VC Directory

PRE-SEED AI VCs Directory

Curated index of active venture capital funds investing in Europe and Israel. Track partners, stages, and check sizes.

100IN

IL

100in focuses on providing early-stage capital to tech founders, specifically at the pre-seed stage. Their approach is centered around investing €100K into 100 tech startups. The firm understands the challenges faced by founders in the initial stages, drawing from their own experience as founders of Intuo and Henchman, which they took from the first line of code to acquisition. Now they are on the other side of the captable as investors. They aim to be a supportive partner, recognizing the significance of that first check for emerging companies. The firm aims for a long-term partnership with their portfolio companies, focusing on building a portfolio of promising tech startups.

Pre-seedTechnology

APX.vc

Berlin, DE

APX is an early-stage venture capital firm based in Berlin, backed by Axel Springer and Porsche. They focus on partnering with and supporting ambitious pre-seed startups from Europe and beyond, often acting as the first investor. APX invests in exceptional earliest-stage founder teams building startups with digital business models, aiming to be a long-term partner. While the information available is limited on the website crawl, it can be seen that they likely provide resources and help for startups to grow with them. APX is positioned as one of Europe’s leading earliest-stage VCs. Their strategy is centered around identifying and investing in promising pre-seed startups with digital business models, providing them with the necessary support and resources to scale their businesses.

Pre-seedDigital business models

Accelerace Invest

Copenhagen, DK

Accelerace Invest is a leading pre-seed investor and startup accelerator in the Nordics, focusing on helping founders build great companies. Since 2008, they've supported over 2000 founders, ranging from students to experienced executives, many of whom now lead promising startups and scaleups in Europe. Their primary function is to provide pre-seed funding to startups in the Nordic and Baltic regions, combined with lifelong support through the Accelerace Allstars community, helping companies to prepare for seed funding and connecting them with a network of successful alumni mentors. These mentors are founders from companies that have achieved significant milestones, including public listings, acquisitions, and substantial funding rounds, and are now dedicated to supporting the next generation of founders. Beyond funding, Accelerace offers partner programs, co-managing accelerator and mentoring programs across Europe for startups in various industries and stages. They also provide corporate matchmaking services, leveraging their understanding of both startups and corporations to facilitate mutually beneficial collaborations. A key component of their value proposition is the Accelerace Allstars community, which provides ongoing support, connections, and resources to portfolio companies. Accelerace aims to identify and invest in early-stage companies with high potential for growth and impact, offering not just capital but also the expertise and network needed to navigate the challenges of building a successful business. The firm seeks to be the first stop for ambitious founders in the Nordic and Baltic regions, fostering a supportive ecosystem that encourages innovation and collaboration. Accelerace also provides an investment readiness test to help startups evaluate their likelihood of securing funding and identify areas for improvement.

Pre-seedAgtechAI

AceON

Prague, CZ

AceON Accelerator operates as an international accelerator program focused on European startups, particularly those in the idea and pre-seed stages. The firm aims to boost talents and shape the startup ecosystem across Europe by providing founders with expert know-how, global connections, and investment backing. AceON was established by Accace, an advisory & BPO company, and ZAKA VC, a VC fund, creating a partnership that gives founders access to opportunities, support, and a push needed to build scalable startups. Since its initial program launch, AceON has accelerated over 100 startups from more than 50 countries. AceON emphasizes practical support and hands-on experience in topics such as fundraising, venture capital, validation, valuation, dilution, and business models. The accelerator focuses on fostering a community and providing mentorship, with the vision of turning entrepreneurs' visions into successful businesses. It offers fully online, free programs to facilitate accessibility for startups. It has a broad network of partners and community supporters that enhance the resources available to its participating startups. AceON's approach is to identify and support startups with the ambition to reach unicorn status. They look for founding teams with a history of collaboration and a clear long-term vision. The firm also acknowledges the importance of having a technical co-founder on the team. AceON considers factors like the quality of founders' experience, relevant industry experience, leadership skills, and entrepreneurial drive in their evaluation process. AceON supports the development of cybersecurity startups and actively contributes to rebuilding the trust layer of the internet and the next era of digital identity. AceON's partnership with Accace and ZAKA VC provides a unique blend of corporate power and VC expertise, making it a prominent player in the European startup ecosystem. Accace's global presence and expertise in accounting, taxes, law, payroll, and HR solutions, combined with ZAKA VC's investment portfolio and active support for startups, offer comprehensive backing for early-stage companies. Their program is designed to provide clarity for fundraising and facilitate connections with potential businesses, creating a supportive experience for founders.

