A Year of Growth and Innovation
at CIC Rotterdam
Dear CIC Community and Ecosystem Partners,
I’m proud to share our 2024 Impact Report, highlighting the incredible impact our community has made over the past year.
We applaud the entrepreneurs and changemakers who tackle pressing challenges, push boundaries, and continuously seek ways to improve the world through innovation.
This year, we grew both as a company and as a community. We welcomed many new members—international businesses taking their first steps into Europe through Rotterdam, first-time and serial entrepreneurs, and NGOs to whom we proudly donate space to. To support this growth, we announced our sixth expansion since launching in Rotterdam. Together with our building owner Jamestown, we opened our third European location in Berlin. And as a testament to our collective impact, Financial Times and Sifted recognized CIC Rotterdam as a Leading Startup Hub in Europe.
This report is a celebration of you—the people who make innovation happen every day.
As we mark eight years in Rotterdam, it’s been truly rewarding to see our ecosystem take shape and become an invaluable part of the city’s DNA.
Thank you for being part of this journey.
Joyce Kornet-Vreugdenhil
General Manager, CIC Rotterdam
CIC Rotterdam 2024 Impact Report
Diverse Innovation Landscape
The Zuid-Holland region hosts the Netherlands’ largest concentration of deep tech and impact startups, positioning itself as a leading European hub for transition-focused innovation. We are honoured that key players in this ecosystem, including Envision, C2CA, and Deep Breath, have chosen CIC Rotterdam as their home.
Businesses at CIC Rotterdam tap into a vibrant innovation ecosystem located in the city’s core, with over 250 companies spanning a diverse array of industries. In 2024, the Technology and AI sectors saw remarkable growth, now accounting for 18.8% of our community, making them the dominant industries. The Business and Consulting Services sector remains a significant contributor, representing 14.7% of the community. Furthermore, the Energy and Sustainability sector has experienced a notable rise, now comprising 12.5% of our community, driven by the growing demand for sustainable solutions and innovation.
The evolving distribution of industries at CIC Rotterdam underscores its role as a hub for innovation, adapting to the changing needs of entrepreneurs and businesses. CIC Rotterdam’s diverse range of companies not only strengthens our community’s collaborative environment but also cultivates innovation and creativity. It fosters the sharing of ideas, opens doors for networking, and supports cross-disciplinary collaborations.
At the heart of our community are the entrepreneurs and innovators. They represent 55% of our community, and we are equally proud to host a range of midsized and corporate businesses, as well as venture capitalists.
A Leading Innovation Hub
We are honoured to be recognized by the Financial Times as one of Europe’s Leading Start-up Hubs in 2024, reinforcing our position as a key player in the innovation sector. This prestigious ranking highlights Rotterdam’s thriving ecosystem, offering a dynamic space for start-ups, scale-ups, and corporate innovators. Additional highlights impacting CIC Rotterdam’s recognition is its role as a Start-up Visa Facilitator in The Netherlands, which enables entrepreneurs to grow their business in Rotterdam, as well as its support of impact programs including TechLabs and Forward Incubator. This recognition further emphasizes the impact of CIC Rotterdam in driving growth, collaboration, and international business development across Europe.
Nearly 85% of our members are headquartered in the European Union, with 78% based in the Netherlands. Yet, our diverse network spans the globe, fostering collaboration and innovation worldwide. Steadily increasing from last year, 22% of our community is headquartered outside the Netherlands while maintaining a satellite office at CIC Rotterdam, demonstrating our commitment to global engagement.
Expanding Our Innovation Footprint
Since opening our doors in 2016, we have played a crucial role in fostering innovation and collaboration. We recently announced the expansion of our innovation campus in the historic Groot Handelsgebouw. The expansion, set to be completed in the summer of 2025, will bring our space to a total of 12,000 square meters. This growth will help CIC to accommodate the increasing demand from Rotterdam’s dynamic start-up ecosystem, particularly from sectors such as climate tech, AI, logistics, and life sciences.
