vc funds investing in europe by vestbee
24 January 2022·23 min read

Olga Chechłacz

Editor, Vestbee

New VC Funds Investing In European Startups - Overview 2021

The 2021 year was record-breaking in terms of investments into the European market, providing opportunities for European startups' growth and transformation of local companies into global players.

Venture capital investments that flowed to Europe in 2021 reached around 25B EUR (compared to 18B EUR in 2020), which significantly increased European VC funding share in the total global funding (from 13% in 2020 to 19% in 2021). Additionally, more and more US VC funds are heading towards Europe as they see huge potential in European startups, take for example Sequoia Capital, a global tech investor that opened its office in London last year. Such a trend will continue as it is expected to see much more global ventures interested in solutions provided by European companies.

So without further ado, let’s explore new VC funds from Europe launched in 2021 that will contribute to startups’ development in the upcoming years!

VC Funds From Central & Eastern Europe

Recently, we have shared the list of new VC funds from CEE launched in 2021 including numerous leading venture capital firms such as Eleven Ventures, OTB ventures, Inovo Venture Partners, LAUNCHub Ventures, Tera Ventures and more. They contributed to increasing available VC funding in the region by starting the second or third funds and significantly increasing the sizes of investment tickets. Click here to see the full overview.

VC Funds From Austria

  • In July, Speedinvest, a well-recognized VC fund, announced the final close of its second specialist marketplaces and consumer fund at €60M, which was €10M more than the initial target. Then, already in November, Speedinvest launched a new €80M Climate and Industry Opportunity fund to support its existing sustainability-oriented startups, while also targeting selected non-portfolio companies that are accelerating European industry efforts to digitize and decarbonize.
  • Venture capital UNIQA Ventures Gmbh doubles its investment amount to €150M to support CEE startups in the series A stage.
  • Growth-stage VC firm, 3TS Capital Partners announced the first closing of its new €150M fund focusing on fast-growing technology companies in the areas of software, tech-supported services, and e-commerce.

VC Funds From Germany

  • German automotive group Volkswagen AG set up a venture capital fund with an initial volume of around €300M to support innovative startups with sustainable-tech goals.
  • Berlin-based health tech investor Heal Capital closed a €100M fund backing European health tech ventures at the early stages of development.
  • Revent has launched a fund targeting €50M, representing impact tech investors, in accordance with the principle “for profit, for purpose”. They aim to significantly contribute to the era of the purpose economy.
  • Early-stage venture capital fund Possible Ventures (formerly Inventures) which targets tech startups has closed a $65M fund.
  • Ananda Impact Ventures has announced the raising of its fourth fund (€65M) to invest in European impact tech companies primarily in digital health, education and sustainability.
  • FoodLabs launched a €100M food tech fund to back startups from the food health and sustainability sectors.
  • AM Ventures has announced the launch of a €100M fund dedicated to supporting 3D printing’s promising startups.
  • BMW i Ventures has set up a second fund of  $300M with an aim to invest in early to mid-stage startups operating in the sustainability, transportation, manufacturing, and supply chain industries.
  • Berlin-based Visionaries Club has launched two €40M micro funs for seed and growth stage B2B companies.
  • VC firm Cusp Capital has launched a €300M fund to support early-stage tech startups across Europe.
  • Bayern Kapital, the venture capital organization managed a newly-launched €200M venture capital fund targeting rapidly-expanding high-tech businesses.
  • Frankfurt-based fund of funds Multiple Capital closed a €20M fund which covers the entire width of the European early-stage startup ecosystem.
  • DX Ventures was launched as an early-stage venture capital fund by delivery platform Delivery Hero. Their focus is to invest in a wide range of industries including on-demand services, food technology, sustainable innovation, artificial intelligence, fintech and logistics.
  • Nucleus Capital is a newly set up micro VC that supports purpose-driven entrepreneurs engaged in planetary and human health issues.
  • PropTech1 Ventures raised €33M in their Fund I, targetting the real estate sector.
  • Lunar Ventures tech-oriented VC fund aimed at early-stage deep tech startups, announced the closing of its €40 million first fund.
  • Greenfield One raised a $160M fund to invest in European projects involving tech for Web 3.0.
  • Apollo Health Ventures has announced the closure of ​​its second fund in the amount of $180M, with the goal to tackle the “root causes of aging”.
  • Auxxo, a first VC looking to solely back female-founded startups, has launched a $15M fund.
  • UVC has announced the launch of the 3rd fund of €255M for game-changing ideas in Europe.
  • In February, Earlybird Venture Capital raised a new $200M fund called Digital East II dedicated to software startups at seed and series A stage. Moreover in October, they launched a €75M fund for pre-seed and early-seed university spin-off startups.
  • BlueYard Crypto 1, a $75m early-stage venture fund launched by BlueYard Capital dedicated to crypto startups.