Idea, Pre-SeedVenture CapitalStartups

Ada Ventures

London, GB

Ada Ventures focuses on pre-seed investments in European founders building businesses for a better human future. They aim to find and fund the "Ada Lovelaces of today," prioritizing founder qualities over traditional metrics like CV, past work experience, or gut feel. The firm is committed to inclusive VC, seeking out founders who may be overlooked by more conventional investors due to their backgrounds or networks. They lead >70% of investments and integrate impact assessment into every investment decision. Their AI-Powered Pitch Deck Analysis tool, "Deck Genius", also demonstrates a commitment to supporting founders.

Pre-seed, SeedHealthcareFuture of Work

Angel Star Ventures

A

Angel Star Ventures invests in companies solving challenging problems with cutting-edge innovations. They focus on providing expert mentorship, funding support, and networking opportunities to their founders. Their approach seems to be hands-on, offering guidance on fundraising, connecting startups with other investors, and providing access to a network of entrepreneurs and industry leaders. The firm seems to target early-stage companies, specifically those seeking pre-seed or seed funding. The firm's portfolio spans various industries, with a significant emphasis on healthcare, biotechnology, and advanced materials. Their investments suggest a focus on companies with strong scientific or technological foundations, aiming to address unmet needs in their respective fields. They seem to target companies creating innovative solutions that can potentially disrupt existing markets or create new ones. Angel Star Ventures appear to provide more than just capital by connecting founders to other founders, industry leaders and potential customers through exclusive events. Angel Star Ventures boasts a wide network of successful entrepreneurs and industry leaders that founders can tap into for expert advice and support. Furthermore, the firm offers guidance on fundraising and connects startups with other venture capital funds through partnerships. These value-added services indicate a commitment to providing comprehensive support to their portfolio companies, helping them navigate the challenges of early-stage growth. They appear to emphasize long-term support and guidance. Based on the information available, Angel Star Ventures aims to be a supportive partner for early-stage companies, especially in areas such as healthcare, biotech, and materials science. Their strategy involves providing not only capital but also access to a strong network and tailored mentorship to help their portfolio companies succeed.

Pre-seed, SeedHealthcarebiotechnology

Archipelago Next

Canarias, ES

Archipélago Next is a venture capital fund born in the Canary Islands, founded by entrepreneurs, with a mission to invest in talent. They believe Venture Capital is a people business, therefore they invest in teams with great ideas and execution capabilities. They like to work with good people and people who are good. The fund invests in pre-seed and seed-stage startups, adapting the ticket size (100-500k€) based on the stage and round conditions. Their focus is on Spain and startups with a clear connection to the Spanish market. They look for early signals of product-market fit, B2B SaaS business models with real stickiness, and solutions that are painkillers, not just vitamins. They provide follow-on investments as they believe in the long term, up to 1M EUR.

Pre-seed, SeedAgnosticB2B SaaS

Auxxo

Berlin, DE

Auxxo is a venture capital firm that invests in female-led startups in Europe. They aim to address the gender funding gap in the startup ecosystem by providing capital and support to women entrepreneurs. They focus on companies with diverse teams and the potential for high growth. They invest across various sectors and stages, supporting startups from pre-seed to Series A. Auxxo's investment strategy is driven by the belief that female-led companies often outperform their male-led counterparts, leading to better returns. They provide portfolio companies with access to their network, mentorship, and operational support, aiming to accelerate their growth and success. Auxxo is committed to fostering a more inclusive and equitable startup ecosystem.

Pre-seed to Series AVarious (Focus on female-led businesses)

BADideas.fund

Riga, LV

BADideas.fund invests in early-stage startups in the Baltics and CEE region, specifically targeting founders with global ambitions. Their strategy focuses on providing not only capital but also hands-on guidance and strategic insights drawn from a community of experienced founders and operators who have built and scaled successful startups, including those with unicorn status. The fund seems to be sector-agnostic but expresses a preference for B2B and marketplace businesses. BADideas.fund positions itself as more than just a financial backer, offering access to a network of over 250 members with diverse expertise. The investment approach appears to be centered around leveraging the collective experience of its network to accelerate the growth and success of its portfolio companies. This network provides operational support and helps founders navigate the challenges of scaling a company. They aim to fill a crucial gap in the CEE ecosystem, supporting founders from pre-seed to seed stages with access to experienced builders.

