Dutch unicorn Mews, a hospitality management company, is seriously considering listing its shares in the United States if it decides to go public. CEO and co-founder Matthijs Welle revealed this to TNW, stating that a US listing is the most probable option.
“An IPO is one of the options that we would consider for the future, and if we were to go down that route, a listing in the US is the most likely option, although it is too early to specify further details regarding a potential listing,” Welle said. “Most other vertical SaaS companies, who are comparable to us, are listed in the US, where there are deeper capital markets and a strong presence of SaaS-focused investors and analysts.”
Welle, however, emphasized that his current focus is on continued growth and expansion.
“While we have thought about a potential exit, we are currently very focused on and committed to building one of the most exciting hospitality technology brands in the world,” he stated.
Mews, located at TNW City in Amsterdam, has developed a cloud-based system that helps hotels and other hospitality businesses streamline operations. The platform handles tasks such as room bookings, guest check-in/out, payment processing, and housekeeping management, along with providing reporting and analytics tools.
Earlier in the month, Mews secured $75 million in funding, bringing its total funding to $411 million, according to PitchBook data. The company has also made 12 acquisitions to increase its market share. Riding a wave of sustained growth in global travel, Mews’ expansion continues apace. The company reported a 50% year-on-year increase in 2024, managing over $10 billion in payment volume and surpassing $200 million in revenue. Last year, Mews achieved unicorn status after raising $110 million, resulting in a $1.2 billion valuation.
Despite Mews’ success, Welle is critical of the Dutch government’s level of support for entrepreneurs.
“There’s no plan for tech startups,” Welle observed in a recent interview. “That is the biggest problem.”
Welle isn’t alone in his frustration. Other prominent figures in the Dutch tech scene have expressed concerns about the lack of support for emerging businesses.
Robert Vis, co-founder and CEO of Bird, announced last month that the company is planning to move a significant portion of its operations out of the Netherlands, criticizing both The Hague and Brussels for prioritizing meetings over action regarding innovation. Job van der Voort, CEO and founder of Remote, an HR platform valued at over $3 billion, believes that Europe as a whole is not doing enough to foster tech success stories
Van der Voort, who moved his company to San Francisco, warned that burdensome tech regulations are driving companies away from the continent. “It’s becoming unattractive to start and maintain a business here,” he said and advised other startups to leave Europe if they want to succeed.
The future of Dutch tech will be a key discussion point at the upcoming TNW Conference, scheduled for June 19-20 in Amsterdam.
