PODIM, the leading startup & tech event in the Alps-Adriatic region, is fast approaching! Below, you can find more information about the funds that have already confirmed their arrival in Slovenia between 12 and 14 May, 2025. More are on the way, so stay tuned for what’s next!
GOLDEN UNICORN PARTNER
Silicon Gardens Fund
Slovenia
Silicon Gardens is the Adria region’s first and only Founders for Founders’ VC firm, established by entrepreneurs who have successfully built their own companies. We help the next generation of ambitious entrepreneurs build 10x bigger companies.
www.silicongardens.com/
GOLDEN UNICORN PARTNER
South Central Ventures
Slovenia
South Central Ventures (SCV) is a leading venture capital firm with 18 years of experience, managing over €100 million and boasting a portfolio of more than 50 high-tech companies. With offices in Ljubljana, Zagreb, Belgrade, and Skopje, SCV invests in seed-stage companies from the Southeast Europe (SEE) region that operate in globally prosperous industries. They focus on bold, innovative businesses with the potential to become market leaders, led by visionary founders with exceptional entrepreneurial skills and a global outlook. Beyond capital, SCV provides mentorship and actively partners with their portfolio companies, offering extensive support to drive success.
www.sc-ventures.com/
GOLDEN UNICORN PARTNER
Fil Rouge Capital
Croatia
FRC is a venture capital firm dedicated to supporting bold founders and high-growth startups. With a strong track record in M&A and financing exceeding $4 billion, FRC provides more than just capital—offering hands-on support from incubation to exit. Committed to building a top-tier entrepreneurial ecosystem in Croatia, the firm values transparency, speed, and unwavering backing for its founders. Recognized as the “Best Investor” in the region for two consecutive years, FRC stands out for its no-nonsense, fact-driven approach to venture investing.
www.filrougecapital.com
GOLDEN UNICORN PARTNER
Carinthian Venture Fonds
Austria
Carinthian Venture Fonds (CVF) is a venture capital firm dedicated to investing in early-stage, development, and growth projects through equity capital. Investment amounts range from EUR 100,000 to EUR 500,000, with the possibility of follow-on financing. They focus on technology-oriented startups and SMEs that demonstrate economic, ecological, and social responsibility, aiming to enhance value creation in the Carinthia region.
www.cvf.at
GOLDEN UNICORN PARTNER
Vesna VC
Slovenia, Croatia
Vesna Fund manages the first deep tech venture capital fund in Central Eastern Europe, specifically focusing on Croatia and Slovenia. Established with a capital of €50 million, the fund is headquartered in Luxembourg and operates additional offices in Zagreb and Ljubljana. The fund primarily invests in sectors such as climate technology, advanced materials, and AI/ICT.
www.vesnavc.com
OUTLIER PARTNER
TechAngels
Romania
TechAngels is Romania’s first angel investor network, established in 2013 to support early-stage technology startups through investments, expertise, and connections. Over the past decade, they have invested more than €40 million in the Romanian tech ecosystem, with their aggregate portfolio encompassing over 240 startups. In 2024, TechAngels members invested €3.777 million in tech startups, marking a 25% year-over-year increase. The organization continues to foster the growth of tech businesses in Romania and South-Eastern Europe by providing funding, mentorship, and access to acceleration programs.
www.techangels.ro
OUTLIER PARTNER
Feelsgood Capital
Croatia, Slovenia
The Feelsgood Social Impact Investment Fund is uniquely structured to invest in Croatian and Slovenian ventures that combine typical private equity and venture capital objectives with commercial business models led by strong management teams poised for scaling. Feelsgood identifies and supports businesses that either address or plan to address one or more of the SDGs, integrating measurable impact into their strategic business models sustainably.
www.feelsgoodcapital.com
OUTLIER PARTNER
Elevator Ventures
Austria
Elevator Ventures is a venture capital fund backed by Raiffeisen Bank International, Raiffeisen-Holding Niederösterreich-Wien, and Raiffeisen-Landesbank Steiermark. It manages over €100 million to support the growth of technology companies in Fintech and Beyond Banking. With a strong sourcing and business development network across the DACH and CEE regions, the firm leverages the deep expertise and market insights of its investors. To date, Elevator Ventures has invested over €50 million in 15 companies, achieving four successful exits and holding two fund-of-funds positions.
