The Startup Ecosystem of Rotterdam
Rotterdam has 228 startups in our sample database. This represents about 8% of The Netherlands’s startups. Rotterdam is the 5th best startup ecosystem in The Netherlands.
CITY RANKING
In 2024, the startup scene of Rotterdam shows much promise after advancing in the Global Ecosystem Index by 11 spots.
National Ranking
In The Netherlands
Regional Ranking
In Western Europe
Global Ranking
Worldwide
Ecosystem
Startup Ecosystem Overview
Startups
Rotterdam Top Startup Industries
22 startups
15 startups
22 startups
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Ecosystem HealthCheck
Rotterdam Ecosystem Health Check
The health check tables allow you to look at the performance Rotterdam has in each of the parameters that are part of StartupBlink's ranking algorithm. There are five tables, corresponding to the three subscores, the subscore analysis and industry ana...
- Overperformance
- Performance equal to global ranking
- Underperformance
ECOSYSTEM
Browse the startup ecosystem database of Rotterdam
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Startup Ecosystem Charts
Startup Funding in Rotterdam2017 - 2024
Startup Funding in Rotterdam 2017 - 2024
From 2022 to 2023, startup funding in Rotterdam has decreased by 3.18%. During this period, the number of deals in Rotterdam has decreased by 42.11%. Since 2017, total startup funding in Rotterdam exceeded US$ $1.63B.
Average Funding in 2023
$3.44M
Funding in 2023
$75.78M
Deals in 2023
22
USD
Amount of Funding (USD)
Number of Deals
Ecosystem
The Startup Ecosystem in Rotterdam
Global Rank
Rotterdam is ranked within the top 200 startup ecosystems globally.
Top Industries
Rotterdam’s startups excel particularly in Hardware & IoT where it ranks 118 and in Edtech, and Fintech. Find out more
Top Cities for Startups in The Netherlands - Ranked by StartupBlink
2024 National Rank  | City | Global Rank |  | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
No Data Available | ||||||
Startups
Notable Startups in Rotterdam
ECOSYSTEM
Why should you join Rotterdam's Startup Ecosystem?
Overview
Within Rotterdam there is an increased attraction for entrepreneurs to set up their startups in industries such as Hardware & IoT, Edtech, Fintech. These three industries represent about 26% of the startups represented on the Startup Ecosystem Map of Rotterdam.
5th
National Rank
52nd
Regional Rank
Overview
Rotterdam is The Netherlands' 5th best startup ecosystem and is ranked 52nd in Western Europe. With a population of 1M - 2M people, Rotterdam is ranked 182nd in the world. The city has some notable startup success stories including HousingAnywhere.
ECOSYSTEM
Startup Infrastructure in Rotterdam
BLOG
Recent Posts
Mon Apr 14 2025
From Service-Based to Product-Based Economy – Lessons from North Macedonia
In this special episode of the Startup Ecosystem Podcast, we revisit a conversation from two years ago, recorded during a visit to North Macedonia. Eli David Rokah, CEO of StartupBlink, sits down with Igor Madjov, founder of Startup Macedonia, to explore how Skopje is evolving from a service-based IT outsourcing city into a product-driven startup […]
Wed Apr 02 2025
Corporate Startup Activity Index 2025
For the first time ever, 372 corporations across 30 countries, 11 major industries, and 10 sub-industries have been ranked based on how actively they engage with startups. StartupBlink’s Corporate Startup Activity Index is the world’s first benchmark for corporate startup engagement — powered by real data, global partnerships with top corporations, governments and data sources, […]
Thu Mar 06 2025
The Impact of Government Support on Startups
A robust startup ecosystem creates a sense of community that brings entrepreneurs together and helps them feel less isolated. It gives them access to mentors, advisors, fellow entrepreneurs, and talents. The foundation of such an ecosystem largely relies on government support. Good policies create a fair and supportive environment that helps startups grow. Bad policies […]