About UNIIQ

A € 28,8 million investment fund focused on the proof-of-concept phase, UNIIQ helps entrepreneurs in West Holland bring their unique innovations to market faster. UNIIQ offers enterprising companies seed capital to realise their plans and bridge the riskiest phase from concept to promising business.

Through intensive cooperation with knowledge institutions and incubators, we actively support entrepreneurs in their strategic development. UNIIQ’s investment is used to validate the innovation and the business concept, thus enabling a company to take the step to secure follow-up financing. Our process is clear and the conditions are business friendly.

The fund was set up by a consortium of Erasmus MC, TU Delft, Leiden University and the regional development agency InnovationQuarter. UNIIQ is managed by a team of investment professionals with representatives from the cooperating partners. Our joint ambition is to bring innovations to market faster and thus boost West Holland’s innovation potential.

UNIIQ is partly made possible by the European Union. Click here to find out more about EFRO.

Types of activities

Investment criteria and conditions

UNIIQ invests risk capital in West Holland-based academic spin-offs, startups and existing SMEs with disruptive innovations, thereby improving access to growth capital. As a collaboration between Erasmus MC, TU Delft, Leiden University and InnovationQuarter, UNIIQ is able to assume the early-stage risk and actively support promising businesses in realising their ambitions.

What UNIIQ offers entrepreneurs:

  • Funding of up to € 300,000 in the proof-of-concept phase;
  • Milestone based funding;
  • Investment instrument is a convertible loan which
    • is redeemed over a three-year period; or
    • can be converted on the valuation of a follow-up investor, minus 25%;
  • An interest rate of 8% (4% payable and 4% accrued);
  • Support with financial and strategic issues from a team of experienced investment managers;
  • Access to a network of investors and financiers who can provide capital for the company’s further development.

What UNIIQ asks of entrepreneurs:

  • The capital should be used by the company for the technical and market validation of a technological innovation;
  • Financing is provided for a period of at least 12 months during which a realistic validation result can be achieved, making it possible to attract follow-up funding (or cash-flow positive growth);
  • The innovation must offer unique competitive advantages that form the foundation for sustainable growth opportunities;
  • A strong and ambitious team;
  • The company must hold the relevant intellectual property rights on the basis of ownership or an exclusive licence;
  • The company must be located in West Holland;
  • UNIIQ invests in independent companies where the initiators themselves take the entrepreneurial risks: there is no project-based financing. UNIIQ can, however, invest in making spin-off innovations independent of existing companies;
  • Impact investments are made with the intention to generate positive, measurable , social and environmental outcomes alongside financial return;
  • TRL phase 3-5;
  • The applicant must meet the EU criteria for SMEs.

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The Team

Hans Dreijklufft

Hans Dreijklufft

Fund Manager

(InnovationQuarter)

Duko Drijfhout

Duko Drijfhout

Senior Investment Manager

(Erasmus MC)

Thijs van den Munckhof

Thijs van den Munckhof

Investment Manager

(Universiteit Leiden)

Martine Nieuwenhuizen

Martine Nieuwenhuizen

Investment Manager

(TU Delft)

Niels Schoonen

Niels Schoonen

Investment Manager

(InnovationQuarter)

Bas van der Noll

Bas van der Noll

Investment Manager

(Erasmus Enterprise)

Robert Freeth

Robert Freeth

Business Analyst

(InnovationQuarter)

Wouter Bax

Wouter Bax

Business Analyst

(UNIIQ)

Willem van Holthe

Willem van Holthe

Business Analyst

Contact

WTC The Hague | Prinses Margrietplantsoen 41| 2595 AM The Hague | Route
CIC Rotterdam | Stationsplein 45 – 4e verdieping | 3013 AK Rotterdam | Route

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