Venture Capital

Our Venture Capital team has extensive experience advising on venture capital transactions from both perspectives: investor side and company side. We regularly act for Dutch venture capital funds as well as international VC funds, and we equally advise founders and fast‑growing companies throughout their growth journey – from seed and Series A rounds through to later‑stage financings, secondary sales and exits.

This dual perspective enables us to anticipate the priorities, pressure points and negotiation dynamics on both sides of a transaction. Moreover, we understand that keeping the pace of the deal is important for all parties. As a result, we deliver advice that is efficient and pragmatic, deal‑driven and focused on what matters most at each stage of the investment. 

Our firm is widely recognised for its deep sector expertise in technology‑driven and innovation‑led industries. Our Venture Capital practice is closely integrated with leading teams across the firm, including:

• DeepTech IP and IT & AI  
• Health & Life Sciences
• Fintech
• Green Tech & Energy Transition 

This broad and in‑depth expertise positions us uniquely in venture capital transactions. When advising companies raising capital, we understand not only the transaction mechanics, but also the commercial, technological and regulatory context in which they operate. When advising investors, this same knowledge allows us to identify and assess risks early, ask the right questions during due diligence without taking too much time on information that is not relevant for the deal. 

Because we work at the intersection of corporate law, technology, IP, data, regulatory and sector‑specific regimes, our advice goes beyond documentation. We help clients make informed decisions in complex and fast‑moving markets. 

Over the past years, the team has advised on a wide range of high‑profile and complex venture capital transactions: 

• Ditto on its EUR 5,4 Series Seed financing round by Heal.capital and Rubio Impact Investments;
• ClavystBio and Polaris Partners on the USD 70 million financing round of Leyden Labs;
• the US based lead investor on the oversubscribed EUR 65 Million Series A financing in a biotechnology company focused on developing transformative small molecule therapies for rare diseases;
• the Spanish lead investor on the oversubscribed EUR 21.3 million Series B financing round in a Dutch independent flexibility services provider on battery storage optimisation solutions;
• an international fund on the secondary sale of its minority stake in a Dutch leading healthcare booking platform;
• a mobile app company for food delivery with the USD 768 million Series E funding resulting in a post money valuation of almost USD 12 billion. 

Kennedy Van der Laan has a strong societal and purpose‑driven profile, which aligns naturally with the growing focus on impact investing. We have long supported entrepreneurs and investors who aim to combine financial returns with positive societal impact, particularly in areas such as clean technology, sustainability and social innovation. 

A community for legal leaders in fast-growing companies where knowledge, experience, and strategy come together. We bring legal leaders in scale-ups together so they can exchange experiences, discuss current legal issues, and gain access to relevant sessions, events, and content that support growth and complexity. 

Kennedy Van der Laan is a partner of the Fast50, a programme that ranks 50 high‑growth technology companies in the Netherlands. Our involvement with the Fast50 reflects our close connection to the startup and scale‑up ecosystem and our long‑standing experience advising fast‑growing companies and the investors backing them. 

Kennedy Van der Laan has contributed to the development of the Energy Hubs Toolkit, together with Invest‑NL. This toolkit supports the establishment and financing of local energy hubs and reflects our hands‑on experience at the intersection of energy transition, innovative financing structures and public‑private collaboration. 

This commitment is not only reflected in our client work, but also in our own activities. Through the Kennedy Van der Laan Foundation, we actively engage in and support impact investments, reinforcing our practical understanding of the dynamics and ambitions that drive impact‑focused funds and founders alike.

If you would like to discuss a venture capital investment, growth financing or impact‑driven transaction, our team would be happy to explore how we can support you.