Ready to invest: European VCs that raised fresh funds in Q2 2026

Q2 2026 saw another strong quarter for European venture capital fundraising, with numerous firms announcing new funds and gearing up to invest in the next generation of startups. For founders planning to raise capital, understanding which investors have recently secured fresh commitments, and where they're looking to deploy them, can help focus fundraising efforts on the most relevant partners.

From AI and deeptech to defence, climate, fintech, enterprise software, and industrial innovation, aligning your outreach with funds that match your sector and stage can significantly improve fundraising outcomes. To make that easier, we've compiled a list of venture capital firms across Europe, with a particular focus on SEE, DACH, Benelux, and the broader European ecosystem, that announced new funds during Q2 2026, including each fund's size and investment thesis.

New VC funds raised in SEE

Here is a list of new venture capital funds raised in the second quarter of 2026 in the Southeast Europe region:

• [Greece] Skybound Venture Capital — Athens-based Skybound Venture Capital launched with a $38M oversubscribed first close, anchored by the European Investment Fund (EIF), to invest in pre-seed and seed-stage deeptech startups across Europe. Founded by former Marathon Venture Capital investor Thaleia Misailidou and Augmenta co-founder George Varvarelis, the fund focuses on technically complex software and hardware in advanced computing, infrastructure, bioengineering, and frontier technologies. Skybound will make initial investments of $500K–$2M, maintain a concentrated portfolio with significant follow-on reserves, and provide hands-on operational support.
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• [Poland] Future Tech Poland — The European Investment Fund (EIF) and Poland's development bank BGK have committed €85M to three Polish VC funds, Expeditions II, Cogito II, and Balnord, under the newly launched €350M Future Tech Poland fund of funds. The capital will support startups developing technologies in areas such as defence, cybersecurity, AI, dual-use, and space, reflecting continued public investment in strengthening Europe's strategic technology ecosystem and expanding the scale of regional venture funds.

New VC funds raised in DACH

We're continuing with a list of new venture capital funds raised in the second quarter of 2026 in the DACH region, namely in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.

• [Germany] E2D — Earlybird and AVP have launched E2D, a new €500M growth fund dedicated to dual-use and defence technologies across Europe. The fund will back around 20 growth-stage companies developing technologies spanning space, air, land, maritime, and cybersecurity, reflecting growing investor and institutional support for strategic technologies aimed at strengthening Europe's security, technological sovereignty, and defence capabilities.
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• [Germany] Earlybird — Berlin-based VC firm Earlybird has announced the final close of its oversubscribed €360M Fund VIII, the largest early-stage fund in the firm's history. The fund will continue backing early-stage startups across AI applications, software infrastructure, foundation models, and deeptech, reflecting sustained LP confidence in experienced European venture managers and continued investment in next-generation technologies.
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• [Germany] Marvelous & Joachim Herz Foundation – Marvelous Scito Fund — Berlin-based Marvelous and the Joachim Herz Foundation have launched the €20M Marvelous Scito Fund to address Germany's deeptech commercialization gap. The fund targets technologies that are too early or risky for traditional VC, focusing on advanced materials, waste valorisation, and robotics. It combines long-term philanthropic capital with venture investing, deploying capital both directly into pre-seed and seed deeptech startups through Marvelous Ventures and indirectly via selected deeptech VC funds. 
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• [Germany] Merantix Capital — Berlin-based VC firm Merantix Capital has closed a €103M AI Fund to back approximately 40 early-stage AI startups across Europe. The fund will invest in sectors including manufacturing, healthcare, logistics, energy, robotics, finance, and enterprise software, reflecting continued investor confidence in specialist AI funds and Europe's growing focus on commercialising AI across industrial and enterprise applications.

European venture capital firms are also increasing pressure on institutional investors to allocate more capital to the asset class. During Q2, 24 German VC firms launched the German Venture & Growth Forum, arguing that even modest allocations from pension funds and insurers could unlock up to €15B annually for high-growth companies, underscoring that access to long-term institutional capital remains one of Europe's biggest structural challenges.

New VC funds raised in Benelux

Below you'll find a list of new venture capital funds raised in the second quarter of 2026 in the Benelux region:

