Amsterdam, 2 December 2025 – Volve Capital is proud to announce the final close of its first fund at €9 million, dedicated to investing in startups in their earliest stages across the Benelux and DACH regions.
Founded by Dutch entrepreneurs Joost Bijlsma (30) and Maurits Hovius (32), Volve Capital was built on a simple insight: early-stage founders need investors who actually understand what “day zero” feels like. Having experienced the process of building companies from scratch, both as founders and as investors, Bijlsma and Hovius created Volve Capital to be the partner they once needed.
Unlike traditional venture capital funds, Volve Capital operates with the speed, energy, and pragmatism of the startups it backs. Supported by a network of operators, Volve Capital helps founders level up in tech, data, GTM, marketing, ops, and finance – giving them the momentum they need right from the start.
After twelve months of fundraising, Volve Capital officially launches its first fund, Fund I, at €9 million. The fund focuses on pre-seed (very early) stage companies, with initial investments ranging from €150,000 to €500,000 and follow-on capacity of up to €1 million per company. Volve Capital plans to make approximately 12 to 15 investments in total, seven of which have already been completed in the startups Eddygrid, NOX Energy, Stippl, Conservio, Whisper, Twindo and Supplied.
“Founders need the right partner from the very beginning. Going from zero to one is the hardest step – I’ve lived it. We want to be that partner; offering capital and, more importantly, support,” says Joost Bijlsma.
“There’s plenty of funding available in the ecosystem once founders start to show traction, but at day zero it’s still often hard to find – especially when looking for investors willing to take the lead in these early rounds. That’s exactly where we step in. And yes – we actually do lead pre-product and pre-revenue deals,” Maurits Hovius adds.
Fund I is supported by approximately 30 Dutch entrepreneurs as limited partners, including Henk Jan Beltman (Tony’s Chocolonely), Roelof Bijlsma (former founder of Conclusion), Heleen Dura van Oord (Peak Capital), and Mathieu Zwinkels (former Waterland), who also serve on Volve Capital’s advisory board. Additional financial backing was provided through the RVO Seed Capital program.
After completing all 12 to 15 investments, Volve Capital aims to continue its mission with the launch of a second fund.
About Volve Capital
Volve Capital is an early-stage venture fund founded in 2024 by Joost Bijlsma and Maurits Hovius, investing in ambitious founders across the Benelux and DACH regions. By combining capital with operational expertise, Volve helps teams build faster, scale smarter, and create lasting value.
