Benelux Venture 50 - The most promising Benelux-based start-up…

Benelux Venture 50 - The most promising Benelux-based start-up
companies in high-tech sectors have been identified to showcase
themselves to Europe's investment community


6 March 2008, Brussels


Europe Unlimited, the leading provider of pan-European business partnering for technology entrepreneurs,
venture capitalists, corporations and R&D organisations, has today announced the 50 most promising
Benelux-based start-up companies in life science, clean technology and information technology.

The companies have been identified using a mix of quantitative and qualitative evaluations - including a
review workshop in Eindhoven - with active venture capitalists from across Europe and the USA providing
direct input. From the hundreds of applicants and nominations that were taking into consideration, only the
best 50 companies will showcase their innovative business to Europe's investment community on the 18
March 2008 at the Benelux Venture Forum.

A final review of the business and investment proposals during the day will conclude with the most
promising companies in each specific review category to be announced as some of the best investment
opportunities in the Benelux Regions. Corporate representatives and investors will be present from
companies such as Schneider Electric Ventures, Siemens Venture Capital, Philips Healthcare Incubator and
Microsoft as well as many venture capitalists such as Mangrove Capital Partners, Sofinnova Partners and
Atlas Ventures.

Together, the investors attending the Benelux Venture Forum represent several billion of Euro in assets
under management. It will be up to the Benelux Venture 50 companies to attract some of this money to
the Benelux region. These companies are on average 4.5 years old and have previously already received
one round of investment from financial backers. Some 86% are actively looking for investment in the short-
term, while 88% are actively looking for strategic and industry partners for their growth strategies.

Represented ICT companies count 4 years and 1.3 rounds of investment and clean technology companies
3.5 and 1.8 respectively. Those from the life science sector are, as to be expected, older and have received
more rounds of investment due to their often higher R&D expenditure, with 5.9 years and 1.7 rounds of
investment on average.

Benelux Venture 50 companies from Belgium are with an average 5.3 years slightly older those from the
Netherlands (4.5) or Luxembourg (4), and have also received more rounds of investment with an average
of 1.8 in number, compared to 1.4 and 1.3 respectively

Country Representation

·   19 companies from Belgium
·   4 companies from Luxembourg
·   27 companies from the Netherlands

Industry Sectors

·   16 companies from Life Sciences
·   8 companies from Clean technology
·   26 companies from ICT
The Benelux Venture 50, together with the Benelux Venture Forum, plays an active role in the European
and Benelux innovation scene. It fosters start-ups and high-tech, high-growth entrepreneurship and it
promotes Luxembourg, Belgium and the Netherlands as innovative, attractive and rewarding countries to
do business in or to invest in. The initiative creates personal networks and trust between entrepreneurs,
researchers and investors and it will provide a much needed basis for networking of high-tech investors and
entrepreneurs in the Benelux region.

The best of the Benelux Venture 50 will be selected on 18 March 2008, during the 7th edition of the
Benelux Venture Forum at the Federation of Enterprises in Belgium (FEB). This is a unique platform
promoting a dynamic and professional image of innovative entrepreneurship and venture capital in the
Benelux region to the rest of Europe.

To view the full Benelux Venture 50 list, please click here

About the Benelux Venture Forum:

The Benelux Venture Forum 2008 will allow the most promising life science, clean technology and
information technology entrepreneurs from the Benelux region to meet and present themselves to active
international investors and corporations seeking investment and partnerships. Entrepreneurs can pre-
arrange 4 individual One2One meetings with presenting companies, investors and corporate partners of
their choice. The event is sponsored by Ernst & Young, White & Case, Sowalfin, Region de Bruxelles-Capitale
and Region Wallone. It is organised in partnership with the Venture Club, the Federation of Enterprises in
Belgium, S.R.I.B./G.I.M.B., the Belgian Venturing Association, the European BIC Network and Point-One
innovation fund.

About Europe Unlimited:

Founded in 1998, Europe Unlimited provides critical business resources to innovative technology
entrepreneurs, corporations, investors and researchers, allowing them to successfully build and maintain a
healthy economy. We believe that dynamic entrepreneurship is the main force of innovation, economic
growth and sustainability throughout Europe. We therefore focus on helping Europe's technology innovators
become world leaders in their field.



Contact:

Ms Tanja Baltus                                         Oliver Gajda
Product Manager                                         Chief Operational Officer
Tel: +32 2 643 3694                                     Tel +32 2 643 36 84
Email tanja [@] e-unlimited.com                         Email oliver [@] e-unlimited.com