Copenhagen-based VC firm BlackWood Ventures has closed its 25 million dollar debut fund, aiming to support 30 early-stage European startups from pre-seed to seed stages.
- Launched in 2023, BlackWood Ventures invests in early-stage European startups within fintech, Web 3.0, and cleantech.
- The firm supports visionary founders at the pre-seed and seed stages by leveraging strong partnerships with over 100 accelerators, incubators, and universities, alongside a community of more than 1,200 angel investors who co-invest in selected opportunities.
“Europe is not short on talent; it’s short on conviction capital. That’s the gap we’re here to fill. We built BlackWood to be truly European in scope and disciplined in approach, seeing hundreds of opportunities each month and backing founders whose ambition and focus stand out," claims Bastian Larsen, Founder and CEO of BlackWood Ventures.
- Since its initial close in April 2023, BlackWood has invested in 19 companies across nine countries. Key portfolio companies include:
- beSirius, a Netherlands-based B2B SaaS platform serving the mining and metals industry, recently completed a funding round led by Berlin-based NAP and is already utilized by global players like ArcelorMittal.
- IVM Markets, a London-based fintech SaaS startup revolutionizing the distribution of structured products for financial institutions, was founded by former Deutsche Bank executives.
- Sidekick, the UK's wealth management platform targeting mass-affluent clients, recently surpassed £100 million in assets under management.
- Yonder is a UK-based rewards card company valued at over £100 million and selected for the 2025 Future Fifty, Tech Nation’s premier program for late-stage UK tech scaleups.
- Particula is a German AI-powered provider of risk intelligence for digital assets, facilitating institutional adoption of tokenized finance through real-time automated risk ratings across DeFi and traditional finance.
- The fund saw support from Nordic family offices, exited entrepreneurs, private investors, and notable business angels.
- Additionally, the fund frequently co-invests alongside leading venture capital firms such as LocalGlobe, Y Combinator, Seedcamp, Northzone, Octopus Ventures, Firstminute Capital, RTP Global, Giant Ventures, and Norrsken.
