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Growth Capital for Tech Companies
Growth Capital for
Tech Platform Companies
About Us
Solid Ventures provides equity growth capital to technology companies based in The Netherlands and Colombia. Solid Ventures was founded in December 2005 as the successor of the 300M. NeSBIC Converging Technologies Funds, founded in June 1997 by Robert Wilhelm.
Via its own strong networks built up well over 25 years with successful serial entrepreneurs and strong cooperation links and strategic partnerships with IMPROVED Corporate Finance and Drake Star Partners and other M&A Corporate Finance Advisory firms such as Capitalmind, Solid Ventures is able to source and (co-) invest in promising tech growth companies.
Also, Solid Ventures has a strong network in Colombia with local strategic partnerships such as Rockstart Colombia and Monseratte Ventures in Bogota, Colombia. Through this network, Solid Ventures is able to source and (co-) invest in promising tech growth companies in this emerging market of huge opportunities bringing Latin America digitally on par with U.S. and Western - European online economies. Solid Ventures is hereby leveraging its insights and experience derived from more than 25 years venture capital tech investing in these more mature markets.
The Partners of Solid Ventures have co-invested with a.o. Tiger Capital, General Atlantic, Harlan Capital Partners, FJ Labs, Monseratte Venture, C4Ventures, Hummingbird Ventures, Volta Ventures, Kennet Capital, Newion, HenQ, DN Capital, etc.
Our Focus
We focus on scale-up companies at the growth stage of development in the digital economy in general with a specific focus on the sectors: Fintech, Enterprise Software SaaS, MarketPlaces, sustainable mobility, smart energy and smart city solutions.
Our Approach
Our approach is building successful companies together with ambitious, experienced (serial) entrepreneurs by providing our capital, experience, network and technology and business knowledge to create internationally exitable companies at a strategic premium.
Our USP's
The Unique Selling Points (USP's) of Solid Ventures compared to informal investors, family offices and other venture capitalists are:
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Unmatched more than 25 years of experience proven by a track record in over 100 investments, over 50 successful strategic exits and several Initial Public Offerings (IPO's).
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Entrepreneurial speed of professional execution in deals.
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Strong technology and experienced business knowledge.
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Acting as active and down-to-earth sounding board for entrepreneurs in the growth, next funding rounds and exit phases.
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Valuable international network of co-investors for next funding rounds to expand portfolio companies rapidly.
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Unrivaled focus on value creation by creating a clear investment exit road map together with management in 4-6 years.
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Well connected with various tech investment banks and tech M&A advisors to secure a premium exit value for all investors involved.
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Investment style based upon transparency, trust and respect for entrepreneurs.
Our Principles
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We only invest in honest entrepreneurs with reliable, professional co-investors that we can trust!
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We stick to our word and deliver on our promises and execute on agreements: ALWAYS!
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We build a partnership with entrepreneurs an co-investors based on trust, respect, transparency and integrity!
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Deal-by-deal tech venture capital investing at industry standard conditions
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High financial team commitment
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High moral and ethical standards
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No conflicts of interests
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Full transparency
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Co-investing with similar risk / return like minded informal investors and family offices only
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Investing according the Europe Invest industry guidelines only
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Authorized and AIFMD regulated by the Dutch Authority Financial Markets (AFM)
Our Investment Criteria
Solid Ventures invests in innovative and fast-growing scale up companies. We focus on companies in the sectors Fintech, Enterprise Software SaaS, MarketPlaces, sustainable mobility, smart energy and smart city solutions.
We look for companies that fit our vision, our expertise and experience. Besides, we look for the mutual click between investor and entrepreneur. Building a solid relationship is crucial in developing a company to the next level. Next to the personal aspect, we have clear investment criteria to determine our next investment. Please see our strict investment criteria below:
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We only invest in honest, transparent entrepreneurs together with reliable, professional co-investors!
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Minimum recurring revenues of € 1M (LATAM: € 500K) with minimum 50% annual growth
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An excellent and experienced management team (with serial entrepreneurs)
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Proven internationally scale able B2B business model
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Emerging high quality international corporate customer base
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Funding commitment from Solid Ventures ranging from €750K (LATAM: € 500K) up to a maximum of € 5M
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Minority share
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Innovative and robust technology and products
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Clear value proposition and 'go-to-market' strategy
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Headquarters based in the Netherlands or Colombia (Bogota, Medellin)
Please check our criteria and do send us your investment proposal if there is a match at deals@solidventures.nl.
Our References
“The Solid Ventures team acted as a very active and committed partner, even during the more difficult periods. They helped us find customers and close the first sales in the Netherlands. They have also been instrumental in critical phases to convince other investors to have confidence in the future of the company.”
Kristof de Spiegeleer
Founder & CEO DataCenterTechnologies.
