Dutch tech group Techleap splits into public-private entities to boost deeptech and AI

Techleap, the organization that accelerates the growth of Dutch tech founders and companies, restructured itself on May 1 into a public-private organization consisting of two independent entities, each with its own focus and funding, while “remaining one ecosystem, one mission, and one movement,” the organization stated in a press release.

The reorganization creates Techleap Deeptech & Ecosystem, funded by the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate and led by Greg de Temmerman, and Stichting Techleap, which operates entirely without government funding under co-founder Constantijn van Oranje.

The changes stem from a May 2023 decision by the Ministry of Economic Affairs to investigate which Techleap activities could be privately financed. After extensive consultation with the ministry and broad support from the Techleap Community, the organization decided to privatize its Community activities. A new government subsidy was granted, focused on deeptech startups and scale-ups and the creation of more spin-offs from academic research at universities.

The overhaul comes amid challenges outlined in Techleap’s February State of Dutch Tech report. Dutch artificial intelligence companies are growing more slowly than competitors elsewhere in Europe, despite the Netherlands having the continent’s highest density of AI talent — 10.9 professionals per 10,000 inhabitants.

Techleap Deeptech & Ecosystem focuses on deeptech startups and scale-ups in sectors aligned with the National Technology Strategy, such as semiconductors, quantum, energy, and climate technology—fields deemed critical to the Netherlands’ strategic autonomy and economic resilience.

The two entities will work closely together. Techleap Deeptech & Ecosystem will focus on strengthening the technological and scientific side, while Techleap Community will connect founders and other ecosystem players.

The reorganization also marks the departure of Managing Director Maarten Cleeren.

In March 2025, Techleap joined TNO and Invest-NL in announcing a collaboration to address the Netherlands’ lag in the global tech race. The number of new startups fell from 197 to 128 last year.

Although the country’s scale-up ratio — the share of startups raising at least 10 million euros — improved to 21.5 percent over five years, it still trails the EU average of 23 percent and the U.S. average of 54 percent. Only four of the world’s 50 largest technology companies are European.

Only 27 percent of venture capital investments in the Netherlands go to AI companies, compared with 32 percent across the European Union and 60 percent in the United States. Amsterdam ranks sixth globally for early-stage AI investments but falls to 18th for later-stage growth funding.