PureTerra Ventures launches second water tech fund with a EUR 10 million from Invest-NL
PureTerra Ventures (“PureTerra), a leading Dutch venture capital fund dedicated to scaling innovative water technology companies, is launching its second fund to create a water secure future. Invest-NL’s participation of EUR 10 million marks an important milestone in PureTerra’s ambition to mobilise EUR 150 million from public, private, and institutional investors.
Water: too little, too much, too dirty - an urgent challenge in a fast-growing sector
Water systems worldwide are under increasing pressure. Unsustainable industrial use, climate change, urbanisation and geopolitical developments are turning water security into a strategic issue for both industry and society. Despite the urgency of these challenges and the sector’s profound growth outlook, the water tech sector remains inexplicably underfinanced.
Fund II: strengthening the water innovation ecosystem in the Netherlands with international impact
Orange Wings (Shawn Harris), the European Investment Fund (EIF), Invest-NL, insurer a.s.r., and a broad group of entrepreneurs invested EUR 73 million in Fund I of PureTerra Ventures, which has already backed 14 innovative water companies. With a new EUR 150 million fund target, PureTerra Ventures will continue the strategy of its first fund: investing in scalable technologies that make water use more efficient, cleaner and safer across industrial sectors such as energy, food, chemicals and semiconductors. Invest-NL’s participation as a cornerstone investor confirms confidence in this investment strategy. Together, Invest-NL and PureTerra Ventures will further strengthen the water innovation ecosystem in the Netherlands, with international impact.
Stefanie Landman, senior investment manager at Invest-NL:
“Water plays a key role in the transition to a sustainable and future-proof economy. PureTerra Ventures has demonstrated that specialised expertise and active engagement are essential to successfully bring innovative water technologies to market. With this investment, we aim to stimulate further private investment in this strategic sector.”
PureTerra: a pioneer in water tech venture capital – scalable innovation with a commercial focus
From Amsterdam, PureTerra invests in early-stage companies that bring deep tech hardware and AI-driven software solutions to market to scale them commercially, often in close collaboration with industrial end-customers. This includes technologies that make industrial water suitable for reuse while simultaneously enabling the recovery of scarce resources, such as lithium and phosphorus. The team has extensive technological knowledge, a wide network, and strong commercial expertise in the water sector. PureTerra is recognised as a crucial player in strengthening the Dutch and European water tech ecosystems.
Job van Schelven, Partner at PureTerra Ventures:
“Water is no longer a given, but a strategic prerequisite for industry. Once water availability starts to constrain operations or scaling, it quickly becomes a costly limiting factor. Across multiple sectors, we already see companies investing in solutions for water reuse and water quality. This creates a unique opportunity to generate meaningful positive impact on water quality and availability, while unlocking significant economic potential. Invest-NL has once again proven itself to be a partner willing to step forward when it matters, and we are grateful to the Invest-NL team for their support.”
About PureTerra Ventures
PureTerra Ventures is an Amsterdam-based venture capital fund investing globally in innovative water technology companies. The fund supports entrepreneurs developing solutions to the world’s most pressing water challenges, with the goal of creating a water-secure future.
About Invest-NL
Invest-NL is the national financing and development institution committed to building a sustainable and innovative Netherlands. Invest-NL accelerates and finances societal transitions in the fields of Agrifood, the Biobased & Circular Economy, Deep Tech, Energy, and Life Sciences & Health.
About Water
Even in the Netherlands, internationally renowned as a water country, the limits of the current water systems are becoming unmistakably visible. Water scarcity and pollution are emerging as urgent challenges, showing that the issue extends far beyond traditional flood protection and infrastructure. Residents in cities including Utrecht and Amersfoort were recently advised to boil their drinking water as a precaution[1]. Utility company Vitens has also warned that businesses may increasingly face water shortages, and that new connections can no longer be taken for granted[2]. Less than 1% of Dutch surface water meets European quality standards[3], placing the Netherlands, uncomfortably, among the “worst performers in the class”. With its Water Resilience Strategy, the European Union has taken a significant step forward in 2025, explicitly positioning sustainable water use as an economic opportunity, with deep tech innovation and its scaling playing a key role.
[1] https://nos.nl/artikel/2597924-oorzaak-besmetting-drinkwater-amersfoort-gevonden-kookadvies-opnieuw-verlengd
[2] https://www.ondernemen.nl/artikelen/vitens-ook-ondernemers-krijgen-te-maken-met-het-watertekort
[3] https://www.invest-nl.nl/nl/nieuws/hoe-verbetert-invest-nl-de-financierbaarheid-van-de-watertransitie