Beyond AI: Six startup opportunities in Europe
Six sectors where European expertise, needs and regulatory changes are opening up new markets.
Read on SubstackLarge private equity buy-out funds in Europe
23 funds with a first or final close since 1 Jan 2025, €57.2bn in total, median €2.0bn.
Open in the full trackerFundStageHQClosedSize €m
- 1,500.0
- Health & Bio
- not found
- Fund 4
- 9 Sept 2026
- 2,300.0
- Fintech, Business Services, Media & Telecom
- Pan-European
- Fund 2
- 8 Sept 2026
- 2,100.0
- not found
- Fund 8
- 1 Sept 2026
- 1,100.0
- Southern Europe (Italy)
- Fund 2
- 4 Aug 2026
- Nextalia Investment Management
- 3,000.0
- Pan-European
- Fund 3
- 6 Jul 2026
- CVC Capital Partners
- 4,000.0
Invests in profitable B2B enterprise software and SaaS businesses, scaling them through organic growth and targeted acquisitions.
- B2B Software
- Primarily Western Europe and the Nordic region; North America also within manager's stated core geographies
- Fund 9
- 24 Jun 2026
- Main Capital Partners
- 1,250.0
Invests in high-growth B2B software businesses, supporting organic growth and scaling through targeted acquisitions.
- B2B Software
- Primarily Western Europe and the Nordic region; North America also within manager's stated core geographies
- Fund 3
- 24 Jun 2026
- Main Capital Partners
- 2,000.0
Builds Nordic mid-market companies into regional champions through operational improvements, organic growth, acquisitions and geographic expansion.
- Generalist
- Nordic region
- Fund 10
- 4 Jun 2026
- 1,500.0
Takes majority or control positions in European lower mid-market businesses, supporting operational improvement and international expansion.
- Generalist
- Europe, with a dominant position in Southern Europe
- Fund 4
- 30 Apr 2026
- 4,000.0
Builds European businesses in fragmented, growing markets through organic development and buy-and-build acquisitions.
- Generalist
- Europe
- Fund 10
- 24 Apr 2026
- 5,500.0
Acquires European mid-market businesses in industrial technology, business services and healthcare, supporting operational transformation and corporate carve-outs.
- Industrial Tech, Business Services, Health & Bio
- Europe
- Fund 6
- 16 Mar 2026
- Triton Partners
- 4,500.0
- Business Services, B2B Software, Fintech
- Pan-European (focus Northern Europe)
- Fund 7
- 1 Mar 2026
- 1,600.0
Makes control investments in operationally complex European lower middle-market businesses, using local origination and hands-on operational improvement.
- Generalist
- European lower middle market
- Fund 4
- 15 Jan 2026
- H.I.G. Capital
- 1,300.0
Makes majority buyouts of lower mid-market companies in Core Europe, partnering with families, founders and entrepreneurs across healthcare, services, consumer and niche industrials.
- Health & Bio, Consumer, Industrials
- Benelux; France; Germany; Italy; Spain
- Fund 6
- 12 Jan 2026
- Apheon Management S.A.
- 2,000.0
Invests in European small-cap businesses across services, healthcare, consumer and industrials, with a dedicated pool for smaller development-capital investments.
- Business Services, Health & Bio, Consumer, Industrials
- Benelux; DACH; France; Nordics; United Kingdom
- Fund 4
- 24 Jul 2025
- IK Partners
- 1,500.0
Takes controlling interests in European middle-market financial and business services companies, supporting revenue growth and active operational development.
- Business Services
- Europe
- Fund 5
- 1 Jul 2025
- 2,120.0
Acquires majority stakes in profitable founder-owned European service companies with established, scalable business models and pursues buy-and-build growth.
- Business Services, Health & Bio
- DACH; Benelux; Spain; Portugal; United Kingdom; Poland
- Fund 8
- 2 Jun 2025
- Ufenau Capital Partners
- 1,069.9
Takes control positions in established corporate, family and founder-owned mid-market businesses, using revenue-led growth to improve profits.
- Generalist
- United Kingdom; Ireland; Benelux
- GBP
- Fund 5
- 1 Jun 2025
- GBP 900m
- 1,250.0
Partners with entrepreneurs and management teams in Benelux and DACH mid-market businesses, supporting succession, organic growth and acquisitions.
- Generalist
- Benelux and DACH
- Fund 6
- 17 Apr 2025
- 4,000.0
Takes majority or control positions in mid-market businesses, primarily in Southern Europe, supporting operational improvement and international expansion.
- Generalist
- Primarily Southern Europe, with selective investments outside the region
- Fund 8
- 3 Apr 2025
- 3,300.0
Backs established European mid-market companies across business services, healthcare, consumer and industrials, supporting growth alongside management.
- Business Services, Health & Bio, Consumer, Industrials
- Benelux; DACH; France; Nordics; United Kingdom
- Fund 10
- 1 Apr 2025
- IK Partners
- 4,500.0
Backs founder-led European mid-market businesses in technology, digital consumer, education and business services, including buy-and-build strategies.
- Technology, Consumer, Business Services
- Europe
- Fund 6
- 24 Mar 2025
- 1,800.0
Invests in middle-market European software companies and supports founders and management teams in scaling businesses into regional leaders.
- B2B Software
- Dedicated European software markets
- Fund 1
- 25 Feb 2025
