Podim 2024 Partners

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.