The music merchandising industry in Benelux thrives on creativity and innovation, with companies making a mark by delivering unique merchandise related to artists and bands. From clothing and accessories to vinyl records and collectibles, merchandise plays a vital role for fans who seek connection with their favorite musicians. E-commerce platforms and live events have adapted post-pandemic, boosting demand for customized products. With the growing role of technology in music consumption, the industry is shifting toward online experiences. As demand rises for personalized and sustainable offerings, businesses are poised to explore new avenues for growth and community engagement.


Investors in the Benelux music merchandising scene vary widely, ranging from venture capital firms such as Prosus Group and LeanSquare to corporate entities like the European Innovation Council. These entities differ in size, with some, like Prosus, employing over 10,000 individuals, while others consist of small teams. Founded between 1958 and 2019, these investors collectively engaged in numerous transactions, making 2024 a noteworthy year with investments in innovative music technology and merchandising solutions. With a strong inclination towards fostering creativity, these investors are crucial to propelling the industry's evolution and economic growth.


Top 7 Music Merchandising Investors in Benelux


1. 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 education technology, serving over two billion customers worldwide. Notably, Prosus has invested in BandLab, which raised $12 million in a Series B round in April 2022. BandLab is a significant player in the music industry, providing a platform for musicians to create and collaborate. This investment highlights Prosus's interest in the music sector, particularly in technology that supports music creation and distribution. Additionally, Prosus has made investments in other sectors, but their involvement with BandLab positions them as a potential player in the music merchandising space.


2. LeanSquare

  • Website: leansquare.be
  • Type: Venture Capital
  • Headquarters: Belgium
  • Founded year: 2014
  • Headcount: 1-10
  • Number of deals in 2024: 3
  • LinkedIn: leansquare

LeanSquare is a venture capital investment fund based in Belgium, founded in 2014. The firm specializes in supporting innovative projects across various sectors, including the Cultural and Creative Industries, Enterprise Software, and Life Sciences. LeanSquare provides financial investment, expertise, and networking opportunities to startups that are at a mature stage and seeking growth. Notably, LeanSquare has invested in Musimap, a company that raised significant funding in both 2016 and 2020, focusing on music data and analytics, which is highly relevant to the music merchandising industry. Additionally, they have supported other projects like Soundbops, which, while not exclusively music merchandising, contributes to the music ecosystem. LeanSquare emphasizes building trust and long-term relationships with entrepreneurs, which is crucial in the dynamic landscape of the music industry.


3. 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. With a team of former entrepreneurs, Peak Capital provides funding and support to help innovative founders scale their businesses. Among their notable transactions, they have invested in Peecho, a service that converts digital content into physical products, which is relevant to the music merchandising industry. Additionally, they have backed companies like HappyPrinting and Flinders Design, which, while not directly related to music, showcase their interest in businesses that may have synergies with physical product creation and distribution.


4. 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. In recent years, the EIC has been involved in several transactions relevant to the music industry, notably funding Enote, a Berlin-based music technology startup, which raised €10 million in pre-Series A funding in March 2023, along with previous grants and seed funding. Additionally, the EIC has supported other ventures like Tribute Brand and Minuendo through grants, showcasing its commitment to fostering innovation in diverse sectors, including music technology.


5. River Venture Partners

  • Website: rivervp.com
  • Type: Venture Capital
  • Headquarters: Amsterdam, North Holland, Netherlands
  • Founded year: 2015
  • Headcount: 1-10
  • LinkedIn:

River Venture Partners is a venture capital firm based in Amsterdam, North Holland, founded in 2015. The firm specializes in providing angel syndicate funding and advisory services to early-stage companies, primarily in the technology sector. They support entrepreneurs in building digital businesses by offering financial backing and strategic guidance. Notably, River Venture Partners has invested in Fangage, which raised over $2.3 million in a seed round in March 2021, and Clubee, which raised approximately $693,194 in a Series A round in July 2023, as well as an earlier seed round of about $617,557 in June 2021. These investments highlight their engagement with platforms that enhance artist-fan interactions, suggesting a potential alignment with music merchandising interests.


6. 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. However, they have also engaged in investments within the music industry, notably with Herrmutt Lobby, which raised funds in 2014, and Soundbops, which secured funding in 2018. These transactions highlight Noshaq's interest in fostering innovation and growth in diverse sectors, including music merchandising.


7. MillionMonkeys


MillionMonkeys is a consulting firm based in Amsterdam, specializing in building successful companies from creative ideas. Founded in 2013, the firm connects entrepreneurs with investors and provides technical expertise to facilitate business development. In recent years, MillionMonkeys has participated in notable transactions such as investing in TicketSwap, Europe's leading ethical ticket resale platform, which raised $10 million to accelerate growth in the live entertainment sector. They also invested in Convious, an AI-driven ecommerce platform for the experience economy, which raised €10.5 million in Series A funding. These investments indicate a focus on the entertainment and experience economy, which may overlap with music merchandising, particularly through ticketing and event-related services.



Music Merchandising Insights: Key Investors in Benelux


InvestorHeadquarterSizeFoundedDeals 2024
Prosus GroupAmsterdam, North Holland, Netherlands10001+201921
LeanSquareBelgium1-1020143
PeakAmsterdam, North Holland, Netherlands11-5020088
European Innovation Council (EIC)Brussels, Brussels, Belgium201-500195857
River Venture PartnersAmsterdam, North Holland, Netherlands1-1020150
NoshaqBelgium11-50198511
MillionMonkeysAmsterdam, North Holland, Netherlands1-1020130


Want to find more investors focusing on the music merchandising industry?

If you want to find more investors that are active in the music merchandisingindustry, you can do that with Inven. We built this list and analysis throughInven's Investor Search, and there are a lot more private equity, venturecapital, and corporate investors like these globally.

With Inven, you'll also get to know:

  • Deal History: Number of deals and their sizes.
  • Portfolio: Companies they've invested in.
  • Contact data: Key dealmakers, including their emails and phonenumbers.
  • ...and much more!