ROM Utrecht Region

What ROM Utrecht Region does

ROM Utrecht Region B.V. is a private regional development company (ROM) headquartered in Utrecht, Netherlands, established in 2020 with the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs and regional governments as public shareholders. It invests risk capital and provides innovation and internationalization services to startups and scale-ups across three thematic ecosystems: Life Sciences & Health, Earth Valley (sustainability), and New Digital Society (digital). Its product suite spans early-phase loans (Vroege Fase Financiering, €50K-€350K at 5% + reference rate, 8-year term, 25% conversion discount), validation funding (Startup Innovatie Fonds), scale-up capital (Participatiefonds), three sector venture funds (Future Health Ventures, Earth Ventures, Digital Ventures), and fund-of-funds vehicles (SHIFT Invest IV, European Cyber Tech Fund V, Healthtech Fund II). The company has 51-100 employees, has executed over 100 investments in five years, deployed €88M in 2024, and engages 1,500+ entrepreneurs through recurring community events and partnerships with UtrechtInc, Dotslash, UMC Utrecht, and Utrecht University. Revenue is generated primarily through investment returns (equity and loan participations), supplemented by public-sector funding; specific revenue figures are not publicly disclosed. The organization also operates internationalization channels via the Enterprise Europe Network consortium, export accelerator programs, FDI attraction, and trade missions.

Name

ROM Utrecht Region

Legal name

ROM Utrecht Region B.V.

Website

https://romutrechtregion.nl

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

ROM Utrecht Region is a Dutch regional development company (founded 2020) that invests in and supports startups and scale-ups in the Utrecht region across three ecosystems: Life Sciences & Health, sustainability (Earth Valley), and digitalization (New Digital Society), deploying risk capital through multiple fund vehicles and ecosystem programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Regional Development & Venture Capital Services

NAICS

Securities, Commodity Contracts, and Other Financial Investments and Related Activities (523)

SIC

Security Brokers, Dealers & Flotation Companies (6211)

akta.pro primary industry

Geography-Focused Venture Capital (Regional/Emerging Markets) (FSANAAAE)

Keywords

• Regional development investing
• Venture capital funds
• Startup financing services
• Innovation ecosystem support
• Internationalization services

Headquarters

HQ city

Utrecht

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Investment Returns: ROM generates returns through equity investments and loan participations in innovative startups and scale-ups in the Utrecht region. They invest risk capital in companies developing solutions in Life Sciences & Health, Earth Valley (sustainability), and New Digital Society (digital) ecosystems.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

ROM Utrecht Region is a regional development company (ROM) that invests risk capital in, and provides innovation and internationalization support to, startups and scale-ups in the Utrecht region across three thematic ecosystems: Life Sciences & Health, Earth Valley (sustainability), and New Digital Society (digitalization). It deploys capital through multiple fund vehicles including venture funds (Future Health Ventures, Earth Ventures, Digital Ventures) and loan/participation instruments (Vroege Fase Financiering, Startup Innovatie Fonds, Participatiefonds, Proof of Concept-fonds), complemented by innovation acceleration platforms and internationalization services via Enterprise Europe Network.

Product overview

ROM Utrecht Region operates as a regional development company (ROM) offering a comprehensive ecosystem of investment funds and innovation support services. The organization provides venture capital through three thematic funds: Future Health Ventures (healthcare/life sciences), Earth Ventures (sustainability), and Digital Ventures (digital technology). Complementing direct investment funds are financing instruments including Vroege Fase Financiering (early-phase loans €50K-€350K), Startup Innovatie Fonds, Participatiefonds, and Proof of Concept funding. Innovation acceleration services include EDIH Digital Hub Noordwest (AI, data, robotics support), AI Utrecht Region (AI ecosystem platform with 15+ labs), U-Forward (open innovation challenge platform), DigiC (circular construction digitalization), and Startup Utrecht Region. Internationalization support encompasses Enterprise Europe Network, Export Accelerator Programs, and FDI attraction services. The organization serves innovative companies across three ecosystems: Life Sciences & Health, Earth Valley (sustainability), and New Digital Society.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• U-Forward: Open innovation platform that allows entrepreneurs and initiators from across the Netherlands to pitch their innovative solutions for challenges from Utrecht governments, organizations, and corporates.
• DigiC
• EDIH Digital Hub Noordwest
• AI Utrecht Region
• Startup Utrecht Region

Products and services

• Future Health Ventures Thematic venture fund focused on Life Sciences & Health companies in the Utrecht region, providing equity investment and innovation support for healthcare innovation across medical technology, biotechnology, and digital health.
• Earth Ventures Thematic venture fund supporting startups and scale-ups working on sustainable solutions for climate, energy, and living quality, covering circular economy, bio-LNG, plant-based food, and clean technology.
• Digital Ventures Thematic venture fund for digital technology companies including EdTech, Immersive Technology, Media, and Games, supporting the New Digital Society ecosystem.
• Vroege Fase Financiering (VFF) Early-phase financing fund providing risk capital loans between €50,000 and €350,000 for Proof-of-Concept stage innovative starters at TRL phase 3-5. Terms: 5% interest plus reference rate, 8-year term with 2-year grace period, conversion option with 25% discount at follow-on investment.
• Startup Innovatie Fonds Fund for validating and further developing products, requiring minimum 25% external private co-financing, supporting startups in the growth phase.
• Participatiefonds Participation fund for further development and international expansion, requiring minimum 65% external private co-financing, targeting scale-ups ready for market expansion.
• Proof of Concept-fonds Fund supporting proof of concept development for innovative companies, providing capital to validate technology and product ideas before market entry.
• Fondsinvesteringen (Fund-of-Funds) Fund-of-funds investments that invest in other venture funds, bringing additional smart capital to the Utrecht region.
• EDIH Digital Hub Noordwest European Digital Innovation Hub providing advice, training, workshops, test facilities, and access to financing for SMEs in AI, data, Tiny Machine Learning, and robotics, as part of a 15+ partner consortium.
• AI Utrecht Region AI ecosystem platform bringing together companies, knowledge institutions, governments, and talent to accelerate AI development and application in the Utrecht region, featuring 15+ AI Labs and an active community.
• U-Forward Open innovation platform enabling entrepreneurs across the Netherlands to pitch innovative solutions to challenges from Utrecht governments, organizations, and corporates.
• DigiC Accelerator program for digitalization within circular construction, focusing on industrialized building, material digitization, and smart construction logistics.
• Startup Utrecht Region Platform where private and public parties collaborate to strengthen the ecosystem for startups and scale-ups, focusing on access to capital, first customers, talent, and internationalization.
• Enterprise Europe Network (EEN) Internationalization service providing Europe's largest support network for organizations with international ambitions, including matchmaking, company missions, and partner profiles across 50+ countries.
• Export Accelerator Programs Programs helping mid-sized and small enterprises transform national success into international revenue through structured export training.
• Buitenlandse Directe Investeringen (FDI) Investment attraction service promoting the Utrecht Region as an attractive location for foreign companies, providing guidance, advice, and networking to international investors.

