BigCircle Ventures

Background

BigCircle Ventures, established in 2024 and headquartered in Amsterdam, Netherlands, is a venture builder dedicated to transforming early-stage deep technology innovations into successful startups that address global climate and circularity challenges. The company's mission is to accelerate the world's journey towards sustainability by bringing promising greentech solutions from research environments to market. By leveraging a proven model for discovering, nurturing, and funding innovations, BigCircle Ventures aims to be a leading force in the cleantech venture-building landscape.

Key Strategic Focus

BigCircle Ventures concentrates on identifying and developing technologies that contribute to achieving net-zero emissions and a circular economy. The firm collaborates with universities, research institutes, and companies to scout untapped early-stage innovations, particularly in sectors such as green chemistry, energy, biobased materials, and circular materials. By focusing on these areas, BigCircle Ventures seeks to create impactful startups that can drive significant environmental and economic benefits.

Financials and Funding

In July 2024, BigCircle Ventures secured €3 million in its initial funding round, with VP Capital as one of the primary investors. This capital infusion enabled the company to expand its team and initiate the development of its first five greentech ventures. Looking ahead, BigCircle Ventures plans to raise an additional €25 million to scale operations and fund the creation of 30 ventures over the next three years, aiming to make a substantial impact on achieving a climate-positive, circular, and toxicity-free economy by 2050.

Pipeline Development

One of the notable projects in BigCircle Ventures' pipeline is the commercialization of catalytic ball milling technology, developed in collaboration with Utrecht Holdings. This innovative process facilitates the recycling of polyolefins, one of the largest plastic waste streams, into high-quality monomers with reduced energy input compared to other advanced recycling technologies. The partnership aims to establish a venture to bring this technology to market, with plans to recruit a CEO, finalize investment and operational plans, and engage industry partners.

Technological Platform and Innovation

BigCircle Ventures employs a structured venture-building approach that includes:

Identifying New Technologies: Scouting promising deeptech innovations in climate and circularity sectors.

Validation with Experts: Assessing the technical feasibility and market potential of identified technologies through expert consultations.

Team Recruitment: Assembling skilled teams to lead the development and commercialization of the technologies.

Venture Formation: Establishing new entities to bring the technologies to market.

Ongoing Support: Providing continuous support to ventures until they achieve market success.

This comprehensive methodology ensures that innovations are effectively transformed into market-ready solutions.

Leadership Team

BigCircle Ventures boasts a team of experienced professionals with diverse backgrounds:

Joost Kruytzer, CEO: Leads the development of the team, model, and network. Previously served as COO at NLC, Europe's largest healthtech venture builder, and has over 20 years of board-level consulting experience.

Freerk Bisschop, Venture Partner: Oversees the energy and climate sectors, leveraging 35 years of entrepreneurial experience across Europe, including roles at Inven Capital and Rockstart.

Guusje Delen, Venture Development: Focuses on green chemistry and energy ventures, with a PhD in chemistry and experience leading R&D departments at greentech startups Skytree and Ore Energy.

Reinier van der Vusse, Venture Partner: Leads biobased and circular materials sectors, with experience in business development, impact investment, and startup financing at Polestar Capital and RebelGroup.

Roos Nuijten, Venture Finance: Supports startups throughout the funding process, with a Master's in Financial Economics and experience in M&A and Private Equity.

Rohit Kanungo, Venture Development: Collaborates on creating and scaling ventures focused on climate technology and circular economy solutions, holding a PhD in chemical engineering and experience at AquaBattery and Procter & Gamble.

Siem Gersen, Venture Development: Builds relationships with universities and researchers to identify promising inventions, with a background in energy and a passion for sustainable energy solutions.

Sofiia Eremchuk, Venture Development Intern: Assists in scouting technologies in biobased and circular materials sectors, with a background in chemistry and life sciences and R&D roles at Procter & Gamble, Unilever, and Kimberly-Clark.

Elin Howard, Venture Development Intern: Supports the development of climate-focused innovations, with a background in Materials Engineering and Chemistry and experience in R&D and Product Development for a startup.

Joost Beemer, Capital & Sourcing: Responsible for fundraising and sourcing new technology, with over 20 years of entrepreneurial experience and a background in Cleantech, Real Estate, and M&A at Schroders Capital and Kempen.

Jarno van den Heuvel, Venture Finance: Manages finance and legal infrastructure and contributes to venture financing activities, with experience as an auditor at EY and financial/management roles at impact startups.

Eelco Dekker, Advisor: Supports deep tech IP scouting by strengthening networks with universities, technology institutes, and corporates, with experience in corporate venturing at Royal DSM and multiple clean energy and chemicals startups.

Simon Knowles, Talent Acquisition: Responsible for recruitment, attracting exceptional individuals for BigCircle’s internal team and ventures, with over 20 years of experience recruiting for businesses globally.

Leadership Changes

As of July 2025, there have been no significant changes or appointments within BigCircle Ventures' leadership team.

Competitor Profile

Market Insights and Dynamics

The greentech venture-building sector is experiencing significant growth, driven by global initiatives to combat climate change and promote sustainability. The market is characterized by increasing investments in clean technologies, with a focus on achieving net-zero emissions and developing circular economies.

Competitor Analysis

Key competitors in the greentech venture-building space include:

Rockstart: A global accelerator and venture capital firm supporting startups in energy, agrifood, and emerging technologies.

Inven Capital: A venture capital fund investing in cleantech and new energy sectors, focusing on innovative startups with growth potential.

NLC: Europe's largest healthtech venture builder, which, like BigCircle Ventures, transforms early-stage innovations into successful companies.

These organizations share a commitment to fostering sustainable technologies but may differ in their specific areas of focus and operational models.

Strategic Collaborations and Partnerships

BigCircle Ventures has established significant collaborations to enhance its market position and innovation capacity:

Utrecht Holdings: Partnered to commercialize catalytic ball milling technology, aiming to recycle polyolefins into high-quality monomers with reduced energy input.

VP Capital: Secured investment to support the development of initial greentech ventures, aligning with VP Capital's impact-driven investment strategy.

These partnerships strengthen BigCircle Ventures' ability to bring innovative technologies to market and achieve its sustainability objectives.

Operational Insights

BigCircle Ventures differentiates itself through its comprehensive venture-building approach, which includes:

End-to-End Support: Providing continuous assistance from technology identification to market entry.

Expertise in Deeptech: Focusing on complex technologies with significant environmental impact potential.

Collaborative Network: Engaging with a broad network of universities, research institutes, and industry partners to source and develop innovations.

This strategy positions BigCircle Ventures as a key player in the greentech sector, capable of transforming early-stage innovations into market-ready solutions.

Strategic Opportunities and Future Directions

Looking ahead, BigCircle Ventures plans to:

Scale Operations: Raise additional funds to support the creation of 30 ventures over the next three years.

Expand Internationally: Collaborate with universities and research institutions across Europe and beyond to source innovative technologies.

Enhance Impact: Focus on technologies that contribute to a climate-positive, circular, and toxicity-free economy by 2050.

By leveraging its current strengths and strategic partnerships, BigCircle Ventures is well-positioned to achieve these objectives and drive significant advancements in the greentech sector.