The educational travel industry in Benelux is flourishing, blending immersive learning experiences with tourism. Companies offering educational travel range from study abroad programs to specialized language courses abroad, cultural tours, and experiential learning initiatives. Major players in the sector focus on creating enriching travel experiences that enhance students' educational journeys and foster international collaboration. With a growing emphasis on educational technology, virtual programs and hybrid learning experiences are also emerging. The future of educational travel in the region hints at an increase in sustainability practices and innovative software solutions that cater to educational institutions and travel agencies alike.


The list of educational travel investors in Benelux features 14 various firms, predominantly venture capital and private equity types. Investors range in size from small teams to large entities, and they are strategically located across Brussels, Luxembourg, and Amsterdam. Founded as early as 1898 or as recently as 2017, these investors collectively engaged in 2024 transactions that reflect their interest in fostering growth within the educational travel sector, with notable investments by firms like CVC, Prosus, and Gimv.


Top 14 Educational Travel Investors in Benelux


1. 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 investment firm based in Luxembourg, specializing in private equity, credit, secondaries, and infrastructure. Founded in 2005, the firm manages approximately €193 billion in assets for over 1000 clients, including pension funds and institutional investors. CVC has made significant investments in various sectors, including travel and education. Notably, they acquired Shearings Holidays Ltd in 1996, which operates in the travel industry. In 2019, CVC led a consortium to acquire a 30% stake in GEMS Education, a major education provider in Dubai, valued at around $1 billion. This investment highlights CVC's commitment to the education sector. Additionally, their acquisition of Etraveli, a global flight-centric online travel agency, further emphasizes their involvement in the travel industry. These transactions reflect CVC's strategy of delivering sustainable value and growth through strategic investments across diverse sectors, including those relevant to educational travel.


2. Brighteye Ventures


Brighteye Ventures is a Luxembourg-based venture capital fund founded in 2017, specializing in early-stage Edtech investments. The firm provides funding, strategic guidance, and access to a network of industry experts to help startups refine their products and scale effectively in the educational technology sector. Notable transactions include their participation in Ironhack, a company that has raised significant funding to expand its corporate training programs, which may involve travel for training purposes. Additionally, Brighteye led a funding round for Ucademy, an edtech startup focused on expanding in Latin America, which could also relate to educational travel. Their investments in companies like Ornikar, while primarily focused on road safety, demonstrate their engagement in the broader educational landscape. Overall, Brighteye Ventures is positioned to influence the educational travel sector through their Edtech investments.


3. 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, focused on enhancing everyday life through technology. Founded in 2019, the firm operates in various sectors, including online classifieds, food delivery, payments, and education technology, serving over two billion customers worldwide. Prosus partners with local entrepreneurs to create valuable products and services, fostering community growth and sustainable business practices. Notably, Prosus has made significant investments in the educational sector, including a $220 million investment in Eruditus Executive Education in August 2021 and a $113 million investment in the same company in August 2020. These investments highlight their commitment to enhancing educational opportunities. Furthermore, their acquisition of Despegar, a Latin American online travel agency, for $1.7 billion, indicates their strategic interest in the travel industry, which may include educational travel as part of their offerings.


4. 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. In recent years, the EIB has been actively involved in financing educational institutions, highlighting its commitment to enhancing educational infrastructure. For instance, the EIB invested €50 million in the construction of the Cork University Business School at University College Cork, which is expected to accommodate thousands of students and staff daily. Additionally, the EIB has provided funding to Dublin City University and University College Dublin, further emphasizing its role in supporting educational initiatives. These transactions reflect the EIB's focus on promoting growth and job creation through education, making it a relevant player in the educational travel sector.


5. European Innovation Council (EIC)


The European Innovation Council (EIC) is a public entity based in Brussels, Belgium, established to support innovation and entrepreneurship throughout 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. In 2024, the EIC was involved in significant transactions within the educational sector, providing grants to institutions such as King's College London, which raised $4,320,480, and the National University of Ireland, Maynooth, which secured $4,326,181. These grants highlight the EIC's role in fostering educational initiatives, alongside its broader mission of promoting innovation across different sectors. Additionally, the EIC has invested in companies like Handiscover, which, while not directly related to educational travel, demonstrates its engagement in diverse funding activities.


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. Notably, they have made significant investments in the educational sector, such as their majority equity investment in Studiekring, a tutoring provider in the Netherlands, which aims to expand its operations. Additionally, Gimv acquired a 46% stake in Easyvoyage, a travel website, further demonstrating their engagement in the travel industry. These transactions highlight Gimv's diverse investment portfolio and their potential interest in the educational travel space.


7. PPF Group

  • Website: ppfgroup.nl
  • Type: Private Equity
  • Headquarters: Amsterdam, North Holland, Netherlands
  • Founded year: 1991
  • Headcount: 501-1000
  • Number of deals in 2024: 1
  • LinkedIn:

PPF Group is a diversified private equity firm based in Amsterdam, Netherlands, founded in 1991. The company operates across multiple sectors, including telecommunications, media, financial services, and biotechnology, providing innovative solutions to businesses and consumers. Notably, PPF Group has made significant investments in the educational travel sector, particularly through its involvement with Culture Trip, a London-based travel site that has raised substantial funding (over $100 million) across multiple rounds (Series A, B, and C) to enhance its offerings in travel services and experiences. Additionally, PPF Group has invested in Flash Pack, a company that specializes in boutique trips for solo travelers, indicating a focus on unique travel experiences that can be educational. These transactions highlight PPF Group's commitment to the travel industry, particularly in areas that promote cultural and educational experiences.


