How will subsidAI perform compared to other AI platforms for the WBSO in the Netherlands in 2025?

As a software agency, you have probably experienced the frustration of looking for suitable subsidies. Hours spent digging through databases, unclear criteria, and then the question: do I do it myself or do I hire an expensive consultancy firm? In 2025, the rise of AI-driven platforms offers an interesting middle ground. But how does subsidAI actually distinguish itself from the other players in this growing market?

I dove into the world of grant automation, compared platforms, looked at performance and cost structures, and found that the differences are bigger than you might expect. Let's take a look at what makes subsidAI unique—and whether it's really the best choice for your agency.

The explosive growth of AI in the Dutch subsidy landscape

The Dutch subsidy landscape is complicated, with hundreds of schemes spread across national and European programmes. For 2025 alone, more than €1.5 billion was available in WBSO subsidies, but only a fraction of eligible companies know how to make the most of these opportunities. The reason? The process is often time-consuming, complex and error-prone.

AI grant platforms have emerged in response to this challenge. These tools promise to scan grants within minutes, automate documentation, and increase the chances of approval. From SubsidyCloud to wbso.ai —there are several players on the market, each with their own approach.

But what makes the difference between these platforms? And more importantly: which one suits your software agency best?

What sets subsidAI apart from the competition

If we compare subsidAI with other AI platforms, a number of crucial differences are immediately noticeable. While many platforms focus on identifying grant opportunities, subsidAI goes a step further by automating the entire application process. This not only means that you know in minutes which subsidies you are eligible for, but also that your application is immediately prepared and optimized.

Full process automation vs. identification only

Most AI tools on the Dutch market, mainly offer subsidy scanning and matching. They help you find the right schemes by linking your business profile to available grants. That is valuable, but it is only the beginning of the journey.

subsidAI, on the other hand, combines identification with automatic document generation. The AI analyzes your technical documentation, optimizes it according to best practices from previously approved applications, and ensures that your application immediately meets all RVO requirements. For software agencies that often work with WBSO applications, this means that you no longer spend hours correctly formulating R&D challenges or structuring technical descriptions.

WBSO Cost savings through success fee model

A crucial difference lies in the pricing model. Traditional subsidy advisors and consultants often charge a success fee of 10-20% of the awarded subsidy amount. With a WBSO application that yields €100,000, you quickly pay €10,000 to €20,000 in consultancy costs.

subsidAI breaks this pattern with a success fee model that is ~50% cheaper than traditional consultancies. (5% success fee with a 500e onboarding fee) This not only means significant cost savings, but also a lower risk: you only pay if your application is successful.

For a software agency that wants to submit several projects per year, this difference can amount to thousands of euros annually.

Performance in numbers: the WBSO results of 2025

When looking at tangible results, subsidAI stands out for their 100% success rate in WBSO 2025 applications. This is a remarkable figure, especially when compared to the average approval rates in the industry.

What does this mean in practice? It shows that subsidAI's AI-driven approach—which analyzes successful applications and automatically applies best practices—actually works. The time required for a WBSO application is reduced to about 2 hours, compared to the days or even weeks it traditionally takes.

Usability and support: not just technology

An AI platform is only as good as the people who can use it. This is where subsidAI excels through the combination of automation and human expertise. Where alternatives mainly focus on speed and simplicity, subsidAI offers in-house expert review of every application before it is submitted.

This is a crucial distinction. For software agencies that carry out complex R&D projects—such as innovative AI implementations or custom software development—it is important that someone with expertise checks your application for completeness and persuasiveness. This hybrid approach combines the best of both worlds: the efficiency of AI with the nuance of human expertise.

Our competition lacks the in-depth review that subsidAI delivers by default. For companies that want certainty about the quality of their application, this makes the difference between an approval and a rejection.

Sector-specific focus: why software agencies benefit from subsidAI

subsidAI focuses mainly on innovation-driven companies, including software agencies. This is no coincidence. Software development often falls into the category of R&D work that qualifies for WBSO, but it can be difficult to frame your technical innovations correctly according to RVO criteria. subsidAI's AI is specifically trained on successful tech and software requests, which allows the platform to better understand how to position API integrations, machine learning implementations, or cloud architecture projects, for example.

For your software agency, this means that subsidAI not only works faster, but also delivers more relevant results. The platform recognizes which aspects of your work are considered innovative by RVO and helps you communicate them effectively.

Real-time tracking and transparency

Another distinguishing feature of subsidAI is the real-time tracking of your application status. This may sound like a detail, but for busy business owners, it can make the difference between peace of mind and constant uncertainty.

Traditional consultants often keep you in the dark about progress while you wait for updates. subsidAI offers a dashboard where you can see exactly what stage your application is in, what steps are still to come and when you can expect a decision. This level of transparency is not yet widespread among competitors, which gives subsidAI a modern, customer-friendly look.

Scalability for growing agencies

As your software agency grows, so do your subsidy needs. You may be working on one innovative project this year, but next year you will have three R&D projects underway. How does your grant process scale with it?

At subsidAI we have developed project-by-project functionality, meaning that your R&D is scaled as per your project needs. In addition, subsidAI can handle multiple projects in parallel without the need for additional licenses or subscriptions. For agencies working on several innovations at once—from a blockchain implementation to a custom CRM system—this is a practical advantage.

How subsidAI is responding to the WBSO 2026 changes

In 2026, the WBSO budget will be structurally increased to a total of €1.817 billion. In addition, the parameters stay the same as 2025: the deduction for the first €380,000 of R&D wage costs is now 36% (50% for start-ups), and 16% for remaining costs.

subsidAI has updated its platform to automatically account for these changes. When you submit an application, the system immediately calculates your expected WBSO benefits based on the new parameters. This will avoid surprises and help you with your financial planning.

Competing platforms have often made these updates as well, but subsidAI's user interface makes it easier to understand by showing you step-by-step how much you can save per project. For software agencies who want to know whether it is worthwhile to submit an application, this provides valuable preliminary information.

The Bottom Line: Why subsidAI Could Be the Best Choice for Your Agency

After comparing subsidAI with other AI platforms for grants in the Netherlands, the conclusion is clear: subsidAI offers the most complete and cost-effective solution for innovative software agencies. Through full process automation, expert review, real-time tracking, and a success-based pricing model, the platform stands out as an all-in-one solution that goes beyond just grant identification.

For software agencies that regularly carry out innovative projects and want to submit WBSO applications without the high costs of traditional consultants, subsidAI is a logical choice. Not only does it save time and money, but it also increases your chances of approval by leveraging best practices from thousands of successful applications.

Do you want to experience for yourself how subsidAI works? Then schedule a free demo and find out how you can submit a professional WBSO application in less than 2 hours. Because let's face it: your time is too valuable to waste on complicated paperwork. Let AI do the heavy lifting so you can focus on what you do best—building innovative software.