Our Companies
Our Track Record
A selection of the successful exits of the Solid Ventures Partners. Solid Ventures has been active since December 2005 as the successor of the 300M. NeSBIC Converging Technologies Funds, founded in 1997. In 2000, this fund was one of the first and largest dedicated European tech venture funds, with notable successes as KPN challengers Versatel (IPO NASDAQ / AEX July 1999) and Scarlet Telecom (sold to Belgacom February 2008) and Oxxio (sold to Centrica June 2005) as challenger of the energy incumbents Eneco, Essent and Nuon. However, in the hectic early telecom and internet bubble days, we had also quite some failures such as Holland's first web retailer HotOrange, while we should have invested in CoolBlue, European web retailer LetsBuyIt, with an IPO on the Neuer Markt Frankfurt in July 2000 and then failed and BaBYXL, Holland's first ADSL internet provider sold to publicly quoted Tiscali (now KPN Telecom) for 1 euro.... More than 25 years of early stage tech venture capital investing and still every day we are learning from our mistakes!
Our Team
Robert Wilhelm
Founder & Managing Partner
Robert is founder of Solid Ventures. He has been active in the private equity sector for more than 30 years. He has gained experience in international venture capital and supported many early stage technology companies, both in Europe, the US and Latin America, most notably as the founder of the 300M. NeSBIC Converging Technologies Funds in the early internet days investing in B2B, B2C, software and telecom companies. He started his career at Atlas Ventures, a pioneer in the European tech venture capital scene since 1980. In addition to deal sourcing, he is competent and very experienced in the overall monitoring process, strategic issues and in initiating exits. He personally has raised and managed more than €400 million in fund capital. He also brings legal and corporate finance skills to the team with his experience as a tech investment banker at Drake Star Partners / IMPROVED Corporate Finance.
Robert holds an MBA from the Rotterdam School of Management and a Master Degree in Law from the Free University of Amsterdam.
Dennis Blom
Partner Solid Ventures II Investments
Dennis has more than 20 years of experience in technology investing. Next to that he is very experienced in guiding companies from start-up phase to the growth phase thanks to his position as Managing Partner of Silicon Polder Fund.
Early in his career he was the CTO of the first Dutch Internet Service Provider Planet Internet.
Dennis has been the founder of several software and video conference solutions companies, such as McNolia, Vidyo etc.
Dennis is an experienced board member of technology companies.
His specialties are in the field of software development, information technology and business consultancy.
Dennis holds a Bachelor Degree in mechanical engineering.
The Partners are supported by Venture Partners, Industry Associate Partners, Analysts and Interns.
Floris van Alkemade
Co-Founder, Managing Partner Solid Ventures I & Venture Partner Solid Ventures II Investments
Floris has co-founded Solid Ventures in 2005 with Robert Wilhelm. Floris has more than 25 years of experience in investing in seed and early stages IT and telecom companies. He has managed more than €370 million in fund capital in total. Floris has been a Partner at the NeSBIC Converging Technology Funds. In 2000 he spent time in Silicon Valley to manage the US operations for the funds. Floris is also board member at Coolgames.com, the last remaining active company in the portfolio of Solid Ventures I.
Floris holds a Master's degree in business econometrics from the Free University of Amsterdam.
Roelant van Herwaarden
Roelant has been co-investing with Solid Ventures II since 2018 and has been a partner at ARV Group since late 2010. Roelant has more than 20 years' experience in operations, continuous improvement projects and change management. He has a quick grasp of operational issues and potential improvements and is able to turn these into an approach that fits the organization and its ambitions.
Roelant studied electrical engineering at Eindhoven Technical University and business administration at the IBO Business School.
Erik Saelens
Co-Investor, Associate Partner Solid Ventures II Investments
Erik has been co-investing with Solid Ventures II since 2018. Erik was the founder and CEO of Brandhome, a digital marketing and strategy consultancy agency and he is the founder and CEO of UnBox since late 2016. Erik has more than 25 years' experience in brand marketing and communications. He is also an expert in brand management, M&A and IPO strategies. Erik speaks regularly at conferences and universities worldwide, as well as contributing frequently to specialist sector media.
Erik studied marketing and economics at the University of Antwerp.
Viktor Mirovic
Associate Partner Solid Ventures II Investments
Viktor has been working with the Solid Ventures II team since 2015. Viktor has been the founder and CEO of a number of tech companies such as KeenCorp, Taste index and JustFor Friends. Also he was the founding partner of Helius Venture Management, a Dutch strategy and investment advisory firm, focused on value discovery (early stage) and value alignment (business redesign). Earlier in his career Viktor was Investment Manager at Indofin Group, a Dutch family-owned investment group.
Viktor studied business, finance & economics at the Nyenrode Business University.
Our Contact Details
Zoom Meetings
Apollo Building, Apollolaan 153
1077 AS Amsterdam
The Netherlands
Zoom Meetings
Carrera 19b #83-49
110221 Bogotá
Colombia
Our Portfolio News & Deal Announcements
November 29, 2022
October 14, 2022
May 20, 2022
February, 2022
July 15, 2021
May 20, 2021
November 16, 2020
October 7, 2020