Pre-seed, seedB2Bmarketplaces

BMH Beteiligungs-Managementgesellschaft Hessen

Wiesbaden, DE
B

Based on the available information, BMH Beteiligungs-Managementgesellschaft Hessen (BMH Hessen) appears to focus on providing equity financing to businesses in the Hessen region of Germany. Their investment strategy includes supporting tech startups, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and companies in various sectors including healthtech, AI, proptech, and deep tech. BMH seems to participate in multiple funding rounds, from pre-seed and seed to growth stages, and also supports succession solutions for established companies. They actively manage the HessenFonds, indicating a commitment to fostering regional economic growth and innovation within Hessen. They look for companies that address significant needs or offer innovative solutions in their respective markets. The firm also co-invests with other VCs like HTGF (High-Tech Gründerfonds). BMH is interested in supporting succession planning and supporting smaller SMEs.

Pre-Seed, Seed, GrowthTech Start-UpsHealthtech

Bayern Kapital GmbH

Landshut, DE

Bayern Kapital is a venture capital firm that invests in innovative Bavarian startups and scale-ups in the high-tech, deep tech, and life sciences sectors. They act as an anchor investor, providing long-term support across multiple rounds, from pre-seed to scale-up stages, with investments ranging from €250,000 to €50 million per company. The firm prioritizes sustainable innovation and partners with companies that contribute to the advancement of technology in Bavaria. With 30 years of experience, they are one of the most active, experienced, and financially strong VC investors in the region. Bayern Kapital actively seeks companies that have the potential to become market leaders in their respective fields. They provide not only financial support but also strategic guidance and access to their extensive network. They invest in areas like autonomous mobility, medical technology, industrial manufacturing, and digital services. The firm aims to facilitate the growth of its portfolio companies, helping them scale their operations and achieve their business goals. The investment strategy focuses on companies that address real-world problems with innovative solutions. By partnering with Bayern Kapital, startups and scale-ups gain access to capital, expertise, and a strong network, enabling them to accelerate their growth and expand their market presence. Bayern Kapital positions itself as a reliable and supportive partner, committed to the long-term success of its portfolio companies. They invest in teams and support the personal growth of its founders and its people.

Pre-Seed, Seed, Growth, Scale-upHigh-TechDeepTech

Betaworks

New York, US
B

Betaworks is a New York-based startup platform that invests in, builds, and accelerates early-stage consumer technology companies. They have a thematic approach to investing, focusing on emerging technologies and new user behaviors. Their core strategy involves immersing themselves in bleeding-edge technologies and working with founders and their community to understand how those technologies impact user experience, workflows, and tooling. Betaworks operates a cohort-based investment and product development program called Camp, offering an immersive experience for founders. The firm's investments and internal builds span various tech sectors, and they've had successful exits like Giphy (acquired by META), Dots (acquired by TakeTwo), bitly (acquired by private equity), and Tweetdeck (acquired by Twitter). Betaworks takes a hands-on approach, actively building companies internally. They've established a strong track record for identifying and nurturing promising early-stage ventures, often providing product development support and access to their network. The firm has a strong presence in the New York startup ecosystem, with John Borthwick being a key figure in various tech organizations and advisory boards. Currently Betaworks is focused on AI, gaming, and decentralization. Within AI, they are looking for applications augmenting human workflows, agents and tooling. In gaming, they are looking at interactive entertainment, infrastructure, and metaverses. In decentralization, they are focused on open source software and developer tools. They invest at pre-seed and seed stage and typically check size ranges from $250,000 to $750,000.