• [Belgium] Pitchdrive — Antwerp-based VC firm Pitchdrive has closed its fourth fund at €60M, exceeding its initial target while maintaining a concentrated early-stage investment strategy. The fund will back 25–30 AI-native startups across Europe, focusing on software, robotics, mobility, and other AI-enabled industries. Fully backed by private investors, the fund reflects continued investor confidence in specialist AI managers and the growing demand for dedicated early-stage capital supporting Europe's AI ecosystem.
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• [Netherlands] Anterra Capital — Amsterdam-based VC firm Anterra Capital has reached a $100M first close for its third fund, continuing its focus on food and agriculture technologies. The fund will back startups applying life sciences and software innovations across the food and agritech value chain, reflecting sustained investor confidence in specialist funds targeting food security, sustainable agriculture, and climate resilience amid renewed interest in science-driven innovation.
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• [Netherlands] Curiosity VC — Amsterdam-based VC firm Curiosity has completed a €17M first close of its second fund, targeting a final size of €30–40M. The fund will continue backing pre-seed and seed-stage vertical AI startups across the Benelux, Nordics, Baltics, and selected European markets, focusing on sectors such as fintech, legaltech, cybersecurity, manufacturing, and energy. Supported by private investors and the Dutch government's Seed Capital program, the fund reflects continued momentum behind specialist AI investors and Europe's growing focus on industry-specific AI applications.
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• [Netherlands] Keen Venture Partners — Amsterdam-based VC firm Keen Venture Partners has completed the first close of its European Defense and Security Fund, raising more than €150M to become one of Europe's largest dedicated defense-tech venture funds. Backed by the European Investment Fund (EIF), pension fund PME, and other institutional investors, the fund will invest in more than 25 startups across cybersecurity, autonomous systems, space, and dual-use technologies, reflecting growing institutional support for Europe's defense innovation ecosystem and strategic autonomy.
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• [Netherlands] Main Capital Partners — Dutch software investor Main Capital Partners has closed Main Capital IX (€4B) and Main Foundation III (€1.25B), bringing total new commitments to €5.25B. The funds will continue investing in profitable enterprise software companies across Europe and North America, while expanding into the UK for the first time. The close reflects continued institutional demand for specialist software investors and growing confidence in enterprise software as AI accelerates digital transformation across industries.

Other VC funds raised in Europe 

Last but not least, we are bringing you the list of other new venture capital funds that were raised across Europe in the second quarter of this year.

• [Denmark] KOMPAS VC — Copenhagen-based VC firm KOMPAS VC has reached the final close of its €160M Fund II, bringing its total assets under management to approximately €300M. The new fund will continue backing early-stage industrial technology startups across Europe and North America, investing in sectors such as industrial AI, robotics, cybersecurity, advanced software, and energy. The fund reflects continued investor confidence in industrial innovation and technologies supporting productivity, resilience, and decarbonisation.
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• [Finland] Wave Ventures — Helsinki-based VC firm Wave Ventures has reached the final close of its €10M Fund III, marking a fivefold increase from its previous fund. The student-led investor will continue backing angel and pre-seed startups across the Nordics while launching a €240,000 founder grant programme to support entrepreneurs at the earliest stages of company building. The fund reflects continued investor confidence in emerging managers focused on identifying and supporting the next generation of Nordic founders.
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• [Italy] P101 — Italian VC firm P101 has expanded into seed investing through the integration of PranaVentures and the launch of Prana101, a new fund targeting €100M. The fund will invest in pre-seed and seed-stage technology startups across Italy and Europe, with a focus on AI, digital infrastructure, and enterprise software. The move reflects continued consolidation within Europe's venture capital market as established firms broaden their investment platforms to support startups across the full funding lifecycle.
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• [France] Cleo Ventures — Paris-based VC firm Cleo Ventures has closed its €30M Fund II to back pre-seed and seed-stage AI startups across Europe. The fund will invest in AI-native companies spanning application software, infrastructure, and deeptech, reflecting continued investor appetite for specialist AI managers and Europe's expanding ecosystem of dedicated early-stage artificial intelligence funds.
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• [Sweden] Always Summer — Swedish asset manager Always Summer has launched its first fund, Always Opportunities, to provide growth-stage companies with alternative financing through corporate bonds. Founded by former Creandum partner Sabina Wizander alongside entrepreneurs including Voi founder Fredrik Hjelm, the fund focuses on Nordic corporate credit and aims to help European scaleups access flexible, non-dilutive capital.
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• [Sweden] Front Ventures — Stockholm-based investment firm Front Ventures has raised €5M through an oversubscribed financing round to expand its investments in defence technology startups across Ukraine and Sweden. The firm backs early-stage companies developing drones, communications, software, and critical defence supply chains, reflecting continued investor interest in defence innovation and technologies supporting Europe's security and resilience.
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• [Sweden] Norrsken Launcher — Stockholm-based impact investor Norrsken Launcher has reached the final close of its second €80M fund, with its first institutional limited partner joining alongside existing backers. The fund will continue supporting a small number of early-stage European impact startups, taking an operational approach to help researchers and technical founders commercialise innovations. The close reflects sustained investor interest in specialist impact funds focused on climate, sustainability, and science-driven ventures.
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• [UK] Arāya Sie Fund — UK-based VC firm Arāya Ventures and accelerator Sie Ventures have announced a £7.5M first close for their joint Arāya Sie Fund, targeting a final size of £15M. The fund will invest in up to 40 pre-seed and seed startups across the UK and Europe, focusing on sectors including AI, deep tech, climate, fintech, and health.
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• [UK] Eka Ventures — London-based VC firm Eka Ventures has reached the final close of its second fund at $107M (£80M), becoming one of the UK's largest early-stage impact investors. The fund will back up to 30 pre-seed and seed startups focused on health, wellbeing, and sustainable consumption, reflecting continued investor appetite for specialist funds targeting preventative healthcare, climate innovation, and technologies addressing long-term societal challenges.
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• [UK] Creator Fund — London-based VC firm Creator Fund has closed its first European fund at $56M to back scientific founders developing deeptech startups across Europe. The fund will invest at the pre-seed stage in companies emerging from universities, focusing on AI, biotechnology, robotics, advanced materials, and computing infrastructure. Supported by institutional investors including KfW Capital and EIFO, the fund reflects growing investor confidence in Europe's research ecosystem and the commercialisation of scientific innovation.
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• [UK] ET Capital – ET Capital has launched the Cambridge Venture Index SEIS/EIS Fund 2 (CVIF2) to invest in up to 20 early-stage deeptech startups emerging from the Cambridge and Oxford ecosystems. Targeting sophisticated angel investors, the fund uses a data-driven, diversified portfolio approach, based on analysis of nearly 200 Cambridge startups over three decades, https://tech.eu/2026/04/16/et-capital-launches-cambridge-venture-index-fund-2-to-broaden-access-to-deeptech-investing/rather than traditional "winner-picking" venture investing. CVIF2 focuses on science-led companies across areas such as biotechnology and advanced technologies, aiming to deliver strong risk-adjusted returns while broadening investor access to the UK's leading university spinout ecosystem.
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• [UK] Mouro Capital — London-based fintech investor Mouro Capital has reached a $400M close for its third fund, bringing its total commitments to more than $1B since 2015. The new fund will continue backing early- to growth-stage fintech startups across Europe, North America, and Latin America, with a focus on AI, payments, financial infrastructure, identity, and regulatory technology. The fund reflects continued investor confidence in specialist fintech managers despite a more selective venture fundraising environment.
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• [UK] Thena Capital — London-based VC firm Thena Capital has closed a £45M debut fund to back healthcare and medtech startups across the UK. The fund will invest in approximately 25 companies, focusing on digital health, medical devices, diagnostics, women's health, oncology, and mental health. 
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• [UK] Seedcamp — London-based VC firm Seedcamp has raised $320M for its latest fund, its largest to date, to expand investments in early-stage startups and strengthen follow-on support through a new growth vehicle. The firm will continue backing founders across Europe while expanding its presence in the US, reflecting sustained LP confidence in established European seed investors and growing demand to help startups scale internationally.
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• [Turkey] e2vc — Istanbul-based VC firm e2vc has announced the first close of its €100M Fund III, continuing its focus on backing early-stage technology startups across Europe and the CEE region. The new fund reflects sustained investor interest in regional early-stage venture capital and strengthens e2vc's position as an active investor in emerging European startup ecosystems.

