What to expect from the Amsterdam startup ecosystem in 2024
Summary
I believe the HITL is the way to go here, where humans and machines grow together and this will introduce a plethora of opportunities and jobs that will first feel threatening, then be embraced, then will swing to excess (good and bad) and the land somewhere in the middle (more likely a generational development than just next 12 months!) Warner: In addition to showing your path to profitability, Dutch startups that expand their fundraising horizon internationally will benefit: there is a lot of dry powder in VC funds across Europe with the continued trend in VC specialisation (ClimateTech, Ed- & WorkTech, Food&AgTech, Health etc) so your Seed or A lead might be elsewhere in Europe: Dutch startups are almost per definition limited to a smaller market (NL), inherently wired and set-up for international growth, so raise accordingly! Keeping that in mind, as investors continue to focus on a high probability of returns based on track record and proven numbers, we could be looking at a wave of more diverse founders getting funded and scaling up. On the other hand: some very promising areas offer a lot of possibilities for the LSH industry: the use of AI in health, innovative approaches in the field of the much needed prevention, and the development of non-human alternatives for drug testing. With four flourishing innovation districts, universities, hospitals and companies there is a fruitful source for a steady stream of new startups that will fight their way to the market, using the possibilities of the new health tech trends and societal needs.