www.elevator-ventures.com
OUTLIER PARTNER
SID Bank
Slovenia
SID Bank is a development and export bank wholly owned by the Republic of Slovenia, providing financial services to promote the sustainable development of the Slovenian economy. It enables businesses of all sizes to access favorable debt and equity financing, as well as export credit insurance, thereby enhancing their competitiveness in domestic and international markets. As a state partner in implementing development policies, it manages various financial instruments, including cohesion funds and the Fund of Funds, facilitating access to additional financing sources for businesses, municipalities, and individuals.
www.sid.si/
GSV Ventures
USA
GSV Ventures is a female-led, multi-stage venture capital firm investing in the $7+ trillion global education technology sector across the “Pre-K to Gray” spectrum. Founded in 2016 and based in Chicago, Illinois, the firm focuses on partnering with exceptional entrepreneurs driving digital transformation in education and workforce development. GSV Ventures has invested in over 90 companies, including notable EdTech firms such as Coursera, Class Technologies, and Photomath. The firm’s leadership team comprises experienced professionals with backgrounds in education, technology, and investment, dedicated to advancing innovation in the learning sector.
www.gsv.ventures
PortfoLion
Hungary
PortfoLion is a CEE-focused venture capital (VC) and growth equity firm with a value of EUR 450 million assets under management. Backed by OTP Group, PortfoLion manages funds with a sector-agnostic approach and invests in companies with large upscale potential from early stage to buyout.
www.portfolion.hu
EIF – The European Investment Fund
Luxembourg
As part of the EIB Group, the mission of the European Investment Fund (EIF) is to improve access to finance for SMEs and small mid-caps in Europe. It achieves this by supporting emerging and established fund managers with equity investments and by designing debt financing instruments that share the risk taken by financial institutions when lending to or investing in small businesses. This support is brought closer to entrepreneurs through EIF’s extensive network of partners and financial intermediaries across all EU Member States and associated countries.
www.eif.org
Greiner Innoventures
Austria
Greiner Innoventures is the corporate venture arm of Greiner AG, focusing on sustainable innovations and circular economy solutions. It invests between €100,000 and €500,000 in European startups, taking an initial stake of up to 25%. The portfolio includes ventures like Greiner Zeroplast (bio-based materials), MATR (circular mattresses for hotels), and Hempstatic (CO₂-neutral insulation). By fostering cutting-edge solutions, Greiner Innoventures strengthens Greiner’s commitment to sustainability. Its mission is to drive long-term transformation through strategic investments in breakthrough technologies.
www.greiner.com/en/start-up-hub/greiner-innoventures/
Eleven Ventures
Bulgaria
Eleven is one of the leading early-stage VCs in Central Eastern Europe, investing in startups since 2012. With 170+ collective investments over 12 years, Eleven’s team has been instrumental in catalyzing the regional startup ecosystem. Eleven supports tech companies in four priority verticals – Fintech, Healthcare, Future of Work, and Sustainable Food. Some of the startups that Eleven has backed include Payhawk, Quantive, Dronamics, SMSBump, and Native Teams.
www.11.vc
EBRD Ventures
UK
EBRD Ventures is the venture arm of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), investing in early and growth-stage technology companies with the potential to become global leaders. With ticket sizes ranging from €2M to €25M, their typical investment is above €3M, targeting Series A/B, Series C and beyond. EBRD Ventures supports visionary founders with capital, strategic guidance, and access to a vast network, with a strong focus on scalable innovation, market leadership, and positive socio-economic impact across emerging markets and beyond.
www.ebrdvcip.com
3VC
Austria
3VC is a European venture capital fund that invests in carefully selected tech startups with global ambitions, starting from Series A. Founded in 2018 and based in Vienna, Austria, 3VC focuses on partnering with regional talent and supporting founders throughout their growth journey. Their portfolio includes companies such as Storyblok, fundcraft, and simpleclub, reflecting their commitment to fostering innovation across various sectors. The 3VC team comprises experienced professionals dedicated to providing hands-on support and leveraging their extensive network to drive the success of their portfolio companies.
www.three.vc
Credo Ventures
Czech Republic
Credo Ventures is a Prague-based venture capital firm, founded in 2009, that focuses on early-stage investments in technology startups across Central and Eastern Europe. The firm invests in various sectors, including AI, medtech, edtech, and software, with a portfolio featuring companies such as Eleven Labs, Upheal, and Mewery.