VC Funds From Switzerland

  • Blue Horizon Ventures launched a €183M foodtech fund to support startups that have a positive impact on the environment, healthcare and animal welfare
  • btov Partners announced the final closing of the second fund at $135M dedicated to early-stage startups from the digital technology sector.
  • Kickfund was launched as a new CHF 60M vehicle with the goal to invest in the deep tech Swiss startups from Venture Kick accelerator.
  • This year within the Swiss university ecosystem, S2S Ventures has been launched. The idea behind this independent students-2-students venture capital is to support startup founders besides capital with educational material and access to a large network.
  • Wingman Ventures launched Wingman Campus Fund, a VC fund that enables students to scout and invest in upcoming startups from some of the biggest universities in the country.
  • Private equity firm MTIP raised $250M for its second fund, to target healthcare startups.
  • Korify Capital launched a new $100M fund with a focus on startups improving longevity and mental health.

VC Funds From UK

  • Octopus Ventures announced a €112M fund dedicated to early-stage health tech companies. The fund aims to take advantage of the current opportunity presented by the rapidly growing health tech market.
  • Anthemis Group announced a $700M multiple fund closing to support startups in the fintech sector.
  • Angel CoFund has rebranded to ACF Investors to launch a new £30M “fast-track” fund for early-stage UK businesses.
  • Digital Horizon VC launched its second venture fund, with a target volume of $200M aiming to invest in startups from fintech and corporate software sectors.
  • Advent Life Sciences launched two funds reaching $215M in total dedicated to early-stage startups: the first one called Advent Life Sciences Fund III and the second one Advent-Harrington Impact Fund - co-run by the Harrington Discovery Institute seeking new seed or Series A investments.
  • Pan-European Nauta Capital company has announced the closure of its fifth fund at €190M. The firm aims to invest in early-stage B2B software companies.
  • A global venture capital firm Sequoia Capital closed its fourth seed fund at $195M dedicated to the US and European startups at their seed stage.
  • Form Ventures announced the final close of a £30M Fund II. The company is aiming at startups at pre-seed and seed stage in sectors tackling regulated areas like health tech.
  • Angular Ventures focused on early-stage, deep-tech companies from Europe and Israel, has announced the closing of a $80M second fund.
  • London- based tech VC fund GP Bullhound closed its fifth fund on a €300 million hard cap.
  • Illuminate Financial announced the final close of its second fund at $100M - doubled the achievements from the first fund. At the same time, the fund has established significant partnerships with big players Barclays, JPMorgan, Deutsche Boerse and IHS Markit.
  • Tech early-stage VC Passion Capital opened its 3rd fund of £45M for crowd investors i.e. investors can register and get qualified for investment.
  • Index Ventures has closed three new funds: a $900M early-stage fund, a $2bn growth-stage fund and $200M seed-stage fund, that gives together 3 billion USD in new capital to support emerging startups and their existing portfolio companies.
  • London-based  Augmentum Fintech has launched a £55M fund (surpassing the target of  £40M), which aims to invest in fintech startups.
  • The Untitled Ventures has launched a €100M fund, which focuses on Eastern European deeptech startups, interested in relocating business to western Europe and USA.
  • Accel has announced the seventh fund of $650M aiming at early-stage European and Israeli startups.
  • Moonfire Ventures has launched its first $60M fund to back early-stage startups.