8. Mangrove Capital Partners


Mangrove Capital Partners is a venture capital firm based in Luxembourg, founded in 2000, that specializes in early-stage investments in innovative technology companies. They provide financial support and strategic guidance to entrepreneurs, particularly in sectors like digital health and education tech. Notably, they have invested in Exoticca, a tour operator that raised significant funding to enhance its technology and improve the travel experience for customers. This investment reflects their interest in the travel sector, particularly in companies that can provide educational travel experiences through innovative solutions. Their operations are primarily focused on Europe and Israel, where they actively seek to empower startups and foster growth in the tech ecosystem.


9. Triton Partners


Triton Partners is a private equity investment firm based in Luxembourg, founded in 1997. The firm specializes in private equity and credit investments in European mid-market businesses, focusing on sectors such as Business Services, Industrial Tech, and Healthcare. Triton partners with management teams to address challenges and drive growth, providing operational expertise and capital to help companies unlock their full potential. Notably, Triton has made significant investments in the travel sector, including the acquisition of Sunweb Group, a leading European online tour operator with a turnover exceeding EUR 600 million and serving approximately 1 million customers annually. Additionally, Triton is set to acquire the tour operating activities of Corendon Holiday Group through Sunweb Group, which reported a turnover of EUR 515 million in 2018. These transactions highlight Triton's active role in the travel industry, which may encompass educational travel opportunities.


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 Lingvist, which raised €5.1 million for its language learning app, and Cleverly, which secured €4.6 million for its online coaching services for children. Additionally, they invested in Winc Academy, which focuses on preparing adults for tech careers. These transactions highlight Rubio's active role in the education sector, making them a relevant player in the educational travel context.


11. Mediahuis Technology & Product Studio


Mediahuis Technology & Product Studio is a venture capital firm based in Amsterdam, Netherlands, founded in 2020. As part of the Mediahuis media group, it focuses on independent journalism and diverse media services, while also investing in technology and product development. The firm has made notable investments in the educational sector, including Tomorrow University of Applied Sciences, which raised significant funding to enhance its technological infrastructure and academic offerings. Additionally, they invested in Tomorrow's Education, a Berlin-based edtech startup developing a metaverse campus, showcasing their interest in innovative educational solutions. Their portfolio also includes Swap Language, which focuses on language learning, further emphasizing their commitment to education.


12. 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 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 several educational technology companies, such as BYJU'S, which raised significant funding rounds to expand its international reach, and Skillmatics, which focuses on educational products for children. Additionally, their investment in Labster, a company that provides virtual lab simulations for students, further emphasizes their interest in the educational sector. These transactions highlight Sofina's active role in supporting innovative educational solutions, aligning with the goals of educational travel.


13. Inkef

  • Website: inkef.com
  • Type: Venture Capital
  • Headquarters: Amsterdam, North Holland, Netherlands
  • Founded year: 2010
  • Headcount: 11-50
  • Number of deals in 2024: 4
  • LinkedIn: inkef-netherlands-manager

Inkef is a venture capital firm based in Amsterdam, Netherlands, founded in 2010. The firm specializes in early-stage investments primarily in the healthcare and technology sectors, supporting mission-driven entrepreneurs with funding and strategic guidance to scale their businesses. Notably, Inkef has also invested in the travel industry, with significant transactions including a Series A investment in Withlocals, a global marketplace for personalized travel experiences, where they raised $4.1M in 2017, and a Series B investment of $9.04M in 2019. Additionally, they led a €3M Series A funding round for Polarsteps, a travel startup focused on enhancing travel experiences. These investments highlight Inkef's engagement in the travel sector, particularly in companies that could align with educational travel initiatives.


14. Expon Capital

  • Website: exponcapital.com
  • Type: Venture Capital
  • Headquarters: Luxembourg
  • Founded year: 2015
  • Headcount: 1-10
  • Number of deals in 2024: 2
  • LinkedIn: exponcapital

Expon Capital is a venture capital firm based in Luxembourg, founded in 2015. The firm specializes in seed and scale-up funding for technology-driven startups and growth companies, with a strong emphasis on social impact and the development of the Luxembourg startup ecosystem. Expon Capital has been involved in several notable transactions, particularly in the travel sector, including multiple investments in itravel, which raised over $7 million in Series B funding and additional amounts in Series A rounds. This involvement highlights their interest in the travel industry, particularly in companies that may have educational travel components, aligning with their mission to support entrepreneurs addressing significant global challenges.



Educational Travel Insights: Key Investors in Benelux


InvestorHeadquarterSizeFoundedDeals 2024
CvcLuxembourg1001-5000200516
Brighteye VenturesLuxembourg1-1020177
Prosus GroupAmsterdam, North Holland, Netherlands10001+201921
European Investment Bank (EIB)Luxembourg1001-5000195899
European Innovation Council (EIC)Brussels, Brussels, Belgium201-500195857
GimvAntwerp, Flanders, Belgium51-20019808
PPF GroupAmsterdam, North Holland, Netherlands501-100019911
Mangrove Capital PartnersLuxembourg11-5020005
Triton PartnersLuxembourg201-50019976
Rubio Impact VenturesAmsterdam, North Holland, Netherlands1-10201413
Mediahuis Technology & Product StudioAmsterdam, North Holland, Netherlands201-50020205
SofinaBrussels, Brussels, Belgium51-20018984
InkefAmsterdam, North Holland, Netherlands11-5020104
Expon CapitalLuxembourg1-1020152


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