Additionally, the London-based procurement software company Omnea has launched the Omnea Future Founders Fund in partnership with angel investor Firedrop to support employees starting new companies. The initiative will provide $250K in seed funding, mentorship, and operational support to selected founders, reflecting a growing trend of successful technology companies creating in-house entrepreneurship programmes alongside traditional venture capital.

Cambridge Enterprise has launched Leaps, a new international scaling initiative designed to help Cambridge deeptech startups expand beyond the university ecosystem. The program's first hub, London Leap, is supported by Phoenix Court, Balderton Capital, and the BioInnovation Institute (BII), providing selected founders with access to investors, talent, customers, and global networks. The initiative aims to accelerate commercialization of Cambridge's research-driven startups in areas such as climate tech, biotech, and quantum computing by connecting them with complementary innovation ecosystems, with London serving as the first of several planned international launchpads.

Defence company BAE Systems has also committed €50M to support European defence technology startups through its Launchpad programme, investing in venture funds managed by Lakestar and Expeditions. The initiative aims to accelerate the commercialisation of defence technologies and reflects growing corporate participation in Europe's defence innovation ecosystem alongside traditional venture capital.

And the global prime broker EXANTE has launched the €1M Gecko Fund, a grant programme supporting open-source software projects that underpin financial infrastructure. The initiative will provide funding to maintainers of critical technologies across developer tools, infrastructure libraries, and financial software, highlighting growing private-sector efforts to strengthen the resilience of Europe's digital infrastructure.

Find the right investor and financing vehicle for your round

Having access to the right investors is only part of the equation; being truly prepared when you reach them is what ultimately makes the difference. From a strong narrative and clear metrics to a well-structured round and targeted outreach, fundraising today requires more than just a great idea; it requires execution.

If you’re getting ready to raise, tools like SeedBlink CORE can help you move faster and with more confidence. We’ve built this tool to guide founders step by step, so when the right investor comes along, you’re ready to convert that interest into capital.

If you want to connect with more investors in the region, check out SeedBlink’s European VC Network list covering venture capital funds from Europe.