Beyond AI: Six startup opportunities in Europe
Six sectors where European expertise, needs and regulatory changes are opening up new markets.
Read on Substack- Matching funds
- 12
- Total
- €1.0bn
- Median
- €73m
- Threshold
- From €10m
Funds
Updated 21 Oct 2026
Pre-seed to Series A, technology: B2B, deeptech and SaaS
- Sectors
- Deep Tech, B2B Software
- Invests in
- Romania, South Eastern Europe and diaspora
- Track
- Fund 2
- Final Close
- 2 Oct 2026
- Manager
- GapMinder Ventures
- As reported
- USD 85 million
- Public LPs
- EIF, EBRD
Pre-seed climate, health and resilience, up to EUR 500k per company
- Sectors
- Climate & Energy, Health & Bio, AI, Deep Tech
- Invests in
- Europe
- Closed
- 15 Jul 2026
- Public LPs
- EIF, Saminvest, SmartCap
AI-enabled company building in food and agriculture (agtech, animal health, crop protection)
- Sectors
- Food & Agri, AI
- Invests in
- Global
- Track
- Fund 3
- First Close
- 15 Jun 2026
- As reported
- USD 100m (target USD 200m)
Vertical AI fund for early-stage European founders
- Sectors
- AI
- Invests in
- Pan-European
- Track
- Emerging manager, fund 2
- First Close
- 5 Jun 2026
- Manager
- Curiosity VC
Dedicated European defence and security technology fund
- Sectors
- Defence & Security
- Invests in
- Pan-European
- First Close
- 18 Nov 2025
- Public LPs
- EIF
European cybersecurity fund backing early-stage cyber founders
- Sectors
- Defence & Security
- Invests in
- Pan-European
- Track
- Fund 5
- Final Close
- 6 Nov 2025
- Public LPs
- EIF, Invest-NL
Biotech and green chemistry for industrial sustainability in food, agriculture, materials
- Sectors
- Food & Agri, Climate & Energy, Industrial Tech
- Invests in
- Europe | North America
- Track
- Fund 1
- Final Close
- 5 Nov 2025
- Public LPs
- KfW Capital, EIFO
8-12 early-stage European B2B software companies, backing founders
- Sectors
- B2B Software
- Invests in
- Europe
- Track
- Fund 5
- First Close
- 4 Nov 2025
Impact fund backing early-stage Dutch founders solving societal problems
- Sectors
- Generalist
- Invests in
- Netherlands
- Track
- Fund 3
- First Close
- 4 Nov 2025
- Public LPs
- EIF, Invest-NL, Oost NL, BOM
Vertical AI, recommerce platforms and marketplaces, cheques EUR 0.25-2.5m
- Sectors
- AI, Consumer
- Invests in
- Global
- Track
- Fund 3
- First Close
- 25 Sept 2025
Impact fund for early-stage founders solving global problems
- Sectors
- Climate & Energy, Industrial Tech, Mobility, Food & Agri
- Invests in
- Netherlands
- Track
- Fund 4
- First Close
- 18 Jul 2025
- Public LPs
- EIF, Invest-NL
Backing women-led startups and products built for women
- Sectors
- Health & Bio, Climate & Energy
- Invests in
- Europe
- Closed
- 29 Jan 2025
Showing 12 of 12 funds
