BigCircle Ventures
BigCircle Ventures is an Amsterdam-based cleantech venture builder that scouts deeptech IP from Dutch universities and research institutes and systematically creates and funds climate- and circularity-focused startups through a five-phase process and a closed-end fund targeting 30 ventures.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2023
- HeadquartersAmsterdam, Netherlands
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What BigCircle Ventures does
BigCircle Ventures is a Netherlands-based cleantech venture builder that systematically converts early-stage deeptech research from universities, research institutes, and corporate labs into standalone startups addressing climate and circularity challenges. Operating from Amsterdam under the legal entity BigCircle Ventures Coöperatief U.A. (a cooperative structure), the firm runs a codified five-phase process — Identify, Validate, Recruit, Found, Support — applied across energy, materials, and circular-economy domains. As of mid-2025, it works with 15 Dutch universities and research institutions, has four pilots underway (including a publicly disclosed plastic-recycling project with Utrecht University), and maintains a 12-person team (9 core plus 3 interns) led by CEO Joost Kruytzer (former COO of NLC, Europe's largest healthtech venture builder).
The business operates a dual-structure model. The venture builder entity scouts, validates, recruits founding teams, and supports ventures through to exit, generating revenue through management structures and carried interest on successful outcomes. In parallel, a fund manager entity runs a closed-end fund that invests in approximately 30 early-stage greentech ventures via convertible loans and follow-on equity, with revenue from management fees and carried interest on portfolio returns. Both vehicles target deeptech inventions in climate, energy, materials, and circular economies, providing investors with diversified exposure to dozens of ventures rather than single-startup risk.
The company is privately held and recently closed a €2 million seed funding round in October 2025 from Oost NL and Alphatron Group B.V. to expand venture building capacity for cleantech startups across Europe. Distribution is primarily direct: investor outreach via [email protected], IP sharing via [email protected], talent sourcing via [email protected] and a dedicated recruitment partner (LUKA global / Simon Knowles), and university relationships managed by venture partners. Pricing is not publicly disclosed, consistent with a bespoke investor relations model rather than a standardized product offering.
BigCircle Ventures firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- BigCircle Ventures
- Legal name
- BigCircle Ventures Coöperatief U.A.
- Website
- https://bigcircle.ventures
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2023
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- BigCircle Ventures is an Amsterdam-based cleantech venture builder that scouts deeptech IP from Dutch universities and research institutes and systematically creates and funds climate- and circularity-focused startups through a five-phase process and a closed-end fund targeting 30 ventures.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
BigCircle Ventures industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Venture Building Services
- NAICS
- Other Financial Vehicles (52599)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Venture Studios / Company Builders (FSANAAAH)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Early-Stage Venture Capital (Series A/B) (FSANAAAB)
Keywords
Where BigCircle Ventures is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Amsterdam
- HQ country
- Netherlands
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
BigCircle Ventures business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Venture Builder Management & Carried Interest: BigCircle Ventures earns revenue through its venture builder entity by providing hands-on scouting, nurturing, and funding of startups. Investors in the venture builder receive early-stage, high-risk/high-upside exposure to dozens of startups with immediate diversification. Revenue is generated through management structures and carried interest on successful exits.
- Fund Manager — Closed-end Fund: The fund manager entity manages a closed-end fund that invests in early-stage ventures via convertible loan and follow-on equity investments. The fund targets investment in approximately 30 ventures over its investment period. Fund investors receive slightly later-stage exposure with broad diversification. Revenue comes from fund management fees and carried interest on portfolio returns.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
BigCircle Ventures product offering
Product offeringCore offering
BigCircle Ventures is a cleantech venture builder that scouts promising deeptech innovations from universities, research institutes, and corporate labs, then validates them with experts, recruits founding teams, creates startups, and supports them through exit in the climate and circularity sectors. It complements this venture builder with a closed-end fund that invests in approximately 30 early-stage greentech ventures via convertible loans and follow-on equity.
Product overview
BigCircle Ventures operates a dual-model structure comprising a Venture Builder and a Fund Manager. The Venture Builder is a hands-on team of professionals that scouts, selects, and fosters new cleantech innovations from universities and research institutes, turning them into startups. The Fund Manager manages funds that provide capital to effectively scale the innovations built by the Venture Builder, ultimately targeting investment in 30 ventures. Both components focus on tackling climate change and creating a circular economy through early-stage greentech ventures.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Venture Building Services
Quantifiable outcome
- Average of approximately one year from initial lab proof to launching a startup
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use BigCircle Ventures
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
BigCircle Ventures technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
BigCircle Ventures partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- Utrecht UniversitycoreA publicly announced partnership with Utrecht University on next-generation plastic recycling. BigCircle scouts inventions from the university and creates startups based on research innovations. This is one of four active pilots as of mid-2025, demonstrating the venture building model's application with major research institutions.
- LUKA global (Simon Knowles)coreSimon Knowles of LUKA global serves as BigCircle's dedicated recruitment partner responsible for attracting exceptional talent for both the internal team and portfolio ventures. Simon brings over 20 years of recruiting experience across Europe, Africa, Asia-Pacific, and the United States for startups and large organizations.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
BigCircle Ventures competitors and assessment
Company assessmentMarket position
Competitive moat4 records
Customer concentration
BigCircle Ventures social profiles
Digital presenceBigCircle Ventures compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
BigCircle Ventures financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
BigCircle Ventures leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles10 records
BigCircle Ventures funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors2 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
BigCircle Ventures M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about BigCircle Ventures
What does BigCircle Ventures do?
BigCircle Ventures is a cleantech venture builder that scouts promising deeptech innovations from universities, research institutes, and corporate labs, then validates them with experts, recruits founding teams, creates startups, and supports them through exit in the climate and circularity sectors. It complements this venture builder with a closed-end fund that invests in approximately 30 early-stage greentech ventures via convertible loans and follow-on equity.
Is BigCircle Ventures a public or private company?
BigCircle Ventures is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was BigCircle Ventures founded?
BigCircle Ventures was founded in 2023. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is BigCircle Ventures based?
BigCircle Ventures is headquartered in Amsterdam, Netherlands, in the Europe region.
How does BigCircle Ventures make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Venture Builder Management & Carried Interest is the primary driver. The others are fund Manager — Closed-end Fund.
Does BigCircle Ventures have an API?
No public API is recorded for BigCircle Ventures.
What industry is BigCircle Ventures in?
BigCircle Ventures's product category is Venture Building Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSANAAAH, Venture Studios / Company Builders, with a secondary code of FSANAAAB, Early-Stage Venture Capital (Series A/B). Its NAICS code is 52599.