Beyond AI: Six startup opportunities in Europe
Six sectors where European expertise, needs and regulatory changes are opening up new markets.
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FundStageHQClosedSize €m
- 100.0
Pair venture capital with hands-on support from entrepreneurs and alumni to back Dutch university-based startups in AI, deep tech, healthcare and climate.
- Netherlands
- Fund 2
- 6 Oct 2026
- Graduate Ventures
- 75.7
Pre-seed to Series A, technology: B2B, deeptech and SaaS
- Deep Tech, B2B Software
- Romania, South Eastern Europe and diaspora
- USD
- Fund 2
- 2 Oct 2026
- GapMinder Ventures
- USD 85 million
- EIF, EBRD
- 62.0
Pre-seed climate, health and resilience, up to EUR 500k per company
- Climate & Energy, Health & Bio, AI, Deep Tech
- Europe
- 15 Jul 2026
- Norrsken Evolve
- EIF, Saminvest, SmartCap
AI-enabled company building in food and agriculture (agtech, animal health, crop protection)
- Food & Agri, AI
- Global
- USD
- Fund 3
- 15 Jun 2026
- Anterra Capital
- USD 100m (target USD 200m)
- 17.0
Back pre-seed and seed founders building vertical, AI-native software and agentic services, with early conviction and support through an AI founder community and broader network.
- AI
- Benelux, Nordics and Baltics; selective co-investments elsewhere in Europe
- Fund 2
- 5 Jun 2026
- Curiosity VC
- 75.0
Back early-stage quantum technology startups, starting from Dutch founders and now internationally.
- Deep Tech
- Europe and US
- 28 Apr 2026
- Ground State Ventures (ex QDNL Participations)
Turn Dutch academic discoveries in chronic diseases into investment-ready life science companies, bridging the gap to seed.
- Health & Bio
- Netherlands
- Emerging manager, Fund 2
- 3 Mar 2026
- BioGeneration Ventures
- BOM, InnovationQuarter, Oost NL
- 150.0
Dedicated European defence and security technology fund
- Defence & Security
- Pan-European
- 18 Nov 2025
- Keen Venture Partners
- EIF
- 80.0
European cybersecurity fund backing early-stage cyber founders
- Defence & Security
- Pan-European
- Fund 5
- 6 Nov 2025
- TIN Capital
- EIF, Invest-NL
- 200.0
Biotech and green chemistry for industrial sustainability in food, agriculture, materials
- Food & Agri, Climate & Energy, Industrial Tech
- Europe, North America
- Fund 1
- 5 Nov 2025
- Forbion
- KfW Capital, EIFO
- 67.6
8-12 early-stage European B2B software companies, backing founders
- B2B Software
- Europe
- Fund 5
- 4 Nov 2025
- henQ
- 70.0
Impact fund backing early-stage Dutch founders solving societal problems
- Generalist
- Netherlands
- Fund 3
- 4 Nov 2025
- Rubio Impact Ventures
- EIF, Invest-NL, Oost NL, BOM
- 65.0
Growth capital for profitable climate and energy transition companies that outgrew venture capital.
- Climate & Energy
- Europe
- Emerging manager, Fund 1
- 22 Oct 2025
- SevenGen Investment Partners
- EIF
- 50.0
Vertical AI, recommerce platforms and marketplaces, cheques EUR 0.25-2.5m
- AI, Consumer
- Global
- Fund 3
- 25 Sept 2025
- DFF Ventures
- 92.0
Impact fund for early-stage founders solving global problems
- Climate & Energy, Industrial Tech, Mobility, Food & Agri
- Netherlands
- Fund 4
- 18 Jul 2025
- SHIFT Invest
- EIF, Invest-NL
- 20.0
Seed investments in early-stage B2B software start-ups across Benelux, about 15 planned.
- B2B Software
- Benelux
- Emerging manager
- 23 Apr 2025
- Volta Ventures
- 50.0
Backing women-led startups and products built for women
- Health & Bio, Climate & Energy
- Europe
- Emerging manager
- 29 Jan 2025
- Borski Fund
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