How to find startup investors in Europe
Most founders start with a list of famous names. A better starting point is money that actually moved: funds that announced a first or final close recently have fresh capital and a stated strategy. This guide shows how to turn those records into a shortlist.
Kai MarekStart with a shortlist, not a long list
A short, well-researched list beats a long one. Twenty funds that fit your stage and sector will do more for your round than two hundred names from a generic database.
Close Index records publicly announced European venture capital and growth fund closings since 1 January 2025. Select VC, then narrow by the stage and sector that match your company. Every record links to the original announcement, so you can check where the information comes from.
Check stage, sector and cheque size
A fund that backs Series B rounds will not lead your pre-seed round, however good your pitch is. Read the fund record: stage, sector, fund size and the linked announcement tell you whom the fund is for.
Fund size is not cheque size. A €100m fund might write €500k cheques at seed or €5m cheques at Series A. The announcement and the manager’s website usually state the typical ticket; if they do not, the fund’s recent investments give you a hint.
Headquarters are not investment geography
Country filters show where a fund is headquartered, not where it invests. A London fund may back founders across Europe; a Berlin fund may focus on Germany only. The expanded fund record shows the stated geographical focus where it is public.
Do not rule a fund out because of its postcode. Check the mandate first.
Verify before you reach out
- Read the original announcement linked in the fund record. Note the close type: a first close means the fund has started investing; a final close ends its fundraising.
- Open the manager’s website. Confirm the current strategy, the team and recent investments.
- Save fitting funds to your watchlist and share the shortlist with your team. Saved entries stay in your browser.
- Contact the manager or find a warm introduction. A closing announcement is a reason to look closer, not an invitation.
What closing data cannot tell you
A reported fund size is not capital left to invest, and a recent close does not prove a fund is investing right now. Coverage may be incomplete: some managers never announce their closings. Confirm everything that matters with the manager directly.
Close Index is a research starting point, not investment advice.