  • London- based seed investment Stride.VC  has launched a second fund of £100M, which aims to invest in London and European startups.
  • 83NORTH has launched a $550M sixth fund aiming to invest in different technological fields from fintech to robotics to healthcare.
  • Redrice Ventures, the consumer brand seed-stage investor, has closed a £50M fund backed by the British Business Bank with the main focus on digital-first premium consumer brands.
  • Fuel Ventures a well-recognized VC fund launched its new $63M fund aiming to invest into 60 tech startups within 12 months.
  • 2150 is a new European VC fund launched in February with the first close of a €200M fund. It backs technologies aimed largely at reducing the carbon footprint of cities. In October however, 2150 VC hit $312M.
  • In June, Balderton Capital, a well-recognized London-based fund announced the launch of a $680M early growth fund dedicated to European future tech giants. Then in November, the VC has also set up a $600M early-stage fund to back Europe’s next wave of breakout tech.
  • Force Over Mass started its Fund IV amounting to €103M, targeting seed-stage startups in Industry 4.0, AI and Fintech sectors.
  • Flashpoint Venture Capital a well-known VC firm has launched a new fund targeting $200M to invest into later-stage tech companies with particular emphasis on Eastern Europe.
  • London-based VC and PE firm Dawn Capital has announced the launch of its next $120M fund to support top-performing Series C+ companies.
  • Element Ventures, one of Europe’s leading B2B fintech-focused venture capital firms, announced the launch of a nearly €110M fund with the goal to invest in financial technology startups.
  • Inovia Capital closed its second growth fund of €377M aiming to extend its presence in the European ecosystem.
  • London-based VC fund Untitled Ventures has announced the raise of a second, €100M fund for globally-minded, Eastern-European deeptech startups.
  • Presight Partners is a newly-launched $200M fund of funds with a focus on investing into emerging early-stage VC managers.
  • Eight Roads announced the fourth and largest fund of $450M FUND IV to support scaleups in Europe and Israel.
  • World Fund is a newly-launched $350M fund to support the next generation of founders focused on the climate crisis.
  • Edge Investments raised £85M in the second venture fund targeting £100M in a final close.
  • New Micro VC Cocoa emerged in London with a new fund targetting $15M, looking to invest in tech startups.
  • Pink Salt Ventures is a newly-launched fund, the first one with a focus solely on female founders.
  • Outsized Ventures hit the first close of €60M of their inaugural fund, focusing on deep tech, between seed and series A financing rounds.
  • American VC General Catalyst has expanded its reach in the European market by opening a new office in London, aiming to invest in early-stage startups from the region.
  • LocalGlobe has closed a $150M fund focusing on seed-stage startups from the UK and Europe.
  • DN Capital one of Europe’s most active VCs has launched its latest €300M Fund V aiming to invest in startups from Europe as well as US-based.
  • Skylake Capital, a London-based early-stage VC firm has raised it first $100M fund focusing on IT infrastructure companies.
  • Global technology investor Amadeus Capital Partners announced the closing of its  £110M fund dedicated to technology-led seed and series A startups.
  • firstminute capital closed its $160M seed fund solely dedicated to European startup ecosystem.
  • Amro Partners has launched a venture capital arm in order to invest in proptech and fintech startups from Europe.
  • The Twenty Minute VC has launched $33M fund investing in early-stage startups and another  $107M fund dedicated to tech companies.
  • Eka Ventures has held a final close on a $95M fund, making it the largest impact-driven early stage venture capital fund focused on the UK startup ecosystem.