Typically investing in pre-seed and seed stages, Credo Ventures makes initial investments of up to €5 million. It currently manages €250 million across four funds, with its latest fund totaling €75 million. The firm supports passionate founders from the ideation stage through product-market fit and beyond, offering both financial backing and strategic guidance.
http://www.credoventures.com
LaunchHub Ventures
Bulgaria
LAUNCHub Ventures is a leading early-stage venture capital fund that supports technology startups in the Seed and Series A funding stages. It invests in Central and Southeastern Europe (CEE & SEE) and in companies founded by ambitious entrepreneurs from the region who are based in major startup hubs worldwide. The firm’s initial investments range from €300,000 to €2 million, leading investment rounds of up to €4 million. Since 2012, LAUNCHub Ventures has been actively contributing to the growth of the CEE startup ecosystem and has attracted some of the largest VC firms in Europe and the US to co-invest in its portfolio companies.
http://www.launchub.com
Speedinvest
Austria
Speedinvest is a leading European venture capital firm with over €1 billion in assets under management, specializing in pre-seed, seed, and early-stage tech startups. Founded in 2011 and headquartered in Vienna, Austria, Speedinvest has a pan-European presence with offices in Berlin, London, Munich, and Paris. The firm operates six sector-focused investment teams—Deep Tech, Fintech, Health & TechBio, Climate Tech & Industrial Tech, Marketplaces & Consumer, and SaaS & Infra—to provide specialized support to its portfolio companies. Beyond capital, Speedinvest offers hands-on operational support and access to a vast network of industry experts to accelerate growth from seed to Series A and beyond.
www.speedinvest.com
Early Game Ventures
Romania
Early Game Ventures (EGV) is an early-stage venture capital fund that invests in startups across the emerging markets of Europe. The firm follows a straightforward investment philosophy, backing companies at the earliest stages whose founders have vested interests, are coachable, and target large markets. When a promising opportunity arises, EGV prefers to be the first institutional investor in such startups.
www.earlygame.vc
BrightCap Ventures
Bulgaria
BrightCap Ventures is an early-stage venture capital fund based in Sofia, Bulgaria, investing in tech startups with roots in Southeast Europe. They focus on companies developing defensible technology with clear strategies for entering affluent markets. The BrightCap team comprises entrepreneurs with leadership, engineering, and investment experience across Silicon Valley, Israel, and EMEA. In July 2024, they launched a €60 million successor fund to invest in founders from Rising Southeastern Europe.
http://www.brightcap.vc
Inovo.vc
Poland
Inovo VC is a venture capital fund focused on investing in startups from Central and Eastern Europe (CEE). Their seed investments range from €0.5 million to €4 million, targeting companies with the potential to reach over $100 million in revenue. Inovo VC has partnered with more than 75 different investors and has six portfolio companies valued at over €100 million. In addition to financial support, they offer extensive assistance in talent recruitment, customer connections, and advisory services.
www.inovo.vc
Day One Capital
Hungary
Day One Capital is an early-stage venture capital firm managing privately funded investment funds. They focus on the most promising technology teams from Central and Eastern Europe, particularly seed-stage companies with innovative products and high growth potential. Their current fund, launched in 2018, has a capitalization of €34 million, with initial investments ranging from €300,000 to €1.5 million per company.
