Buyer landscape
Likely buyers · Deep Tech in Netherlands.
Prepared 2026-08-28 with GP Intel · deterministic scoring, published weights: gp-intel.com/methodology/league-tables
The list: 25 Tier 1 · 0 Tier 2 of 120 matched buyers, including 7 geographic expansion candidates without a local platform yet. A first round of the Tier 1 names plus the expansion buyers covers the demonstrated demand.
Financial buyers · 25
Tier 1 · Very High · score 70+
1. EQT SponsorVery High79
40 platform investments in Software & IT · 9 in Netherlands · 51 deals 2024–26
AUM €291.0B · EQT X · 2023 vintage · deploying · check €440M-3.3B
53 platform investments since the 2023 vintage · largely deployed vs its usual 11 per fund.
Backed VTI Technologies, 2002 · Deep Tech, Finland
2. AFINUM Management GmbH SponsorVery High78
14 platform investments in Software & IT · 1 in Netherlands · 9 deals 2024–26
AFINUM X Buyout (2026) · 2026 vintage · deploying · check €10-75M
2 platform investments since the 2026 vintage · early in deployment vs its usual 9 per fund.
Backed Fairbanks, 2026 · SaaS, Netherlands
3. Waterland Private Equity SponsorVery High77
18 platform investments in Software & IT · 56 in Netherlands · 39 deals 2024–26
Waterland Private Equity Fund IX (WPEF IX) · 2023 vintage · deploying · check €70-525M
48 platform investments since the 2023 vintage · largely deployed vs its usual 19 per fund.
Backed Netconomy, 2025 · IT Services, Austria
4. BU Bregal Unternehmerkapital Multi-Asset Continuation Fund SponsorVery High77
18 platform investments in Software & IT · 1 in Netherlands · 15 deals 2024–26
AUM €7.0B · BU Bregal Unternehmerkapital Multi-Asset Continuation Fund · 2026 vintage · deploying · check €16-122M
4 platform investments since the 2026 vintage · early in deployment vs its usual 9 per fund.
Bought Safety21 from BU Bregal Unternehmerkapital, 2026 · Software, Italy
5. Hg SponsorVery High76
48 platform investments in Software & IT · 1 in Netherlands · 22 deals 2024–26
AUM €69.0B · Hg Mercury 4 · 2023 vintage · deploying · check €48-360M
24 platform investments since the 2023 vintage · largely deployed vs its usual 8 per fund.
Backed OneStream, 2026 · SaaS, US
6. Oakley Capital SponsorVery High76
15 platform investments in Software & IT · 1 in Netherlands · 20 deals 2024–26
AUM €12.7B · Oakley Capital Fund VI · 2025 vintage · deploying · check €90-675M
10 platform investments since the 2025 vintage · largely deployed vs its usual 6 per fund.
Bought Senef from Isatis Capital, 2026 · SaaS, France
7. Axcel SponsorVery High76
20 platform investments in Software & IT · 14 deals 2024–26
Axcel VII · 2023 vintage · deploying · check €26-194M
15 platform investments since the 2023 vintage · largely deployed vs its usual 9 per fund.
Backed Bekk, 2026 · IT Services, Norway
8. Apax Partners SponsorVery High75
35 platform investments in Software & IT · 1 in Netherlands · 21 deals 2024–26
AUM €70.8B · Apax XI · 2024 vintage · deploying · check €221M-1.7B
19 platform investments since the 2024 vintage · largely deployed vs its usual 12 per fund.
Backed Sedex, 2026 · Data & Analytics, UK
9. Deutsche Beteiligungs SponsorVery High75
13 platform investments in Software & IT · 1 in Netherlands · 10 deals 2024–26
AUM €2.7B · DBAG Solvares Continuation Fund · 2024 vintage · deploying · check €3-20M
9 platform investments since the 2024 vintage · largely deployed vs its usual 8 per fund.
Backed Bug Bounty Switzerland, 2026 · Cybersecurity, Switzerland
10. Apax Partners (with NewAlpha) SponsorVery High75
30 platform investments in Software & IT · 1 in Netherlands · 19 deals 2024–26
AUM €70.8B · Apax XI · 2024 vintage · deploying · check €221M-1.7B
19 platform investments since the 2024 vintage · largely deployed vs its usual 12 per fund.
Backed Sedex, 2026 · Data & Analytics, UK
11. Apax Partners and Inova Capital SponsorVery High75
29 platform investments in Software & IT · 1 in Netherlands · 19 deals 2024–26
AUM €70.8B · Apax XI · 2024 vintage · deploying · check €221M-1.7B
19 platform investments since the 2024 vintage · largely deployed vs its usual 12 per fund.
Backed Sedex, 2026 · Data & Analytics, UK
12. Apax Partners and JMI Equity SponsorVery High75
29 platform investments in Software & IT · 1 in Netherlands · 19 deals 2024–26
AUM €70.8B · Apax XI · 2024 vintage · deploying · check €221M-1.7B
19 platform investments since the 2024 vintage · largely deployed vs its usual 12 per fund.
