Here’s your weekly Dutch startup news update.
Funding & Updates
Social media curation platform Crowdynews extended its series A funding with 3.7 million euro, bringing the total round to 6.2 million euro. The additional money is provided by initial investor INKEF Capital, the Groningen-based startup announced on last week.
Global market research company GfK has bought digital panel specialist Netquest and its cross-device measurement subsidiary, henQ company Wakoopa.
Amsterdam-based bio tech startup ThromboDx (link in Dutch) has been acquired by American Illumina. The latter is said to have paid 70 million euro for the startup that developed a blood test to track cancer.
Professor in Economics and former minister of social affairs and employment Willem Vermeend has been appointed as (part-time) special envoy of the Dutch FinTech sector in order to further boost innovation in this fast developing sector.
Events
TheNextWomen Innovation Summit 2016 brings together 1000+ innovative female entrepreneurs, leaders and investors on the 23rd of May. Speakers include Annemarie Jorritsma and Ida Tin is co-founder and CEO of Clue and “Europioneer” of the European Commission.
Monday Read
Sprout (in Dutch) – Editor in chief Remy Ludo Gieling devoted his last column to ‘Dutch pride’ TomTom. “We have a lot to thank TomTom for, but if the company of Harold Goddijn refuses to change its course, TomTom is a Nokia in the making”, he says. “And they don’t even notice it.”
TechEU – UK-based Mondo, which bills itself as a mobile-first bank, is looking to raise £6 million by inviting customers to invest in the bank via crowdfunding platform Crowdcube along with VCs. The startup has secured £5 million from Passion Capital and is hoping to raise the remaining million from customers.
Economist – Giving evolution a helping hand: using selective breeding to save endangered coral reefs