VC Funds From Finland

  • Maki.vc has launched a  €100M seed fund (Maki Fund II) with a sweet spot for scientific advances and consumer-facing, brand-driven companies to back deep tech founders.
  • Vendep Capital began with the third specialist fund with the first close of €40M to back B2B SaaS startups in the Nordics and Baltics.
  • BonVenture Management publicized the second closing of its new fund at €35M investing in companies with a social or ecological business focus.
  • Nordic FoodTech VC announced its first fund closure at €42M as the first early-stage VC fund in the Nordics fully focused on investing in foodtech startups.
  • Armada announced the final closing of the Armada Fund V at  €210M (exceeding its original target size) to invest in debt and equity in Northern European growth companies.
  • Icebreaker.vc closed its second fund at €100M to back teams in Estonia, Finland and Sweden, and also raised a separate €20M Opportunity Fund that will continue to invest in their Fund 1 existing portfolio companies.
  • Edtech VC firm Sparkmind VC announced the final closing of its €55M fund focused on supporting edtech startups at seed stage to series B.
  • Data ecosystems pioneer OpenOcean raised €92M fund for data solutions and software startups from Europe.

VC Funds From Norway

  • Verdane, the growth equity investor, has announced a final close of Verdane Edda II - a fund investing in tech growth startups, at its €540 million hard cap.
  • Early-stage VC fund SNÖ Ventures has launched a $100M fund for Nordic tech companies.

VC Funds From Sweden

  • Sound Bioventures announced the first close of its first fund at €110M. The fund’s main objective is to invest in European and US-based private biotech companies supporting the clinical development of novel medicines.
  • Launched by social impact organization Norrsken Foundation - Norrsken VC closed the oversubscribed impact venture fund at €125M.
  • Female-led BackingMinds has launched its second fund of $60M, which aims to invest in venture capital “blind spots”, such as startups run by women and immigrants.
  • Malmö-based VC Pale Blue Dot closed €87M fund to back startups addressing global warming, sustainability- and environment-related issues from Europe and beyond.
  • Early-stage investor Antler has announced the closing of its first Nordic fund at €29.6M.

VC Funds From Denmark

  • Consumer-focused Heartcore Capital has launched a $200M early-stage fund, backed by institutions including the European Investment Fund and 25 founders from its portfolio. Moreover, it raised $50M to back stand-out companies from its portfolio through their growth rounds.
  • Seed Capital Denmark has launched a €62.5M growth fund to back seed-stage companies.
  • PSV Tech01 created by an early-stage fund Preseed Ventures is a €55M fund focusing on tech startups from Denmark and Southern Sweden.

VC Funds From Island

  • Female-led Crowberry Capital has announced the launch of Crowberry II - a $90M seed and early-stage fund dedicated to Nordic startups. The second close, bringing in an additional $40M, is planned for July 2022.
  • Brunnur Ventures GP has announced the launch of Brunnur II - its second venture fund of $65M targeting seed and early-stage startups from Iceland with extraordinary entrepreneurial talent, innovative, high-growth and scalable business models.
  • Frumtak Ventures has announced their third fund- Frumtak III. This $57M fund is aiming to back post-seed and Series A startups.
  • Kvika Asset Management closed the first round of financing for a venture capital fund called Iðunn at $53M with a focus on long-term growth startups operating in life sciences and health technology.

VC Funds From Italy

  • MadTech oriented fund, BlackSheep Ventures has announced its first closing at €40M setting up the goal to reach €70M. The fund invests in high potential SaaS companies operating in marketing that are at Series A and B round stage with plans to scale internationally.
  • Synergo Capital has announced a €30M first close for its first venture capital fund, Sinergia Venture Fund, which was launched with a €150M target.
  • Prana Ventures has announced the first closing at €34M. This fund aims to invest in seed and post-seed new technology companies.
  • United Ventures together with CVC TIM Ventures launched a €150M fund called UV T-Growth for late-stage innovative enterprises in Italy and Europe that aim to create new services, among others, for the Smart City, Smart Home, schools and the work environment.

