Top 7 Delft Startups to Watch in 2026
The city of Delft is a notable hub for deep technology and life science startups in the Netherlands. Its ecosystem is home to companies working on advanced hardware and biotechnology.
Among them, Cradle is using AI to design proteins and has secured $102.7M in funding. Other companies like Vivici are creating animal-free dairy proteins with $32.5M in backing.
Below is our list of 7 Delft startups worth keeping an eye on.
Failory's Top 7 Picks
Cradle builds generative AI software to help biologists design and engineer proteins. Their platform uses prediction algorithms and AI-driven recommendations to help research teams create improved proteins much faster than traditional lab methods allow.
| Year Founded | 2021 |
| Founders | Elise de Reus, Stef van Grieken |
| Funding Amount | $102.7M |
| Startup Size | Lean Team (11-50) |
| Last Funding Status | Series B |
| Top Investors | Index Ventures, IVP, Kindred Capital, Thomas Glocer, Chris Gibson |
QphoX builds a quantum modem that connects quantum computers, allowing them to operate as a single network. Their technology is designed to let quantum processors exchange information at scale, a key step in creating the quantum internet.
| Year Founded | 2021 |
| Founders | Frederick Hijazi, Robert Stockill, Simon Groeblacher |
| Funding Amount | $12.5M |
| Startup Size | Lean Team (11-50) |
| Last Funding Status | Venture Round |
| Top Investors | Speedinvest, HTGF (High-Tech Gruenderfonds), European Innovation Council, Quantonation, QDNL Participations |
PATS builds an indoor drone solution that helps greenhouse farmers eliminate flying insect pests. Their autonomous system provides a sustainable alternative to pesticides by identifying and neutralizing pests in real time.
| Year Founded | 2018 |
| Founders | Bram Tijmons, Kevin van Hecke, Sjoerd Tijmons |
| Funding Amount | $3M |
| Startup Size | Lean Team (11-50) |
| Last Funding Status | Seed |
| Top Investors | European Innovation Council, UNIIQ, The European Innovation Fund, Delft Enterprises, Division Q |
Vivici develops and supplies animal-free dairy proteins using precision fermentation. Their proteins serve as key ingredients for businesses in the food, beverage, and nutrition industries looking to create sustainable, animal-free products.
| Year Founded | 2022 |
| Founders | — |
| Funding Amount | $32.5M |
| Startup Size | Lean Team (11-50) |
| Last Funding Status | Series A |
| Top Investors | Invest-NL, InnovationQuarter, Fonterra Co-operative Group, APG Asset Management, DSM Venturing |
Qualinx creates ultra-low power, single-chip solutions for IoT devices and navigation systems. Their pioneering Digital-RF technology drastically reduces energy consumption for connected hardware.
| Year Founded | 2015 |
| Founders | Amir Reza Ahmadi Mehr, Iman Madadi, Massoud Tohidian |
| Funding Amount | $8.1M |
| Startup Size | Lean Team (11-50) |
| Last Funding Status | Series A |
| Top Investors | InnovationQuarter, FORWARD.one, EASME, Waterman Ventures |
Loop has developed a living coffin made from mycelium, the root network of mushrooms. Their product, known as the Living Cocoon, is designed to help the body compost and return valuable nutrients to the earth.
| Year Founded | 2020 |
| Founders | Bob Hendrikx |
| Funding Amount | $3.1M |
| Startup Size | Lean Team (11-50) |
| Last Funding Status | Equity Crowdfunding |
| Top Investors | Graduate Entrepreneur Fund, Pieter Schoen, Shawn Harris |
SenseGlove develops haptic gloves that bring a realistic sense of touch to virtual and augmented reality applications. These force-feedback gloves are designed for professional training, digital prototyping, and research, enabling users to physically interact with digital objects.
| Year Founded | 2015 |
| Founders | Gijs den Butter, Johannes Luijten |
| Funding Amount | $3.6M |
| Startup Size | Lean Team (11-50) |
| Last Funding Status | Series A |
| Top Investors | FORWARD.one, UNIIQ, Value Creation Capital, YES!Delft, Lumaux |
