Background Shape

Leaps

Leaps

Leaps

Welcome to LEAPs (Leading Ecosystem Action Projects), turning the State of Dutch Tech 2026's decisive action into long-term results.

Join a trusted group of fellow founders or senior leaders to tackle your toughest challenges together

TECHLEAP DEEPTECH & ECOSYSTEM

Funded by the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy · How Techleap is structured →

TECHLEAP DEEPTECH & ECOSYSTEM

Funded by the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy · How Techleap is structured →

TECHLEAP DEEPTECH & ECOSYSTEM

Funded by the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy

How Techleap is structured →

TECHLEAP DEEPTECH & ECOSYSTEM

Funded by the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy · How Techleap is structured →

LEAP topic: Equal female founder opportunities

LEAP topic: Equal female founder opportunities

Status:
Sprint 2 (Foundation)

The biggest challenge for female founders in the Netherlands isn't talent. It is unconscious bias and a broken capital allocation system. Currently, female-only teams receive just 0.7% of all startup funding in the Dutch tech ecosystem. To unlock the massive, untapped ROI of our ecosystem, we are stopping the leaking female tech talent pipeline. We are moving away from modest goals and "mentoring women," and shifting towards aggressive scaling, investor training, and proportional funding. A mixed ecosystem isn't just fair; it outperforms.

Mission

THE 2035 VISION

By 2035, we will achieve proportional capital for female CEOs and make 100% gender-diverse founding teams the standard in Dutch tech. Furthermore, we aim to triple the number of female CEOs in tech compared to 2026. The future of Dutch tech should be built by the best talent, not the most familiar faces.

THE FUNDING GAP

0.7%

0.7%

0.7%

0.7%

of all startup funding in the Dutch tech ecosystem goes to Female-only teams.

50%

50%

50%

50%

of all women leave the tech industry by age 35.

We do not have a female talent problem in tech. We have a capital allocation problem.

We do not have a female talent problem in tech. We have a capital allocation problem.

Join the shift

Join the shift

Join the shift

Join the shift

Gender equality is an ecosystem responsibility. We need investors, founders, and male allies ready to play to win.

Gender equality is an ecosystem responsibility. We need investors, founders, and male allies ready to play to win.

Shift culture explained

community ask

THE CAPITAL SHIFT: We are executing
a concrete action plan across three pillars.

THE CAPITAL SHIFT: We are executing
a concrete action plan across three pillars.

👉 UNLOCK CAPITAL Mandate VC allocation from pension funds, de-risk investments, and launch a dedicated Women's Health SEED fund.
👉 SHIFT CULTURE Rebrand inclusive investing as a high-yield strategy. We are moving from "mentoring women" to training male investors on conscious allyship.
👉 PENFORCE EQUITY Propose a gender quota on public funding starting at 10%. We will also make it illegal to demand the replacement of female CEOs as a funding condition.

👉 UNLOCK CAPITAL Mandate VC allocation from pension funds, de-risk investments, and launch a dedicated Women's Health SEED fund.
👉 SHIFT CULTURE Rebrand inclusive investing as a high-yield strategy. We are moving from "mentoring women" to training male investors on conscious allyship.
👉 PENFORCE EQUITY Propose a gender quota on public funding starting at 10%. We will also make it illegal to demand the replacement of female CEOs as a funding condition.

Sprint Timeline 2026

Live Roadmap

2

3

4

Sprint 1

Initialisation

12 Feb - 16 Apr

Completed

Sprint 2

Foundation

16 Apr - 30 Jun

In Progress

Sprint 3

Scale

30 Jun - 29 Oct

Upcoming

Sprint 4

Impact

29 Oct - 12 Feb

Upcoming

Sprint Timeline 2026

Live Roadmap

Sprint 3

Scale

30 Jun - 29 Oct

Upcoming

Sprint 4

Impacy

29 Oct - 12 Feb

Upcoming

Sprint 1

Initialisation

12 Feb - 16 Apr

Completed

Sprint 2

Foundation

16 Apr - 30 Jun

In Progress

Sprint Timeline 2026

Live Roadmap

2

3

4

Sprint 1

Initialisation

12 Feb - 16 Apr

Completed

Sprint 2

Foundation

16 Apr - 30 Jun

In Progress

Sprint 3

Scale

30 Jun - 29 Oct

Upcoming

Sprint 4

Impact

29 Oct - 12 Feb

Upcoming

Sprint Timeline 2026

Live Roadmap

2

3

4

Sprint 1

Initialisation

12 Feb - 16 Apr

Completed

Sprint 2

Foundation

16 Apr - 30 Jun

In Progress

Sprint 3

Scale

30 Jun - 29 Oct

Upcoming

Sprint 4

Impact

29 Oct - 12 Feb

Upcoming

LEAP Owner: Owner: Carmen van Vilsteren
Sprint Lead: Arjan Goudsbloem, Yolanda van Dinther, John Bell, Paul Lelieveld, Peter Keijzer

Contact us

LEAP Owner: Owner: Carmen van Vilsteren
Sprint Lead: Arjan Goudsbloem, Yolanda van Dinther, John Bell, Paul Lelieveld, Peter Keijzer

Contact us

Still unsure of something?

Get in touch

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Still unsure of something?

Get in touch

What are LEAPs?

LEAPs (Leading Ecosystem Action Projects) are the execution arm of the State of Dutch Tech. They are active, gated working groups where founders, investors, and policymakers collaborate to turn the ecosystem's biggest friction points into tangible solutions.

How were LEAPS formed?

How do I join a working group?

Is this open to the public?

What happens inside a LEAP workspace?

What are LEAPs?

LEAPs (Leading Ecosystem Action Projects) are the execution arm of the State of Dutch Tech. They are active, gated working groups where founders, investors, and policymakers collaborate to turn the ecosystem's biggest friction points into tangible solutions.

How were LEAPS formed?
How do I join a working group?
Is this open to the public?
What happens inside a LEAP workspace?