Looking back, in the first half of 2024, CIC also opened an innovation campus in Berlin, further expanding our European footprint and creating new opportunities for companies looking to scale and connect across borders. We are already seeing the benefits of this growth: MoreApp, a valuable member of our Rotterdam community, successfully expanded their activities and now has an office in Berlin as well.
These expansions—in Rotterdam and across Europe—further solidify CIC’s role as a leading innovation campus, supporting entrepreneurs in their efforts to scale and connect with global networks covering the US, Asia and Europe.
Facilitating Innovation
We continue to support international entrepreneurship through initiatives like CIC’s International Softlanding Program. As a recognized Startup Visa facilitator, we help innovative entrepreneurs establish or expand their businesses in the Netherlands. The program also provides them with a one-year residence permit, enabling a smooth transition. By attracting global talent and fostering innovation, our program strengthens the Dutch entrepreneurial ecosystem. In 2024, CIC Rotterdam confidently supported five companies through the Startup Visa program, including Broken Egg and Deep Breath, helping them navigate the Dutch market and lay the foundation for their growth.
As part of our international initiatives, we also partnered with the Basque Culinary Center to host our first event supporting the Dutch FoodTech ecosystem in Rotterdam, in October 2024. “Culinary Action! On The Road” consists of a series of events taking place across six global locations, including Rotterdam, and will end with a finale in May 2025 in San Sebastián. The CIC Rotterdam event featured a roundtable on FoodTech sustainability, expert keynotes, and a startup pitch competition where five innovators competed for a spot in the final.
Scaling for the Future
We have the privilege to share that one in five of our community members achieved significant growth and successfully scaled their businesses within CIC Rotterdam in the last year. This accomplishment highlights the vibrant ecosystem we’ve fostered, where companies with new ideas have access to the resources, support, and connections needed to thrive and expand.
For small to medium-sized businesses and entrepreneurs, securing capital is essential for growth, innovation, risk management, and long-term resilience. In 2024, companies at CIC raised more than €10.5 million in investments, reflecting their continued success.
Investors within our community, including Graduate Entrepreneur and Innovation Quarter, collectively manage over €100 million in funds, actively seeking to invest in startups and groundbreaking innovations.
Cultivating a Community
Our focus is on building an engaged innovation community, constantly seeking new ways to bring value, foster connections, and create opportunities for both our members and the broader Rotterdam innovation ecosystem. CIC Monthly, the flagship event of CIC Rotterdam, was successfully launched in Q4 of 2024, where innovation and collaboration converge to spark fresh ideas, partnerships, and exciting opportunities.
Each month, this curated event explores a new theme, featuring expert guest speakers like Jules Deelen, Finance Lead at Picnic Technologies, who share valuable insights. We open our doors to welcome the broader Rotterdam innovation ecosystem, bringing together 100+ attendees to connect, exchange ideas, and explore how innovation can shape our future.
Events at CIC
CIC Rotterdam focused on expanding its presence as a premier event venue within the city’s thriving innovation ecosystem. Our modern, flexible spaces, such as the Kaleidoscope and Venture Café, have become central hubs where entrepreneurs, startups, and established companies converge to exchange ideas and foster collaborations. By hosting events at CIC, organizers not only benefit from state-of-the-art facilities but also gain access to our vibrant community, enhancing opportunities for meaningful connections and growth.
Over the past year, we hosted more than 240 events, ranging from smaller meetings to dynamic panel discussions and lectures on diverse topics. We are especially grateful to have hosted events that drive positive impact and change, such as ININ24 (Inclusive Innovations) with Envision. This inspiring gathering brought together entrepreneurs and startups pioneering inclusive technologies, providing a platform to showcase how their innovations are transforming the lives of people of all abilities.
Diversity in Action
Since our inception more than eight years ago, CIC Rotterdam has prioritized diversity in all its forms. In 2016, we made a commitment with the Social and Economic Council to house 20% of female entrepreneurs in our community by 2025. We are happy to say that we reached this milestone by mid-2022 and have maintained our commitment, with 48 female-owned businesses now part of our community in 2024.
