Enabling impact startups & scaleups to thrive.
We identify and invest early in world-class founders developing solutions that change the world for the better.
Spotlight: "We love founders who want to change the world for the better."
Spotlight is an angel investor collective founded by two passionate investors, Derk and Jochem, who are committed to make a positive impact. Our investment focus is exclusively on impact-driven startups and scaleups. We are no fund. We don't adhere to mandates that impose pressure on founders to achieve rapid milestones. Without the burden of investor concerns, our focus remains squarely on the entrepreneurs themselves, providing support wherever it's needed.
Our strength as an investor collective lies in our expansive network, our experience as investors, and our diverse expertise across various sectors and business segments. In the earliest funding stages, we offer direct access to our broad network of angel investors and in later growth stages we can connect our portfolio companies to relevant venture capital and private equity partners. Depending on the business needs, we can play an active role as sparring partner in operational matters or as an advisor on strategic topics. We are responsive and transparent.
Investment philosophy & focus.
At Spotlight, we invest in smart & bold founders who are building companies with sustainable missions. We have a particular interest in SaaS, marketplace, and platform businesses that are at the onset of their growth journey. An MVP or existing revenue is not a prerequisite for our funding. We are enthusiastic about investing at the earliest stages, often participating in angel-only rounds, but we also actively seek co-investment opportunities in (pre)seed rounds alongside impact-focused venture capital firms.
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Sector: We focus on climate tech, education tech, and health tech companies that have a social or environmental mission at their core.
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Founding team: We look for teams with complementary skill sets and experience in their sector or as entrepreneurs.
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Stage: To maximize impact, we prefer to invest in early-stage companies, participating in pre-seed and seed rounds.
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Region: Our primary focus is on companies founded in the Netherlands.
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Investment size: Our initial investments range from €50k to €250k.
While we believe we can add the most value to businesses that meet our investment focus criteria, we are always open to exploring and discussing innovative solutions from exceptional founders that fall outside our usual scope.
Investment themes
We are dedicated to investing in startups and scaleups that drive advancements in environmental sustainability, education, and healthcare. By focusing on these themes, we aim to make significant social and environmental contribution. We believe that by concentrating on a narrow range of investment themes and engaging at the early stages, we can maximize our impact through our network and expertise.
Climate Technology
Bold ideas in carbon solutions, food innovations & agritech, and green fintech to combat climate change or promote sustainability.
Education Technology
Innovative digital platforms and tools that enhance the quality of education and create more equal opportunities for people worldwide.
Health Technology
Ambitious founders who leverage technology to enhance (mental) health care, improve access to quality care and promote healthy living habits.
What we bring to the table.
Our support does not end with funding. Our angel investor collective consists of like-minded investors and entrepreneurs who share our hands-on approach and dedication to making a positive impact. We are not just investors; you can better look at us as a partner that, when desired, actively engages with the companies we support, offering guidance, resources, network and strategic advice. Whether as a proactive sparring partner or a more hands-off strategic advisor, we adapt to the needs of the businesses we invest in. Unlike traditional funds, we don’t have an investor base to manage, allowing us to focus entirely on supporting founders on their journey of developing their businesses.
We understand that raising funds can be annoyingly time consuming, so we ensure a smooth and efficient process from introduction to deal closure. As a group we look at investment opportunities. As individuals, we make the investment decision. We are transparent throughout the entire investment process. You can expect timely and detailed feedback - there will be no surprises along the way.
Portfolio companies
Investment partners
Who we are.
We are Derk and Jochem, two friends, brothers-in-law, and passionate entrepreneurs and investors. Derk brings expertise in fintech, strategy and business development, while Jochem is the founder of companies in the edtech and legal sectors. Together, we have created an angel investor collective dedicated to supporting startups and scaleups that strive to make a meaningful impact on the world.
Transparency and collaboration are at the core of our values. We actively share compelling investment opportunities with our group of impact angels, a select group of seasoned investors with diverse backgrounds ranging from successful entrepreneurs to experienced corporate professionals. We also collaborate closely with venture capital firms to explore co-investment opportunities, ensuring that promising startups and scaleups receive the support they need at every stage of their journey.