Pre-seed, SeedAI

BlackWood Ventures

DK

BlackWood Ventures is a European VC firm focused on backing ambitious founders at the early stages, specifically pre-seed and seed. They aim to provide more than just capital, leveraging a network of over 1,000 angels and experts alongside the experience of seasoned builders and investors with successful exits. Their objective is to give founders a distinct unfair advantage. They focus on building relationships and providing hands-on support to help their companies navigate the challenges of early-stage growth. They position themselves as partners who are deeply involved in the operational aspects of the startups they fund. Their investment approach seems to be centered on finding founders with the potential to disrupt traditional industries and create innovative solutions. They look for individuals who demonstrate a strong vision, a relentless drive, and the ability to execute on their plans. BlackWood also places a high value on the network effects they can bring to bear, connecting their portfolio companies with the right advisors, partners, and potential customers. BlackWood offers a platform built to serve, which includes fundraising support, network access, and continuous operational support. On the fundraising front, they draw on their prior experience in raising billions of dollars and offer help in crafting narratives, pressure-testing data rooms, and streamlining the funding process. Their network of 1,200+ angels and experts is available to portfolio companies when needed. The firm also emphasizes its dedication to working alongside the founders, offering 24/7 availability for strategy sessions, HR decisions, and emotional support. They are building a community of like-minded individuals on a mission to change the world. BlackWood emphasizes a collaborative and supportive environment, fostering connections and knowledge-sharing among their portfolio companies. They strive to be active and engaged investors without being overbearing, giving founders the space to build their businesses while providing guidance and resources when needed.

Pre-Seed, SeedFintechCleantech

Blue Impact Ventures

Boca Raton, US
B

Blue Impact Ventures is an operator-led, pre-seed and seed-stage venture capital firm focused on empowering founders who are reinventing the supply chain. They believe that the supply chain, the backbone of the global economy, is currently broken, fragmented, and under-optimized. This inefficiency, coupled with the urgency of the climate crisis and geopolitical shifts, necessitates a redesign and rapid deployment of sustainable supply chain solutions. Transportation and industry, encompassing the supply chain, are responsible for 55% of global energy emissions, highlighting the critical need for innovation in this sector. The firm invests in entrepreneurs demonstrating strong leadership skills and resilience, recognizing the long-term and challenging nature of building companies. They seek to leverage their deep operational experience in the supply chain to support founders addressing significant problems within the industry. Blue Impact Ventures sees an opportunity to capitalize on the need for more efficient, sustainable, and technologically advanced supply chain solutions, driven by factors like geopolitics, climate change, and advancements in AI. Their investment approach targets companies demonstrating early traction, typically at the pre-seed or seed stage. They believe that investing early allows them to play a crucial role in shaping the future of these companies. By supporting innovation in the supply chain, Blue Impact Ventures aims to contribute to a more efficient, resilient, and environmentally friendly global economy. They are specifically targeting sectors that directly comprise or benefit from innovative supply chain solutions.

Pre-seed, SeedFreight Marketplaces / Digital NetworksEcommerce Marketplaces

Bynd VC

IL

Bynd VC is a leading Iberian Venture Capital firm that has been investing in pre-seed and seed tech startups since 2010. They focus on early-stage ventures with a strong Iberian footprint, primarily targeting founders or teams based in Iberia. Their investment approach is multi-sector, with a particular interest in AI & software, consumer goods, and sustainability tech. They aim to be the first professional investor in these startups. Bynd VC positions itself as a gateway to Iberian success, leveraging its extensive network and experience in the region to provide access to top resources and opportunities. They emphasize a fast and founder-centric investment process, recognizing the value of the entrepreneur's time. The firm manages multiple investment vehicles and has made over 60 investments in Iberian startups, leading to over 10 exits. Their strategy is built on identifying and supporting companies with bold ambitions in the Iberian market. With offices in Lisbon, Porto, Madrid and Barcelona, they are very well positioned to find great founders. They aim to support these founders through their journey.

