Rubio Impact Ventures is an Amsterdam-based venture capital firm founded in 2015 by Machtelt Groothuis and Willemijn Verloop. The firm was created to accelerate the growth of social enterprises and impact-driven startups in the Netherlands. Rubio is among the pioneers of impact venture capital in Europe, blending financial performance with measurable positive outcomes in areas such as sustainability, inclusion, and education. With its female-founded leadership and growing network of institutional and public backers, Rubio has become a key player in the development of the Dutch impact investment ecosystem.
Rubio invests primarily in Dutch and European companies that combine scalable business models with strong social or environmental impact. Its focus areas include circular economy, energy equity, green skills and jobs, education, food systems, and economic inclusion. The firm seeks startups that address major societal transitions while offering solid commercial potential.
In November 2025, Rubio Impact Ventures announced the close of its third fund, securing €70 million ($80 million) in commitments. This round brought total assets under management to approximately €220 million.
Key investors include ING Bank’s impact investing arm, NN Social Innovation Fund, the European Investment Fund, Invest-NL, Oost NL, and the Brabantse Ontwikkelings Maatschappij fund-of-funds. Several family offices and individual investors also participated, alongside a loan from the Netherlands Enterprise Agency’s Seed Capital Program.
The fund aims to make around 30 investments, expanding Rubio’s thematic reach into energy equity and green skills while maintaining its focus on circularity, education, food systems, and inclusion.
This new vehicle continues Rubio’s strategy of combining patient capital with hands-on support to help mission-driven founders build resilient, scalable businesses.
Leadership
Rubio Impact Ventures is led by its co-founders Willemijn Verloop and Machtelt Groothuis, both recognized figures in European impact investing. Verloop previously co-founded Social Enterprise NL and served as vice-chair of the European Venture Philanthropy Association, while Groothuis brings a background in private equity and impact finance. Together, they’ve built one of Europe’s most established female-led impact funds with a track record of nurturing purpose-driven entrepreneurs.
Investment Strategy
Rubio’s strategy focuses on investing in early- and growth-stage companies that deliver both measurable impact and market-rate returns. The firm applies an “impact-first, profit-aligned” model, providing capital and operational support to scale solutions addressing systemic issues like energy transition, green workforce development, and social mobility. Rubio often co-invests with public funds, family offices, and institutional partners to de-risk early-stage impact ventures and catalyze further private capital participation.
Notable Investments
Rubio’s portfolio spans multiple impact verticals, including circular economy, renewable energy, and inclusive education. It has backed Dutch and European ventures such as:
From its earlier funds, Rubio has supported dozens of startups addressing both environmental and social challenges, reflecting its belief that impact and profitability can reinforce one another.
Notable Exits
Rubio has recorded several exits from its first and second funds, including the sale of GoodFuels, a Dutch producer of plant-based biofuels, and a partial exit from its second-fund portfolio.
Although the European exit market has been slow, many of its companies have achieved strong follow-on rounds and significant revenue growth, reinforcing confidence in impact-aligned business models.
Other
The firm has a strong focus on measurable impact, gender balance, and sustainability outcomes.
Rubio expects portfolio companies to track both financial and non-financial KPIs and to demonstrate how their solutions address social or environmental gaps.
As one of the earliest institutional players in Europe’s impact VC landscape, Rubio is actively shaping market standards for impact measurement and reporting.
Netherlands
