Bron
Rockstart
Rockstart, early stage VC-accelerator, announces its partnership with the Institute for Advanced Metropolitan Solutions (AMS Institute) and the City of Amsterdam to launch Amsterdam Circular investor readiness program, a new program designed to strengthen Amsterdam’s early stage circular economy startups and their funding efforts. The program is designed to support early stage circular startups from the Amsterdam metropolitan area developing circular solutions in food, energy, mobility, digitization, biobased and circular construction, and climate resilience. The program runs from mid-April until the end of June. Circular startups can apply now until March 8, 2023.
Amsterdam Circular is a two month, cost-free program held via a hybrid format designed to support startups at the beginning of their journey. With both in-person and online events, founders can expect to spend four to eight hours per week participating in workshops, training sessions, and other deep dives into building a lasting business. With training, mentoring, and network support customized to the startup’s needs, Amsterdam Circular will culminate with the Amsterdam Circular Investors Day where participants can connect with key stakeholders operating in their domain.
“Amsterdam has positioned itself as a global front-runner for circular innovation. AMS Institute combines cutting-edge research on urban innovation with an inner-city testing ground to help startups get real-world feedback on their solutions and connect them to network and know-how. Capital is needed to help startups grow into scaleups, and to scale their solutions to metropolitan regions worldwide. The Amsterdam Circular program supports founders in raising the funding they need to develop solutions to our most pressing urban challenges,” stated Stephan van Dijk, Director of Innovation at AMS Institute
“Ambitious founders are needed to help Amsterdam become a circular city by 2050. Innovation happens when research, industry, and government collaborate, so we are teaming up with AMS Institute and Rockstart to support our most impactful circular startups. Amsterdam Circular helps founders connect with local and international investors to scale their impact in the Amsterdam Metropolitan Area and beyond”, comments Bas Beekman, Program Director at StartupAmsterdam
Commenting on the partnership, Rune Theill, CEO and Co-Founder, Rockstart stated: “Amsterdam’s ongoing transformation into a regenerative city requires collaboration across institutions – from local government actors to venture capital, startups, corporate executives, universities, research institutions, and beyond. Rockstart was founded in Amsterdam and the city’s entrepreneurial and innovative propositions are still crucial for our strategic growth. Dutch startups need more support to further develop the circular economic model, and we’re confident that the Amsterdam Circular program will play a major role in driving progress within the sector.”
The Amsterdam Circular program focuses on post-revenue startups in the circular urban domain that aim to expand beyond Amsterdam and into the international market. Teams must include at least three members and be actively looking for funding.
Founded in Amsterdam more than 10 years ago, Rockstart has run over 30 programs dedicated to startups innovating in tech, energy, and agrifood in partnership with institutional and corporate partners. To date, Rockstart has leveraged an international network of investors, mentors, experts, and corporate partners to support over 300 startups who have raised more than €200m of funding. Rockstart invests in early stage startups from its AgriFood, Energy, and Emerging Tech funds.
For more information about the program, please visit the Amsterdam Circular website.
To apply to the program, please visit the applications webpage.