Pre-seed, SeedAI & softwareconsumer goods

Cambridge University

Cambridge, GB

Based on the crawled website content, it is challenging to formulate a traditional venture capital investment thesis for the University of Cambridge. The website primarily focuses on academic programs (undergraduate, postgraduate, professional), research activities, and university administration. While there is a 'Business and Enterprise' section, the provided excerpts do not delve into specific investment strategies, target sectors, or financial vehicles. The university's emphasis is on education, research, and public engagement, with a business and enterprise arm which may oversee commercialisation of research through licensing deals, spin outs or technology transfer, as well as partnering with businesses. It is likely that any investment activity occurs through a separate entity or fund associated with the university, which is not revealed within the available scraped pages. It can be assumed that the University likely engages with or supports the commercialisation of research outcomes, potentially involving investment or funding in spin-out companies arising from university research. Based on this assumption, an investment thesis could broadly be around supporting innovation and entrepreneurship stemming from Cambridge University's research base, targeting deep-tech companies or ventures with strong intellectual property and societal impact. However, without further information on a related fund, this remains highly speculative. The overall impression is that the University's site content concentrates on academia, student life, research endeavors, and community outreach, making it problematic to extract meaningful investment information, strategies or goals from this limited data. It is likely that the university would engage with separate investors to commercialize research outcomes rather than investing directly into ventures.

Potentially pre-seed, seed (highly speculative)Potentially deep techscience

Climate VC

EU

Climate VC is a venture capital firm investing in pre-seed and seed stage climate startups with the goal of decarbonizing the economy and our lives. They focus on funding elite founding teams building solutions to address the climate crisis, aiming for a gigatonne-scale impact. The firm recognizes the climate crisis as both the greatest threat and the greatest opportunity to shape civilization. They aim to ignite the early spark of innovative solutions across various sectors, including food, transportation, electricity generation, and manufacturing.

Pre-seed, SeedCarbon RemovalsClimate Finance Data

CoVentures

BE

Co Ventures is a pre-seed fund focused on backing Australian founders building software-led companies with global ambitions from day one. They aim to provide belief, networks, and infrastructure to transform early-stage ambition into tangible results. The firm recognizes that traditional venture capital often favors familiar patterns and overlooks unconventional ideas or founders who don't fit established molds. Co Ventures seeks to address this by intentionally supporting founders with the grit, clarity, and ambition to build global companies, even when ideas are raw and markets are undefined. They are focused on edge cases and quiet convictions.

Pre-seedSoftware

Connect Ventures

London, GB

Connect Ventures focuses on backing exceptional founders building outlier product companies. The firm emphasizes a product-centric approach, prioritizing companies with strong developer experience and a deep understanding of their users' needs. They aim to be more than just investors, positioning themselves as long-term partners who understand the intricacies of building product-led businesses. They seek founders building solutions to problems they personally experience, leading to innovative products that resonate with a wider audience. Connect Ventures looks for companies where they can establish a high level of trust and alignment with the founders, acting as a sounding board and accountability partner throughout their journey. The firm's investment strategy is to lead or co-lead pre-seed and seed rounds, providing crucial early-stage funding and support. They understand the importance of product development and community-led growth, particularly in areas like marketplaces, market networks, and networked SaaS. The partners have experience as founders themselves, providing firsthand understanding of the challenges and opportunities that startups face. The firm actively supports their portfolio companies with fundraising strategies and leadership development. Connect Ventures places high importance on the founder's journey and their ability to create impactful products. The quotes from portfolio founders highlight Connect's understanding of product, commitment through thick and thin, and willingness to be hands-on when needed. Their investment decisions are driven by a belief in the power of product to drive growth and category domination, and they actively experiment with new frameworks like Minimum Viable Category Design to help their portfolio companies succeed.

Pre-Seed, SeedAIDeep Tech

Counterview Capital

New York, US
C

Counterview Capital is a New York-based venture capital firm that focuses on pre-seed and seed stage technology companies. They aim to partner with creative and unconventional thinkers who are building innovative products intended to change the world. The firm has a "counter view" towards venture capital, and they seek founders who similarly challenge the status quo.

Pre-seed, SeedTechnology

DHS Venture Partners

Stockholm, SE

DHS Venture Partners is a venture capital firm comprised of Stockholm School of Economics alumni, including founders, investors, operators, and angels. They focus on supporting the next generation of great entrepreneurs by co-investing in early-stage companies. Their investment strategy centers around backing founders with innovative ideas that have the potential to scale into lasting businesses. DHS Venture Partners frequently acts as the first investor in their portfolio companies, providing ongoing support throughout their growth journeys. The firm's unique approach combines the expertise, proximity, and deep domain insight of an angel investor with the network, resources, and strength of an experienced community. With 25 selected venture partners and an active alumni group, DHS Venture Partners provides founders with access to a broad range of skills and connections. This collaborative model allows them to offer comprehensive support and guidance, increasing the chances of success for their portfolio companies. Based on portfolio data, DHS Venture Partners concentrates on pre-seed and seed stage investments. Their investment strategy is particularly focused on companies located in Sweden. By investing early and providing significant value-add through their network and expertise, DHS Venture Partners aims to build long-term relationships with founders and contribute to the growth of a vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem.