www.dayonecapital.com
Kaya VC
Czech Republic
KAYA VC is a venture capital firm dedicated to supporting exceptional founding teams that shape their industries and create enduring change in a sustainable way. They invest at every stage of the entrepreneurial journey, from studio projects and pre-seed through Series A and follow-ons. KAYA VC evolved from Enern Investments—a regional financial group formed in Prague in 2010—and has grown alongside the Central and Eastern European ecosystem across clean energy, technology, real estate, and more. Their mission is to back founders who are deeply curious and intellectually agile, aiming to make a positive impact beyond creating financial value.
www.kaya.vc
Global Brain
Japan, UK
Global Brain is an independent venture capital firm dedicated to introducing groundbreaking innovations to society by providing extensive hands-on support to startups and fostering open innovation with large corporations. With over $2.2 billion in assets under management, they have invested more than $1.2 billion across 1,000+ deals, resulting in 37 IPOs and 77 M&A exits. Their active portfolio encompasses over 400 companies globally, spanning diverse sectors such as AI, healthcare, fintech, and climate tech. Global Brain’s mission is to “bring unimaginable innovation into society through business creation,” operating from their headquarters in Tokyo, Japan, with a team of professionals from diverse backgrounds.
www.globalbrains.com
Purple Ventures
Slovakia
Purple Ventures is an early-stage venture capital firm investing in top CEE+ founders building tech-enabled startups with initial revenues and global ambitions. The firm participates in pre-seed and seed investment rounds, with ticket sizes ranging from €250,000 to €750,000. It operates with a 5–6 year investment horizon and takes minority equity stakes, ensuring that founders retain control and leadership of their startups. Purple Ventures is open to both leading funding rounds and co-investing.
www.purple-ventures.com
SQ Capital
Croatia
SQ Capital is a privately backed VC in Croatia, investing in pre-seed and seed startups. With key portfolio companies such as YC Graduate Pythagora, Omnisearch, Farseer and others, they have positioned themselves as a key fund in the region for B2B software products.
www.sqc.hr
Push VC
Austria
PUSH is a venture capital firm dedicated to combating climate change and transforming healthcare. Its initial investments are typically made at the pre-seed or seed stage, with the potential for follow-on funding. The firm focuses on health and the future of the planet, primarily investing in startups across Europe, with a particular emphasis on Austria and Germany.
www.push.vc
Suricate Ventures
Slovenia
Suricate Ventures focuses on pre-seed, seed and early to growth investments in technology companies based in Southeastern Europe. Key areas of investment for Suricate Ventures include fintech, insuretech, esports and logistics.
www.suricate.ventures
Flyer One Ventures
Poland
Flyer One Ventures (F1V) is an early-stage VC firm investing up to $1.5 million in Central and Eastern European founders building global startups. They have backed 87 startups across AI, fintech, e-commerce, and edtech, providing strategic support in marketing, recruiting, and business development. Portfolio companies gain access to exclusive networking events, workshops, and benefits worth up to $400,000 annually. Inspired by the Wright brothers, F1V supports ambitious entrepreneurs solving global challenges with innovative products.
www.flyerone.vc
Serpentine Ventures
Switzerland
Serpentine Ventures (SERV) is the investment arm of the Swiss Ventures Group. It is a leading Swiss venture capital firm dedicated to supporting entrepreneurs and investors. Founded by experienced entrepreneurs and financial services professionals, SERV collaborates with exceptional entrepreneurial talent to build and invest in technology-driven businesses. With over 50 years of combined experience, their team has funded more than 50 companies, creating over 650 jobs. Some of the companies in their portfolio include Aegis Rider, MindMetrix, Properti, Art Recognition, Duramon, MoveAgain, Loxo, Stratos, Pabio, Tipi, and Capskin.
www.serpentine.vc
Fifth Quarter Ventures
Serbia
Fifth Quarter Ventures (5QV) is an early-stage VC fund based in Belgrade, investing across the Western Balkans and beyond. With a €20M fund, 5QV focuses on deep tech talent and startups from Kosovo, Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, North Macedonia, Montenegro, and Serbia, bridging Eastern European innovation with Western markets. More than just investors, they aim to catalyze a thriving tech ecosystem in the region.
