RVO grants, credits and loans for startups

The Dutch government helps startups get funding in several ways: through tax benefits, through loans and through guarantees for your bank. Almost all of these schemes run through RVO, the Netherlands Enterprise Agency. What’s on offer changes every year and isn’t always easy to follow. Below are the schemes that do the most for startups, as they stand in October 2026.

What is RVO?

RVO runs schemes on behalf of the Dutch ministries. Broadly, there are three kinds:

• Tax schemes: you pay less tax, as with the WBSO and the EIA.
• Loans and credits: you borrow from the government, often on favourable terms and with a risk a bank wouldn’t take.
• Guarantees: the government acts as guarantor, so your bank is more willing to lend to you.

So a true grant you never repay is often not the biggest item for a startup. Most of the benefit comes from tax relief and from loans you wouldn’t otherwise get.

WBSO: a tax credit for your development work

For most tech startups, the WBSO is the most important scheme. If you develop new software, a new product or a new production process, you get a reduction in payroll tax for the hours you spend on it. In 2026 that reduction was 36% on the first €391,020 of R&D costs, and 50% for starters. Above that, 16% applied.

An example: with an R&D base of €100,000, a starter saves €50,000 in payroll tax. If you have no employees and are self-employed for income tax, you get a fixed deduction instead: €15,979 in 2026, plus an extra €7,996 for starters, provided you spend at least 500 hours on development work.

Note: you apply for the WBSO before you start the work. Applications for 2026 closed on 30 September. If you want to use the WBSO in 2027, now is the time to prepare your application. RVO will publish the 2027 rates later.

Early-stage financing: a loan for your proof of concept

Have you shown that your idea works in principle, and do you now want to prove it works in practice? That’s what Early-stage financing (Vroegefasefinanciering) is for. It’s a loan of up to €450,000 for innovative starters up to five years old and for SMEs. The interest rate is 7.71% (as of 1 September 2026), and repayment starts after three to five years.

One key condition: there has to be an investor who wants to come in afterwards. In seven provinces you apply through a regional office, elsewhere through RVO, where applications are handled in order of receipt, so applying early pays off. Applications are open until 31 December 2026.

Innovation Credit: for the development itself

Further along and developing a new product, process or service with significant technical risk? Then you can apply for an Innovation Credit (Innovatiekrediet). It’s a risk-bearing credit for technical or clinical development projects. A small company can finance up to 45% of the project costs, or up to 50% if you collaborate with another party. The maximum is €10 million per technical project and €5 million per clinical project. The repayment schedule is set at the end of the project. You can apply all year round.

MIT: now regional only

The MIT scheme (SME innovation support for regions and top sectors) was a fixture for startups for years. In 2026 there’s little left of it: feasibility projects can only be applied for through your own province, R&D collaboration projects are temporarily closed, and knowledge vouchers won’t return. Check RVO’s Loketwijzer to see what’s open in your region.

BMKB: when your bank wants more security

Want to borrow from a bank but don’t have enough collateral? Then your bank can use the SME credit guarantee scheme (BMKB). The government then guarantees 90% of part of the loan. You don’t apply for the BMKB yourself; your bank does. Until 1 July 2027 the maximum is temporarily raised to €1.5 million, and with a credit need of up to €333,333 you can finance three quarters with BMKB. For investments in sustainability there’s the BMKB-Groen.

Seed Capital: risk capital through funds

With Seed Capital, the government lends money to investment funds, which invest it in technostarters up to seven years after their first sale. Investments range from €100,000 to €5 million. You don’t apply to RVO yourself, but you can approach one of these funds. So feel free to ask an investor whether their fund has Seed Capital.

EIA: an extra deduction for energy saving

Investing in business assets that save energy, such as solar panels, heat pumps or efficient equipment? With the Energy Investment Allowance (EIA) you can deduct an extra 40% of the investment from your taxable profit. The investment has to be on the Energy List and you have to report it to RVO in time.

Which scheme fits your startup?

Where does it often go wrong?

• Applying too late. For most schemes you have to apply before the work or investment starts. You can’t do it afterwards.
• No time records. For the WBSO you have to record, per project, how many hours you spend on development work. Without those records, RVO can claw back the benefit.
• First come, first served. Many schemes have a budget handed out in order of receipt, sometimes by lottery. Applying early pays off.
• Outdated information. Amounts, percentages and application windows change every year. Always check rvo.nl for the rules of the year you’re applying in.
• Booked the wrong way. A WBSO reduction, a loan and a grant each go into your books and annual accounts differently. Getting that right avoids surprises in an audit or a due diligence.

Need help with your application?

We look at which schemes fit your startup, help you with the application, and make sure your hours and costs are recorded properly in your books. That’s part of our tailored advice: after a short call, we agree the approach and price upfront.

Written by

Boele Braaksma

Founder

Founder of Matching Numbers. Writes our clients’ monthly reports.