Catalyze Announces Partnership With HortiScience Innovation Center

26 November 2025, Amsterdam – We are pleased to announce our new partnership with the newly launched HortiScience Innovation Center (HIC) Venture Studio. 

The HIC Venture Studio is a world first for horticulture

On 29 October 2025, the HortiScience Innovation Center (HIC) opened its new HIC Venture Studio, as the world’s first venture studio dedicated entirely to horticulture. This milestone provides the sector with a powerful new engine for innovation and entrepreneurship.

The HIC Venture Studio focuses on six themes that summarize the most important transitions in greenhouse horticulture: energy transition, resilient cultivation systems, circular greenhouse horticulture, autonomous cultivation, automation, and future-proof working. These themes guide the innovations and startups that emerge within the studio.

As partner, Catalyze will provide grant writing and strategic business consulting services, supporting HIC Venture Studio entrepreneurs in obtaining funding for innovative projects.

Catalyze and HIC comment on the partnership

Jamal Mesbahi, Managing Principal at Catalyze, shared: “As a market leader in attracting non-dilutive funding for green and sustainable innovations, we are proud of our partnership with the HIC Venture Studio.

“This collaboration brings together knowledge, entrepreneurship, and financing to accelerate the growth of groundbreaking startups and the transition to a future-proof greenhouse horticulture sector. This initiative aligns seamlessly with our mission to accelerate innovation and increase sustainable impact.”

Loet Rummenie, Director HIC Venture Studio: “With Catalyze as a partner, we’re strengthening our mission to bring groundbreaking technologies from greenhouses to market faster. They not only help our startups secure funding but also provide direction and acceleration. Together, we’re building an ecosystem where knowledge, capital, and entrepreneurship converge to future-proof the greenhouse horticulture sector.”

About the HortiScience Innovation Center (HIC)

The HortiScience Innovation Center (HIC) is a powerful breeding ground for greenhouse pioneers. Startups and innovative companies are working together to build the future of greenhouse horticulture, supported by groundbreaking knowledge of cultivation systems and technical expertise from Wageningen University & Research and the Delphy Improvement Center, the entrepreneurial network of YES!Delft and StartLife, and the municipality of Lansingerland as an active connector and facilitator. This creates a fertile ecosystem where ideas can grow into future-proof solutions.

About Catalyze Group

Catalyze Group is a leading innovation consultancy dedicated to accelerating the success of ambitious innovators. With expertise across Life Sciences, Sustainability, Digitalisation, and Industrialisation, Catalyze provides support in non-dilutive funding, strategy, and business consulting — throughout the entire Innovation Journey. Catalyze has secured over €2 billion in funding for meaningful innovation projects worldwide.

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