www.fifthquarter.vc
Metis Ventures
Romania
Metis Ventures is a data-driven early-stage investment platform focusing on Central Eastern Europe and Türkiye. With over 55 portfolio companies and successful exits through TechOne Venture Capital, Logo Ventures, and twozero Ventures. Metis Ventures understands what it takes to build a global business from the ground up. Their platform is designed to empower diverse tech entrepreneurs seeking to make a global impact. Through a blend of data-driven scouting and active engagement, Metis Ventures supports entrepreneurs in scaling their companies and navigating the transition from local to global markets.
www.metisventures.com
Columbia Lake Partners
UK
Columbia Lake Partners is an experienced team of investors providing growth loans to European technology companies. They have extended credit and managed portfolio relationships exceeding €500 million to over 75 companies. They fund between €2 million and €20 million and are open to partnering with others to write larger cheques. Investing from a long-term committed fund, they have a financing capacity of $300 million. Their experience through the ups and downs of the past decade has taught them that no company has a straight path to success. As a result, their approach is to take a “light touch,” with no board seats, light covenants, and standard reporting.
www.clpgrowth.com
Taiwania Capital
Taiwan, Czechia
Taiwania Capital is a venture capital firm founded in August 2017 by the National Development Fund of the Executive Yuan, in collaboration with private enterprises. Taiwania Capital currently manages eight funds and focuses on investing in early- to growth-stage technology and biotech startups across Taiwan, the U.S., Japan, Southeast Asia, and Central and Eastern Europe. Its mission is to connect Taiwan’s robust tech and biotech ecosystems with global innovation, providing portfolio companies with the resources needed to accelerate growth and expand market reach. The CEE Fund specifically targets investments in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Austria, Bulgaria, and the Western Balkans.
www.taiwaniacapital.com/
Unfold.vc
Poland
Unfold.vc is a Wrocław-based venture capital fund supporting high-potential tech projects at various stages of development. Active since 2008, the fund is led by an experienced team with deep expertise in diverse technology sectors. Initial investments typically range from EUR 100,000 to 200,000, with continued support in later rounds—up to over EUR 1 million per project. While primarily focused on SaaS ventures, Unfold.vc also invests in gaming, bioinformatics, and the growing RaaS (Robots as a Service) sector. Each project is approached individually, with an expanding scope of investment areas.
www.unfold.vc
GapMinder VC
Netherlands
GapMinder VC is an early-stage fund backing AI, Deeptech, and B2B SaaS startups from South-Eastern Europe and its diaspora. With €130M under management, it invests from €0.5M to €5M, and follows on up to €12M+. Founded by experienced operators, GapMinder supports globally driven teams in sectors like automation, data, cybersecurity, and fintech, helping them scale internationally. Over 85% of portfolio companies raise follow-on funding.
www.gapminder.vc
WaVe-X
Austria
WaVe-X is an early-stage investor dedicated to supporting entrepreneurs with bold visions in sectors such as logistics & mobility, manufacturing tech, property tech, and construction tech. With investment tickets starting at EUR 200,000, WaVe-X offers more than just capital; it provides strategic support and valuable industry connections to help startups grow and thrive. Leveraging its affiliation with the WALTER GROUP, WaVe-X grants access to extensive expertise and networks, enhancing the growth potential of its portfolio companies.
www.wave-x.vc
Lead Ventures
Hungary
Lead Ventures is a Budapest-based venture capital firm backing high-potential B2B software startups from the CEE region and the Baltics. Focused on companies with proven market validation, it provides €2–10 million in growth capital, along with strategic guidance and access to a strong regional and international network. Backed by MOL Group and NTH, Lead Ventures helps ambitious founders scale globally and turn regional successes into global players.
www.leadventures.eu
Sunfish Partners
Germany & CEE
Sunfish Partners is an early-stage venture capital firm investing in deep tech startups from Central and Eastern Europe (CEE). Established in 2016, the firm focuses on pre-seed and seed-stage investments, offering initial tickets between €250,000 and €500,000. Sunfish Partners targets B2B hardware and software companies in sectors such as health, data, space, and defense. In August 2024, they launched their second fund, Sunfish CEE II, aiming to invest approximately 50% in startups outside Poland within the CEE region. The firm’s portfolio includes companies like Aether Biomedical, Molecule.one, and Liftero.