Quantifiable outcome

• NPS score of 79 from regional entrepreneurs
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Universiteit Utrecht (Utrecht University)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor knowledge institution partner in Life Sciences & Health ecosystem, contributing research capabilities and spin-off companies like Cordys Analytics.
• UMC Utrecht (University Medical Center Utrecht)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic hospital partner providing clinical research infrastructure and spawning healthcare innovations including Cordys Analytics spin-off.
• Hogeschool Utrecht (Utrecht University of Applied Sciences)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in EDIH Digital Hub Noordwest consortium, providing AI learning communities and practical research for regional SMEs.
• EDIH Digital Hub Noordwest ConsortiumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean Digital Innovation Hub consortium led by ROM Utrecht with 15+ partners including Hogeschool Utrecht, VU Amsterdam, SURF, FME, EIT Health, and other regional development companies providing digital transformation support to SMEs.
• Enterprise Europe Network (EEN) Netherlands ConsortiumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerROM is part of Dutch EEN consortium with RVO, Hanzehogeschool, Business Development Friesland, New Energy Coalition, Water Alliance, and 6 other ROMs. Provides international matchmaking, trade missions, and partnership database access to 450+ organizations in 50+ countries.
• UtrechtInccoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerStartup incubator at Utrecht Science Park offering Ready to Start program, validation phase support, and foundership program for early-stage entrepreneurs.
• Dotslash UtrechtcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerInnovation hub at Europalaan providing flexible workspace, community events, and collaboration with Hogeschool Utrecht for startups and scale-ups.
• Rijksdienst voor Ondernemend Nederland (RVO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDutch government agency for entrepreneurship providing support through Enterprise Europe Network consortium.
• EIT Health Nederland-BelgiëminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean Institute of Innovation and Technology health network providing expertise for digital health innovation in the region.
• AI Utrecht RegioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional AI hub platform connecting companies, knowledge institutions, governments, and talent with 15+ AI Labs. Affiliated with AIC4NL national AI program.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Invest-NL: Dutch national development bank and co-investor in ROM Utrecht Region's portfolio companies, providing larger ticket growth capital for Dutch scale-ups. Directly comparable as a state-backed investment institution targeting Dutch innovation.
• BOM (Brabant Development Agency): Regional development agency for North Brabant offering venture capital, loans, and innovation support — same ROM model operating in a different Dutch province, with comparable fund structure and public-shareholder governance.
• Oost NL: Regional development agency for the East Netherlands, providing risk capital, business development, and internationalization to regional startups and scale-ups. A directly comparable ROM peer serving a different Dutch region.
• InnovationQuarter: Regional development agency for South Holland (The Hague, Leiden, Rotterdam) investing in cleantech, medtech, and digital ventures. Same public-mandate, multi-fund, ecosystem-building model as ROM Utrecht Region.
• LIOF: Limburg Development Agency (LIOF) invests in and supports innovative SMEs and scale-ups in the Limburg province, applying a comparable regional development mandate and fund-of-funds approach to ROM Utrecht.
• NOM (Investerings- en Ontwikkelingsmaatschappij voor Noord-Nederland): Investment and development company for the Northern Netherlands, financing innovative businesses through venture capital, fund-of-funds, and innovation support — a near-clone of the ROM Utrecht Region model in a different Dutch region.
• ROM InWest: Regional development agency for the North-Holland region (including Amsterdam), investing in sustainable and digital transitions. Direct peer to ROM Utrecht Region, though operating in a larger and better-capitalized region.

Broad incumbents

• European Investment Fund (EIF): Pan-European fund-of-funds investor and risk-bearing partner of many Dutch regional funds. EIF provides the EU layer above ROMs and is a relevant strategic peer for cross-border capital sourcing and mandate design.
• EIC Fund (European Innovation Council Fund): EU-level deep-tech investor already co-investing in ROM portfolio companies (e.g., Laigo Bio). A broader incumbent that complements rather than competes with regional ROMs in the European innovation stack.

Others

• Rijksdienst voor Ondernemend Nederland (RVO): Dutch government agency for entrepreneurship that channels EU/EEN programs and partners with ROMs. Not a direct investor peer but a key ecosystem participant and policy counterpart for ROM Utrecht Region's internationalization work.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@romutrechtregion77
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/rom-utrecht-region
• Instagraminstagram.com/romutrechtregion
• Xx.com/ROMUtrechtReg

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments26 records

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about ROM Utrecht Region