VC Funds From France

  • In February 2021, Eurazeo held a first close for its Smart City II Venture fund raising €80M to invest in international startups operating in energy, mobility, proptech and logistics industries. Then already in July, group Eurazeo has closed a new growth fund worth more than €1.6bn, which portfolio includes European unicorns such as Doctolib and Glovo.
  • Growth capital Sofinnova Partners closed a €445M late-stage health fund focusing on European clinical-stage companies that need scaleup capital.
  • Global venture capital firm with equal presence in Europe and in the US, AXA Venture Partners (AVP) has completed a €250M closing of AVP Growth Fund II dedicated to supporting future technology leaders.
  • Five Seasons Ventures announced the final closing of a €180M second fund, focusing on backing European food-tech startups.
  • Parisian CAPZA announced a €200M first close for Capza Growth Tech Fund.
  • Elaia has announced the closing of the 4th Digital Venture fund-Elaia DV4 fund at €120M. The company aims to back European digital and deep tech startups from early-stage to growth development.
  • Lauxera Capital Partners, a VC fund founded in 2020, has announced a €100M fund focused on supporting the development of European healthcare startups.
  • Serena secured €300M to continue investing in early-stage European startups.
  • Investment firm Founders Future, launched its second fund for European startups, with the main focus on seed and Series A investments.
  • VC fund Breega closed the third fund at €110M. Their goal is to become a major investment firm in the tech landscape.
  • Quadrille Capital secured €511M for their 4th fund focused on technology-driven startups, with prognostics that around 50% of raised capital will be invested in Europe.
  • Singular launched with €225M under management for series A and B investments across Europe.
  • Revaia, formerly known as Gaia Capital Partners, announced the final closing of its first growth fund, Europe’s largest female-founded VC fund, at €250M, exceeding its initial target of 200M EUR.
  • White Star Capital has announced the final closing of its €40M Digital Asset Fund (DAF) with the goal to invest into early-stage crypto-networks and blockchain-enabled businesses.
  • Rothschild Group with PeakBridge VC launched a $250M fund targeting between 15-20 startups in the foodtech sector.
  • Partech has just announced the launch of Partech Growth II at €650M with a mission to power a new era of European digital leaders.
  • La Poste Ventures is a newly set-up €35M VC fund that focuses on seed and series A startups operating in logistics, smart cities and healthcare sectors.
  • Bpfinance launched a €100M fund focusing on fintech startups.

VC Funds From The Netherlands 

  • BGV (BioGeneration Ventures) early-stage VC firm investing in European startups has raised $170M for its BGV IV fund.
  • Finch Capital collected €85M for its 3rd fund focusing on European fintech scaleups with revenues from 2 to 5 mln EUR. The fund’s target is €150M.
  • Keen Venture Partners announced €120M closing of the second fund. This VC aims to invest in fast-growing European scale-ups at the Series A and B stage.
  • Anterra Capital has announced a $175M initial closing of the second global Food and Agriculture Technology Fund focused on the growing agritech industry.
  • Growth capital firm fueling internationalization and innovation Endeit Capital launched third and so far the largest fund of €250M for tech scaleups that accelerate Europe’s digital transformation.
  • Brightlands Venture Partners has announced the first closing of its BVP Fund IV at €45M. The fund is aiming to back startups from sustainability & health sectors.
  • Rockstart accelerator and VC firm that from its inception in 2011 invested in more than 250 startups, has announced the closure of AgriFood fund at €22M with plans to further support Agritech and Food startups.
  • Revo Capital has announced the final closure of oversubscribed Fund II at €90M with plans to invest in companies originating from Central and Eastern Europe and Turkey.
  • Crypto investment firm Maven 11 closed its second fund of $120M investing in novel infrastructure protocols, DeFi primitives and Web 3.0 applications in the crypto industry.
  • Vortex Capital Partners closed its third fund of €75M aiming to back SaaS companies mostly from the Netherlands and Belgium.