Beyond empowering female-owned businesses in our community, we support female-led foundations including Female Ventures and Women in AI through funding. By backing these initiatives, we strive to address the ongoing inequalities faced by women in the Netherlands and beyond.
CIC Rotterdam is proud to be an SDG House, actively fostering innovation and collaboration to advance the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. Through our vibrant community of entrepreneurs, changemakers, and industry leaders, we strive to create a positive impact on society and the environment.
Partnering for Local Impact
Recognizing the significance of fostering ties with local vendors and businesses, we are dedicated to forging strong partnerships within the Rotterdam community. Through collaborative events, networking opportunities, and various initiatives, we actively engage in mutually beneficial endeavors to stimulate economic growth in the region. By nurturing these relationships, we contribute to a prosperous future for all in Rotterdam.
Rechtstreex
We partner with Rechtstreex to bring fresh, locally sourced apples and pears to our community. Based in Rotterdam, Rechtstreex connects farmers directly with consumers, supporting sustainability and the local economy while ensuring high-quality, seasonal produce.
Floating Farm
Floating Farm is an innovative floating dairy farm in Rotterdam’s harbor, producing fresh yogurt while reducing transportation emissions and optimizing urban space. Their sustainable approach sets a new standard for local food production.
Giraffe Coffee Roasters
Our coffee partner, Giraffe Coffee Roasters in Rotterdam, sources premium, sustainably grown coffee beans from around the world. With expert roasting techniques, they deliver high-quality coffee while promoting ethical and environmentally responsible practices.
New Wave Catering
We are happy to partner with New Wave as our events caterer, celebrated for their deep local roots and innovative, sustainable approach to food. Experts in crafting inventive, waste-conscious dishes, they are guided by three core pillars: Zero Waste, Sustainable Ingredients, and Local Production.
De Notenshop
We partner with De Notenshop to offer high-quality snacks sourced from the Netherlands. With over 60 years of experience, they provide fresh, carefully selected products, including organic options. Their commitment to quality and sustainability ensures responsible and delicious snacking.
Sustainability in Action
It starts with where we are located, in the historic Groot Handelsgebouw—a symbol of Rotterdam’s post-war resilience and innovation. As a BREEAM-NL certified building, it combines heritage with modern sustainability standards, aligning with CIC Rotterdam’s commitment to a greener future. Through mindful product procurement and guiding our clients towards greater sustainability awareness and knowledge, we strive to reduce our environmental footprint and contribute positively to our surroundings.
Energy
Located in an energy-efficient building with an energy label A, we partner with Vattenfall to power our operations with 100% green energy—wind, solar, and hydro—sourced locally from the Netherlands. By choosing renewable energy, we’ve prevented a staggering 432,885.6 kg of CO₂ emissions in 2024 alone. That’s equivalent to the carbon absorbed by over 7,200 trees in a year. With practices like motion censored lights, TV sleep timers and LED bulbs, we continually work on reducing our energy usage where possible. Our commitment to sustainability drives us toward a greener tomorrow.
Office Supplies
We continued our commitment to sustainability by exclusively utilizing paper bearing the EU Ecolabel certification. By choosing EU Ecolabel-certified paper, CIC not only reduces its environmental footprint but also supports sustainable forestry and promotes the circular economy. This choice led to a reduction in CO₂ emissions by approximately 1,312.5 kg, comparable to the emissions from a roundtrip flight across the United States. Additionally, our switch saved approximately 525,000 liters of water, further contributing to our sustainable practices.
Where possible, we choose Cradle to Cradle (C2C) certified office materials such as our Herman Miller desk chairs, carpet tiles and glass panels. C2C certification ensures that a product is designed for sustainability and circularity by meeting strict criteria for material health, recyclability, clean air, water stewardship, and social responsibility. We also implemented our first Statiegeld machine in partnership with Statiegeld Nederland and Lekker Geven to boost our green impact. Community members can now choose to donate their plastic bottles and cans refunds to Lekker Geven.
The “Wait, Really?” Section