Pre-seed, SeedAIClimate

Draper Venture Partners

San Mateo, US

Draper Associates is a global venture capital firm that invests in world-shaping companies. They back bold founders with transformative ideas, technologies, and industries that will define the next century. The firm invests early, from pre-seed to Series A, across all sectors and geographies, focusing particularly on frontier industries. They combine deep technical expertise with extensive operational experience to help founders navigate the challenges of scaling breakthrough technologies. Draper Associates provides strategic guidance, network access, and conviction derived from four decades of experience backing category-defining companies. They aim to turn science fiction into reality, one bold investment at a time, supporting entrepreneurs shaping tomorrow's economy.

Pre-seed, Seed, Series AAIRobotics & Automation

Entree Capital

Tel Aviv, IL

Entrée Capital is a venture capital firm managing $1.5 billion across multiple funds with offices in Tel Aviv, London, and New York. Their investment philosophy centers around partnering with exceptional founders to build impactful companies addressing significant challenges. They focus on early-stage investments (pre-seed, seed, and Series A) across Israel, the UK, Europe, and the United States. The firm aims to back founders who are building the impossible, particularly in areas such as AI, Deep-Tech, Crypto, and innovative B2B solutions. Entrée Capital is adapting to the changing landscape of the software industry, acknowledging the shift from Systems of Record (SOR) to Systems of Context, where AI-driven solutions that understand the nuances of business goals and historical data are becoming increasingly valuable. The firm is focused on investing in AI-native companies that can leverage data to improve their products iteratively and deliver significant value to users. The firm's investment strategy also includes a contrarian approach, focusing on verticals that others might overlook due to smaller software budgets. They believe that AI can unlock significant opportunities in these industries, driving complete resets and unlocking P&L potential. They are keenly observing AI agents, decentralized platforms, and web3 security. They seek companies that can bridge the gap between organizing and completing work, with autonomous agents that own the context of the user. Entrée Capital emphasizes the importance of founder DNA and is committed to supporting entrepreneurs from the earliest stages. The firm aims to build enduring companies by providing unwavering support and resources to exceptional founders. The firm also understands the importance of leveraging the AI revolution and is focused on backing companies that are at the forefront of this transformative technology.

Pre-seed, Seed, Series AArtificial Intelligence (AI-native applicationsvertical AI

Entrée Capital

London, GB

Entrée Capital is a venture capital firm managing $1.5 billion across several funds, with offices in Tel Aviv, London, and New York. They focus on partnering with exceptional founders to build innovative companies addressing meaningful challenges. Their investment strategy targets early-stage investments, specifically pre-seed, seed, and Series A rounds, across Israel, the UK, Europe, and the US. The firm seeks companies in AI, Deep-Tech & Quantum Computing, Software, Data & B2B Productivity, Crypto infrastructure and security, and "Weird Is Wonderful" frontier innovation. Entrée Capital aims to invest in companies that are building the impossible and disrupting traditional industries. The firm emphasizes a founder-centric approach, standing with entrepreneurs from day zero and supporting them throughout their journey. They prioritize companies demonstrating strong product-market fit, data-driven decision-making, and the potential for significant impact. The firm believes that AI is a foundational transformation of the global economy and focuses on AI-native founders building vertical agents, infrastructure, and category-defining software. They also recognize the convergence of physics, compute, software, and national-security innovation. Entrée Capital is particularly interested in verticals often overlooked due to smaller software budgets but ripe for disruption through AI-driven solutions. They are proactive about engaging with potential portfolio companies, showcasing examples of direct outreach and early engagement that led to customer adoption and, eventually, investment. They appear to value companies that create systems of context, move beyond simply organizing work, and embrace autonomous agents capable of completing tasks, differentiating themselves from systems of record.

Pre-seed, Seed, Series AArtificial IntelligenceDeep-Tech & Quantum Computing