Ignite Group acquires Leap. The Innovation Agency

Osborne Clarke has advised Ignite Group on its acquisition of Leap. The Innovation Agency, a leading Dutch grant consultancy firm. With this acquisition, concluded at the end of 2025, Ignite Group becomes the largest grant consultancy in the Netherlands and takes a major step towards European market leadership in grant and funding advisory.

The acquisition of Leap follows shortly after the addition of Finestri Subsidie Management and fits seamlessly within Ignite Group’s active buy-and-build strategy, in which scale, expertise and digital innovation are combined. Leap is known for its high-quality services, strong business client base and deep sector and grant expertise, supported by a strong digital track record.

With offices in Nijmegen, Enschede and Delft, Leap brings substantial regional coverage and experience, particularly for technology companies. By embedding Leap’s digital experience and practical expertise into the Group’s processes, Ignite Group aims to further enhance the strategic support it offers clients throughout the entire grant lifecycle: from roadmapping and opportunity identification to application, execution and compliance.

This deal once again demonstrates Osborne Clarke’s role in advising growth-driven and innovation-focused businesses on complex M&A and buy-and-build strategies in the Netherlands and across Europe.

Tim Gorter, Head of M&A and Corporate Development: "With Leap, we bring in the number four in the Dutch market and this combination makes us the undisputed market leader in the Netherlands with a clear pathway to become the European leader. The ability to finalize two transaction simultaneously without jeopardizing quality is a demonstration of the expertise and dedication of Niels Dolk and team."

The OC deal team was led by Niels Dolk (Associate Director) together with Levi Schutz (Associate) of Osborne Clarke Amsterdam.