11-50
  • Number of deals in 2024: 9
  • LinkedIn: anterra-capital

Anterra Capital is a venture capital firm based in Amsterdam, Netherlands, founded in 2013. The firm specializes in agrifood technology investments, focusing on startups that leverage biotechnology and digital solutions to enhance food production and sustainability. Anterra Capital operates primarily in North America and Europe, supporting innovative companies in the agrifood sector. Notable transactions include participation in funding rounds for Enko Chem, a crop health company, and ProducePay, which aims to reduce economic and food waste in the fresh produce supply chain. These investments reflect Anterra's commitment to advancing technologies that can improve agricultural practices, including potential applications in hydroponics farming.


11. Icos Capital


Icos Capital is a venture capital firm based in Rotterdam, South Holland, Netherlands, founded in 2005. The firm specializes in ClimateTech investments, partnering with startups and corporations to accelerate sustainability through innovative technologies. Their focus spans sectors such as Food Systems and Circular Economy, providing funding and strategic support to help clients achieve significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. Notably, Icos Capital has invested in FOTONIQ, a company that offers sustainable horticulture spray coatings for high-tech greenhouses, which is directly relevant to hydroponics farming. They also participated in funding rounds for Gamaya, a Swiss AgTech company, and eAgronom, which focuses on carbon credit programs and GHG monitoring technologies. These investments highlight Icos Capital's commitment to advancing sustainable agricultural practices, including those applicable to hydroponics.


12. 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 specializes in supporting medium-sized and large family-owned enterprises in the Benelux region, providing capital and strategic advisory services to foster growth and sustainability. NPM Capital operates across various sectors, including technology and education, but has also made significant investments in the agricultural sector. Notably, they acquired a minority stake in KUBO, a leader in high-tech horticultural greenhouse development, which aims to enhance global greenhouse concepts. Additionally, NPM Capital has invested in Agro Care, Europe's largest tomato producer, providing growth capital to support its expansion and technological advancements. These transactions highlight NPM Capital's commitment to advancing agricultural innovation, including hydroponics, making them a relevant player in this field.


13. PeakBridge


PeakBridge VC is a venture capital firm based in Luxembourg, founded in 2018, that specializes in FoodTech investments. The firm supports early-stage founders and businesses in the food industry by providing investment, consulting services, and access to a vast network of industry experts. Their focus is on innovative solutions that address significant challenges in the global food system, making them a key player in the FoodTech sector. Notable transactions include their participation in the Series A funding round for Vanilla Vida, a food tech company, and their involvement in the seed funding for Hyperplan, which utilizes satellite and meteorological data technology to secure food chains. Additionally, they invested in Kern Tec, a company focused on developing products from stone fruit seeds, which indicates their interest in innovative agricultural technologies. These transactions highlight PeakBridge's commitment to advancing food technology, which may encompass hydroponics farming.



Hydroponics Farming Insights: Key Investors in Benelux


InvestorHeadquarterSizeFoundedDeals 2024
European Innovation Council (EIC)Brussels, Brussels, Belgium201-500195857
EIT FoodLeuven, Flanders, Belgium51-200201637
European Investment Bank (EIB)Luxembourg1001-5000195899
AstanorLuxembourg11-50201710
RockstartAmsterdam, North Holland, Netherlands11-50201116
Navus VenturesMaassluis, South Holland, Netherlands11-5020133
Future Food FundUtrecht, Utrecht, Netherlands1-1020165
SHIFT InvestAmstelveen, North Holland, Netherlands11-5020094
OikocreditAmersfoort, Utrecht, Netherlands201-500197512
Anterra CapitalAmsterdam, North Holland, Netherlands11-5020139
Icos CapitalRotterdam, South Holland, Netherlands11-5020054
NPM CapitalAmsterdam, North Holland, Netherlands11-5019481
PeakBridgeLuxembourg11-5020188


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