Who Are Some Of The Biggest Venture Capitalists In Europe?

According to CrunchBase, Europe is home to 199 VC firms with about $44BN under management – making it one of the regions in the world that is the most fertile for startups.

In fact, as of late 2023, Europe now creates more startups than America according to The Economist. This makes it an exciting region to watch and invest in, as innovation and growth continue to be nurtured.

What Are Europe’s Top Startup Hubs?

Europe is home to a startup ecosystem that continues to grow year-on year, with several cities emerging as top hubs.

Major cities include:

• London, UK, famous for its talent and being a financial hub.
• Berlin, Germany, home to many emerging industries and new tech innovations.
• Paris, France, well known for its large number of accelerator and incubator programmes.
• Stockholm, Sweden, famous for its track record in producing unicorns.
• Amsterdam, Netherlands, home to a number of up and coming businesses.

These cities not only provide a great economy for new businesses but also offer networking opportunities and access to international markets.

But behind these flourishing startup economies are a network of VCs, on a mission to supercharge Europe’s economy.

Here, we take a look at some of the most influential and largest venture capital firms in Europe, looking behind the curtain to unmask the companies behind the UK and Europe’s most up and coming startups.

Let’s get into it:

Northzone

With offices in London, Stockholm, Norway, Berlin, Amsterdam and New York, Northzone specialises in technology investments, managing about $1.5 billion since 1996.

Their investment portfolio features companies like Spotify, Klarna, and iZettle, with a focus on supporting new tech innovations and helping businesses grow internationally.

Partech Partners

Partech Partners has offices in Paris, Berlin, Dakar, Dubai, Nairobi, and San Francisco and has recently closed its second Africa fund at €280 million making it the largest Africa-focused fund according to TechCrunch.

Their focus is on digital and technology-driven businesses, with investments in Made.com and ManoMano, Partech is an expert at helping European startups conquer global markets.

Atomico

Atomico is a European VC firm headquartered in London, with offices in Paris, Berlin and Stockholm.

Founded by Skype co-founder Niklas Zennström, Atomico invests globally in tech companies. With billions raised for a number of up and coming startups, Atomico has supported a number of companies innovating sectors, including Lime, Bird, Klarna, and Rovio, creators of Angry Birds.

LocalGlobe

LocalGlobe, based in London, focuses on early-stage investments in the UK and globally.

Known for their keen eye on up and coming startups, they have supported companies like TransferWise, CityMapper and Zoopla. LocalGlobe has had some very successful ventures, and was named one of Europe’s top unicorn investors by Dealroom.

Point Nine Capital

Berlin-based Point Nine Capital specialises in SaaS, enterprise software, and B2B marketplaces.

Managing funds that mostly focus on seed and early-stage investments, Point Nine has backed companies like Delivery Hero and Revolut. Their approach is all about supporting founders through growth and building companies from start to finish.

Global Founders Capital (GFC)

GFC, operating globally with a significant presence in Europe, invests in companies across sectors including: the internet, retail, financial software, media, communication and information technology.

They have supported successful ventures such as Canva, Revolut, and Slack. GFC is all about using its network and industry expertise to guide startups towards growth and market domination.

Kima Ventures

One of the most active early-stage investors worldwide, and investing in 2-3 startups per week, Paris based Kima Ventures supports startups across a variety of industries.

They focus not only on providing Capital, but also advice to help their companies become the next big thing.