€64 million for IQCapital at fund expansion InnovationQuarter
InnovationQuarter’s own fund – IQCapital – will be expanded with € 63.6 million to a total size of € 140 million. This will give IQCapital more room to accelerate the growth of innovative Zuid-Holland scale-ups and startups, to invest early in deep- and high-tech propositions and to further strengthen the investment climate. The additional fund capital comes from the Ministry of Economic Affairs & Climate Change and the existing shareholders of InnovationQuarter.
InnovationQuarter is by far the most active investor in South Holland. Its own fund IQCapital has made over 90 investments in more than 50 companies since its inception in 2014. In total over € 70 million was invested in these companies to date. Most capital was invested in the Life Sciences (33%), Digital Technology (24%) and Hightech (20%) sectors. In addition, investments are made in other strong sectors in South Holland: Energy, Circular, Aerospace, Maritime, Horticulture and Cybersecurity.
Every euro yields three to four euros in co-financing
IQCapital is known for its large network of co-investors. Every euro that InnovationQuarter invests yields an additional 3 to 4 euros from co-investors. Over 80 different co-investors have already invested approximately € 230 million in the portfolio companies of IQCapital.
Solving major societal challenges, in the Netherlands and the world, is not possible without investments in breakthrough technologies. For example, thanks to investments from InnovationQuarter, hundreds of billions of heart muscle cells have already been grown from stem cells (Ncardia, Leiden), one million plastic packaging units have been saved (Pieter Pot, Rotterdam) and 25 million digital systems have been protected from hacking (Cybersprint, The Hague).