VC Funds From Belgium

  • Rise PropTech Fund is a new €20M Belgian risk capital fund for proptech startups from France, Benelux and DACH-region, aiming to support the transformation of the construction and property sector.
  • Fortino Capital has announced the final closing of its €105M fund dedicated to promising early-stage B2B software and technology companies across Europe
  • AMAVI Capital raised €30M for its new fund with the aim to invest €60M in proptech scaleups.
  • Blockchain VC fund Tioga Capital Partners announced the final close at $70M fund focused on European startups.

VC Funds From Greece

  • A new quasi-equity fund AccelerateTT has been launched by The Hellenic Development Bank of Investments. With €60M, AccelerateTT aims to invest in Greek startups younger than 7 years since the launch of their product.
  • VentureFriends raised €100M to invest in early-stage European B2B and B2C startups.
  • The European Investment Fund backed with €20M Genesis Ventures, the first Greek business angel’s co-investment fund supporting pre-seed and very early stage companies across Greece.

VC Funds From Luxembourg

  • Promus Ventures venture capital firm, closed its Orbital Ventures fund at €120M. This fund is focusing on early-stage, space-related companies.
  • Fabric Ventures has announced a new fund valued at €109M aimed at supporting digital assets startups including software tokens and collaborative networks around the globe.

VC Funds From Spain

  • Nina Capital firm focused on health technology startups has announced Nina Capital Fund II with an investment goal of €40M.
  • Aldea Ventures reached their first €60M close of a target €100M fund with the purpose of investing in over 700 tech startups across Europe.
  • The 23 and 24-year-old founders launched Enzo Ventures, a new €500k micro fund with a focus on supporting Gen Z founders in SaaS and eCommerce.
  • New VC Iris Ventures was formed in Barcelona to support European consumer brands with 100M EUR to invest.
  • Samaipata closed its second fund with €107M to invest in European startups. The fund raises its assets under management to more than €150 million.
  • Inveready launched the second €50M fund to invest in companies listed in European Alternative Markets
  • Alantra’s energy transition fund Klima achieved its first closing with €80M commitments. The fund focuses on management teams of late-stage venture and early growth companies addressing climate changes problems.

VC Funds From Portugal

  • Shilling VC has launched a new €30M early-stage fund Shilling Founders Fund with the focus on Portuguese startups, however, they also back up a significant number of international companies.
  • Faber Ventures has announced the launch of a new €30M fund, Faber Blue Pioneers I, to invest in early-stage startups developing innovative “deep tech solutions” around ocean sustainability and climate action.

VC Funds From Ireland

  • Frontline Ventures raised €70M seed fund to invest in B2B European startups, aiming to expand their activities into American markets.
  • The Yield Lab Europe has announced nearly €50M at the second close for its sustainable agrifood tech venture capital fund. Funds will be invested in seed to series A companies from Europe.
  • Atlantic Bridge has launched the University Bridge Fund II of €80M focused on Irish deep tech companies.

 

If you want to discover more VC funds, check out our VC list - a complex database of the best early-stage venture capital funds investing in innovative startups across different verticals. Read More.

If you have additional insight or interesting news to share regarding European VC funds, please drop me a line!

Related Posts:

New VC Funds From Central & Eastern Europe - Overview 2021 (by Olga Chechłacz, Editor,  Vestbee)

VC Funding in CEE Report - 2Q 2021 (by Konrad Koncerewicz, Head of VC & Startups, Vestbee)

VC Funding in CEE Report - 1Q 2021 (by Konrad Koncerewicz, Head of VC & Startups, Vestbee)

 



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