www.sunfish-partners.com
Business Angels of Slovenia
Slovenia
Business Angels of Slovenia is the first and largest angel investment club in Slovenia, dedicated to connecting innovative local startups with both domestic and international investors. Founded in 2007, the organization has facilitated over $8 million in investments across more than 40 ventures. By fostering partnerships between entrepreneurs and investors, Business Angels of Slovenia aims to support early-stage companies in securing seed funding and achieving global market expansion. Additionally, the club actively contributes to the development of the Slovenian and regional startup ecosystem through collaborations with international investors and participation in European networks such as EBAN.
www.poslovniangeli.si
CBAN Croatian Business Angels Network
Croatia
CBAN is a newly established network of angel investors in Croatia, launched in February 2025. It aims to invest in early-stage technology startups from Croatia and the broader Southeast Europe (SEE) region. The network brings together experienced entrepreneurs and investors to provide capital, mentorship, and strategic support to innovative ventures. CBAN is committed to fostering the growth of the regional startup ecosystem by connecting startups with resources and expertise.
www.cban.eu
Interactive Venture Partners
USA & CEE
Interactive Venture Partners is a venture capital firm based in Greenwich, Connecticut, USA, with a focus on Central and Eastern Europe (CEE). Backed by the family office of Thomas Peterffy, founder of Interactive Brokers, the firm launched its inaugural €50 million fund in 2024. Interactive Venture Partners provides early-stage capital to startups in the CEE region, emphasizing founder-friendly terms, mentoring, and access to a global network to support growth and international expansion.
www.interactivevp.com
Pan Adria Venture Partners
Slovenia
Pan-Adria Venture Partners is a venture capital firm based in Ljubljana, Slovenia, founded in 2022. The firm focuses on supporting innovative startups and businesses in the Adria region, providing capital and strategic guidance to help them scale. Pan-Adria aims to foster entrepreneurship and drive economic growth by investing in promising ventures across various sectors.
www.pan-adria.com
J&T Ventures
Czech Republic
J&T Ventures is a Prague-based early-stage venture capital fund, established in 2014. With €120 million in assets under management, the firm invests in promising startups from the CEE and SEE regions, focusing on seed-stage companies with proven product-market fit. J&T Ventures provides investments ranging from €0.3 million to €3 million and offers strategic support to help portfolio companies expand and succeed.
www.jtventures.cz
E2VC
Netherlands
e2vc is an early-stage venture capital firm based in Amsterdam, Netherlands, focusing on globally minded founders from Emerging Europe. Formerly known as 500 Emerging Europe, e2vc invests in startups with the potential to become outlier success stories. The firm emphasizes a founder-first approach, providing capital, mentorship, and access to a global network to help startups scale internationally.
www.e2.vc
CEED Business Angels
North Macedonia
CEED Business Angels is one of the first angel investor clubs established in North Macedonia, formed in November 2013. Operating under the CEED Macedonia umbrella, the club connects early-stage startups with investors, providing funding, mentorship, and support to foster entrepreneurial growth in the region. CEED Business Angels plays a pivotal role in developing the startup ecosystem by facilitating access to capital and expertise.
www.ceed.mk
Impact Ventures
USA
Impact Ventures is a 501(c)(3) startup accelerator based in the USA, dedicated to eliminating social and economic barriers for underrepresented women and minority founders launching tech or tech-enabled companies. The organization provides high-touch business development programs, mentorship, and access to capital to support diverse entrepreneurs in building sustainable and scalable businesses.
www.impact-ventures.co
3TS Capital Partners
Finland
3TS Capital Partners is a Helsinki-headquartered investment firm founded in 1999, focusing on early-stage and buyout investments across Europe. The firm specializes in sectors such as technology, media, communications, and technology-enabled services. With over €400 million in funds raised, 3TS provides expansion capital and strategic support to small and medium-sized businesses aiming for growth and market leadership.