Backed Sedex, 2026 · Data & Analytics, UK
13. Apax Partners SAS SponsorVery High75
29 platform investments in Software & IT · 1 in Netherlands · 19 deals 2024–26
AUM €70.8B · Apax XI · 2024 vintage · deploying · check €221M-1.7B
19 platform investments since the 2024 vintage · largely deployed vs its usual 12 per fund.
Backed Sedex, 2026 · Data & Analytics, UK
14. Capital A Investment Partners SponsorVery High75
14 platform investments in Software & IT · 41 in Netherlands · 5 deals 2024–26
AUM €515M · Capital A Fund V · 2023 vintage · deploying · check €10-77M
12 platform investments since the 2023 vintage · mid-deployment vs its usual 22 per fund.
Backed ARVOO Imaging Products, 2023 · Deep Tech, Netherlands
15. Swanlaab Venture Factory SponsorVery High75
12 platform investments in Software & IT · 18 deals 2024–26
Swanlaab Innvierte Agrifood Tech · 2024 vintage · deploying
Accelerating: 15 deals in the last 2 years vs 1.3/yr before.
Backed Situm, 2019 · Deep Tech, Spain
16. Nordic Capital SponsorVery High74
27 platform investments in Software & IT · 4 in Netherlands · 14 deals 2024–26
AUM €39.0B · Nordic Capital Fund XI · 2023 vintage · deploying · check €180M-1.4B
15 platform investments since the 2023 vintage · mid-deployment vs its usual 22 per fund.
Bought Evosep from Eifo, 2025 · Deep Tech, Denmark
17. Isai Gestion SponsorVery High74
61 platform investments in Software & IT · 30 deals 2024–26
AUM €458M · ISAI Expansion III · 2025 vintage · deploying · check €6-45M
23 platform investments since the 2025 vintage · largely deployed vs its usual 20 per fund.
Backed ProcurePro, 2026 · Software, Australia
18. Oakley Capital, Eurazeo, Sagard NewGen (I-Tracing platform) SponsorVery High74
15 platform investments in Software & IT · 1 in Netherlands · 19 deals 2024–26
AUM €12.7B · Oakley Capital Fund VI · 2025 vintage · deploying · check €90-675M
10 platform investments since the 2025 vintage · largely deployed vs its usual 6 per fund.
Backed Senef, 2026 · Software, France
19. BU Bregal Unternehmerkapital SponsorVery High74
17 platform investments in Software & IT · 1 in Netherlands · 14 deals 2024–26
AUM €7.0B · BU Bregal Unternehmerkapital Multi-Asset Continuation Fund · 2026 vintage · deploying · check €16-122M
4 platform investments since the 2026 vintage · early in deployment vs its usual 9 per fund.
Backed Safety21, 2026 · Software, Italy
20. Cipio Partners SponsorVery High74
19 platform investments in Software & IT · 8 deals 2024–26
Cipio Partners Fund VIII · 2021 vintage · partially deployed · check €4-30M
Accelerating: 6 deals in the last 2 years vs 1.8/yr before.
Backed Isar Aerospace, 2026 · Deep Tech, Germany
21. GRO Capital SponsorVery High74
22 platform investments in Software & IT · 1 in Netherlands · 5 deals 2024–26
AUM €1.2B · GRO Generation I · 2024 vintage · deploying · check €3-23M
5 platform investments since the 2024 vintage · mid-deployment vs its usual 6 per fund.
Backed Akselos, 2023 · Deep Tech, Switzerland
22. Deutsche Beteiligungs AG SponsorVery High73
12 platform investments in Software & IT · 1 in Netherlands · 9 deals 2024–26
AUM €2.7B · DBAG Solvares Continuation Fund · 2024 vintage · deploying · check €3-20M
9 platform investments since the 2024 vintage · largely deployed vs its usual 8 per fund.
Backed Bug Bounty Switzerland, 2026 · Cybersecurity, Switzerland
23. Armira SponsorVery High73
8 platform investments in Software & IT · 1 in Netherlands · 12 deals 2024–26
AUM €5.0B · Armira III · 2025 vintage · deploying · check €20-150M
8 platform investments since the 2025 vintage · mid-deployment vs its usual 10 per fund.
Backed FTAPI, 2025 · Cybersecurity, Germany
24. Castik Capital SponsorVery High73
5 platform investments in Software & IT · 6 in Netherlands · 9 deals 2024–26
AUM €5.0B · EPIC III · 2024 vintage · deploying · check €40-300M
6 platform investments since the 2024 vintage · largely deployed vs its usual 5 per fund.
Bought Interact Intranet from Perwyn, 2025 · SaaS, UK
25. Meanings Capital Partners SponsorVery High73
9 platform investments in Software & IT · 7 deals 2024–26
AUM €906M · Meanings Private Equity Fund IV (MPEF IV) · 2025 vintage · deploying · check €6-45M
Accelerating: 6 deals in the last 2 years vs 1.8/yr before.
Backed Instant System, 2026 · Software, France
Scores and facts derive from verified deal records only; sample floors and thresholds are published on the methodology page. Figures marked with a tilde are bands, not disclosures.