EINDHOVEN — Avendar secured 2.2 million euros in seed funding on Tuesday to expand its artificial intelligence software for public-sector investigations across Europe. The Dutch startup, founded in 2025, announced that the investment round was led by LUMO Labs with backing from the Brabant Development Agency.
The company was established by Hugo Sleegers, Tijs Bronnenberg, and Marijn van Aerle to address complex fraud and crime cases handled by public institutions. Many agencies still depend on manual processes, creating a demand for secure tools compliant with European regulations, according to the firm.
“Europe needs its own sovereign infrastructure for critical investigation and intelligence,” van Aerle said in a statement detailing the funding. The capital will support the expansion of engineering and product teams to improve the platform's analytical capabilities.
Avendar software is currently utilized by the Dutch National Police and the Municipality of Amsterdam after pilot programs linked to the Ministry of Justice and Safety. Andy Lurling, founding partner at LUMO Labs, said the startup has demonstrated strong execution in complex public sector environments.
The firm now faces competition in the investigative intelligence market from established enterprises such as Palantir Technologies and Recorded Future. Avendar did not disclose the specific number of new engineering hires planned for its 2025 expansion phase.