www.3tscapital.com
Hellen’s Rock Capital
Cyprus & CEE
Hellen’s Rock Capital is a Cyprus-based investment firm active across Central and Eastern Europe. The firm focuses on early to mid-stage investments in high-growth companies, particularly in sectors such as technology, real estate, and sustainability. Combining capital with industry expertise and regional reach, Hellen’s Rock supports portfolio companies in scaling operations and entering new markets.
www.hellensrock.com
New Horizons Venture Capital
USA
New Horizons Venture Capital is a U.S.-based venture capital firm focused on empowering early-stage founders who are reimagining the future through technology and innovation. The firm provides capital, mentorship, and strategic partnerships to help entrepreneurs build scalable, high-impact businesses. With a founder-first approach, New Horizons invests in bold ideas that challenge the status quo across various industries.
www.newhorizonsvc.com/
Capital Genetics
Slovenia
Capital Genetics is a Slovenia-based advisory and investment firm dedicated to supporting the growth of innovative companies. The firm provides services in corporate finance, business model development, and investor readiness, and actively engages in venture capital fund management and entrepreneurship promotion across the region.
www.capitalgenetics.com
Ruj VC
Slovenia
Ruj VC is a Slovenian venture capital firm established in 2023, focusing on early-stage deep tech startups, particularly at the pre-seed and seed stages, within the Central and Eastern European (CEE) region. The firm typically invests up to €100,000 and aims to support scalable solutions addressing significant global challenges. Ruj VC provides not only capital but also strategic support and access to a robust entrepreneurial network to help startups scale efficiently. Notable investments include ReCatalyst, a spin-out from the National Institute of Chemistry in Ljubljana, which has developed a method for optimizing the use of platinum in fuel cells.
https://www.ruj.vc/
Bek Ventures
UK
Bek Ventures is a global venture capital firm specializing in early-stage tech startups, with a strong focus on founders from Central and Eastern Europe. Formerly known as Earlybird Digital East Fund, the firm rebranded in 2024 and continues to back globally ambitious companies. In 2024, it launched its third fund worth $250 million, attracting investors from the US and Europe. With offices in London, New York, Luxembourg, and Istanbul, Bek Ventures has a strong track record, having backed unicorns like UiPath and Payhawk, and achieved over $2.4 billion in returns.
http://bekventures.com/
BDpartners.cz
Czech Republic
BD Partners is a Prague-based investment firm founded in 2023, focusing on innovative, high-growth European companies with distinctive intellectual property. The firm typically invests between €100,000 and several million euros, preferring ventures that have entered the revenue stage and are not capital-intensive. Beyond capital, BD Partners offers strategic guidance, leveraging its extensive international experience and networks to support portfolio companies. Notable investments include Elin.ai, Optibus, and TripMakery.
bdpartners.cz
Pella Ventures
Luxembourg
Pella Ventures is a Luxembourg-based early-stage venture capital firm focusing on pre-seed and seed-stage startups with the potential to create transformative global impact. The firm invests in innovative, scalable, and disruptive technologies across various sectors. In addition to providing initial capital, Pella Ventures offers hands-on support and leverages its network and expertise to help startups grow. It emphasizes long-term partnerships and supports entrepreneurs in building world-changing companies.
https://www.pella.vc/
ZEPHYR Angels
North Macedonia
Zephyr Angels is a non-exclusive network of business angels supporting early-stage Macedonian startups through funding, expertise, and ecosystem development. They invest €20,000–€60,000 in pre-seed and seed rounds, typically using equity or convertible instruments. Their goals include organizing four pitch events per year, offering investor training, and co-investing with VC funds. Startups must have an MVP or proven product-market fit and early traction.
https://zephyr.mk/
1991 Ventures
UK
1991 Ventures is a London-based seed-stage venture capital fund founded by Ukrainian brothers Denis and Viktor Gurskyi. The firm focuses on investing in mission-driven founders from Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) and Ukraine, providing pre-seed and seed funding of up to $500,000. Their investments are sector-agnostic but have a particular emphasis on areas such as govtech, civic tech, cybersecurity, fintech, mobility, and smart city solutions.
https://www.1991.vc/ventures/home
