Dutch Fintech Duqu Raises $1.6M to Free Cash Trapped in Unpaid Invoices

Jan de Vries · 2026-09-24

### A Dutch Fintech Wants to End the Waiting Game for Unpaid Invoices Picture this: you've just wrapped up a big project. The client is happy. But the invoice you sent? It might sit unpaid for weeks. Meanwhile, payroll is due, inventory needs restocking, and that new hire starts Monday. That's the reality for countless businesses, and it's exactly the problem Duqu is tackling. Duqu, a fintech startup based in Amsterdam, just raised €1.5 million (about $1.6 million) in a pre-Seed round led by Curiosity VC and No Such Ventures. The company gives businesses immediate access to cash tied up in outstanding invoices. ### How Duqu Works Its Magic Here's the twist: Duqu doesn't make you sell your invoices like traditional factoring. Instead, it offers a short-term advance based on your unpaid B2B invoices. You keep control of the customer relationship, and there's no minimum or maximum amount. You only pay a fee when you actually use an advance. Once approved, the money hits your account within 24 hours—often within an hour. That speed matters when you're trying to make payroll or seize a growth opportunity. ### The AI Engine Behind the Scenes What really sets Duqu apart is its proprietary AI underwriting engine. It automates about 95% of the credit assessment process, which means it can profitably handle smaller credit applications that traditional lenders often ignore because they're too expensive to process manually. > "Small applications are relatively expensive for traditional lenders to assess and process. Duqu has built a fully AI-driven credit assessment and processing stack. As a result, businesses with smaller credit or working capital needs can be better served," said Herman Kienhuis of Curiosity. And it's not just for Duqu's own platform. The technology is modular and can be white-labeled for banks, lenders, and leasing companies. They can use it to automate their own credit assessments while keeping their own credit policies. ### Why This Matters for Businesses Everywhere Nearly half (47%) of B2B invoices in Western Europe are overdue, according to Duqu. That's a staggering amount of money that businesses have already earned but can't touch. It's like running a race with weights tied to your ankles. Duqu's solution isn't just about speeding up payments; it's about unlocking growth. When you don't have to wait for invoices to be paid, you can invest in inventory, marketing, or new hires without hesitation. ### Traction and Future Plans Since its launch, Duqu has signed up almost 1,500 users and processed €4.6 million (about $5 million) in applications, advancing more than €1.2 million (roughly $1.3 million). The company plans to use the fresh capital to grow both its direct business and its white-label partnerships. "Businesses can arrange almost everything instantly today, yet after completing the work they can still wait weeks to get paid. That no longer matches the pace at which businesses operate. Growth cannot wait for an invoice to be paid," said co-founder Maas de Goede. ### The Bigger Picture Duqu's technology could be applied to leasing, mortgages, and buy now, pay later. It's not just a fix for unpaid invoices; it's a new way to assess credit that could ripple across the entire lending industry. For now, though, Duqu is focused on making sure you get paid for your work—fast. And that's something every business can get behind.