First Funds for Dutch Research Platform Northsea

Amsterdam-based company Northsea has raised EUR 660k in a first investment round, with which to double its headcount and further develop its AI-powered customer research platform.

The firm was formed this year by former Bain consultants Geart van Dam and Nick van Zanten (pictured L and R), who serve as Northsea's CEO and CTO respectively. Its platform promises to bring research timescales down to less than 24 hours, with much reduced effort compared to traditional survey work, but also claims 'more insightful and authentic answers'. The firm states: 'Northsea is built specifically for the kind of rigorous, quantifiable research that strategy and investment teams need, from pricing studies to commercial due diligence.'

Northsea employs an AI research assistant to streamline activities throughout the research process, from survey design through respondent sourcing, to data collection and analysis. This includes conducting 'dynamic, interview-style conversations that adapt in real time.' The product is pitched at consultants and investors working on projects 'from commercial diligence to portfolio value creation.'

The round was led by CapitalT and a group of angel investors, and the firm is online at www.northsea.co .