VC Directory

PRE-SEED VCs in Germany Directory

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

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

Atlantic.vc

Berlin, DE

Atlantic invests in bold, early-stage founders and scientists pursuing groundbreaking technologies that defy conventional categories. The firm specializes in pre-seed rounds across Europe, backing 'unknowns' that challenge the status quo and have the potential to become industry-defining innovations.

Pre-seedPre-seed stage startups building transformative technologies at the edge of possibility

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)

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

Backtrace

Munich, DE

Backtrace is a pre-seed/seed fund that invests in the "technology building blocks that our world runs on." This suggests a focus on infrastructure and foundational technologies. The firm's portfolio and angel investments indicate a preference for developer tools, DevOps, and backend infrastructure companies. They seem to be targeting companies that enable other companies to build and deploy software more effectively and efficiently. The firm invests at the earliest stages and seems to favor companies that are solving core technical challenges. Recent news articles about why they invested in specific companies like Platform Engineering Labs and KERYS Software suggest that Backtrace is looking for companies that are innovating in their respective fields and have the potential to become market leaders.

Pre-seed, SeedDeveloper ToolsDevOps

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

Beteiligungs-Managementgesellschaft Hessen

Wiesbaden, DE
B

Based on the crawled data, BMH (Beteiligungs-Managementgesellschaft Hessen) appears to focus on providing equity for businesses, particularly in the Hessen region of Germany. They invest in various stages from Seed to Growth, as indicated by news articles featuring pre-seed, seed, and later stage investments. They have a diverse portfolio spanning tech startups to established industrial businesses. BMH invests in Hessen-based companies across various sectors, with a particular interest in tech startups. A key function appears to be managing the HessenFonds, providing fresh capital to startups, small and medium-sized enterprises in the region. The BMH supports companies through various stages of development.

Pre-Seed, Seed, GrowthHealthtechAI

HEARTFELT_/APX

Berlin, DE

APX is an earliest-stage venture capital firm based in Berlin, backed by Axel Springer and Porsche. The firm focuses on supporting and partnering with ambitious pre-seed startups from Europe and beyond, often acting as their first investor. APX invests in exceptional founder teams building startups with digital business models. They emphasize being a long-term partner to their portfolio companies, providing support beyond just capital. The firm aims to be one of Europe's leading earliest-stage VCs, cultivating a growing family of startups and founders. Their investment strategy focuses on identifying promising digital business models and providing the resources and network necessary to help these startups succeed from their earliest stages. They operate as a pre-seed investor, helping startups at the very beginning of their journey.

Pre-seedDigital business models

HTGF

Berlin, DE

HTGF (High-Tech Gruenderfonds) is a pre-seed and seed investor focused on tech startups with the courage to shape the future. They provide early-stage funding along with a strong network in business and science, experience scaling startups, and in-depth tech know-how. HTGF's mission is to strengthen Germany's technological backbone and create international market leaders. They invest across all major tech fields from software to hardware: From AI, deep tech to biotech. Their team consists of founders and visionaries with a background in science and business, possessing over 300 years of combined investment experience.

Pre-Seed, SeedAIdeep tech

HTGF | High-Tech Gruenderfonds

Bonn, DE

HTGF invests in tech founders who have the courage to shape the future. They focus on pre-seed and seed stages, providing a strong network in business and science, experience in scaling startups, and in-depth tech know-how. Their mission extends beyond their track record, aiming to sustainably strengthen the technological backbone of Germany as a business location and create international market leaders. They invest across all major tech fields from software to hardware: From AI, deep tech to biotech. They have over 300 years of investment experience. They believe that long-term success is only possible if the impact of technologies and business models are considered from the start and managed responsibly, integrating ESG measures into their processes since 2019. HTGF contributes at the fund level, including active risk management, measuring and offsetting carbon footprint, vegetarian catering, and environmentally friendly travel policies. They also provide a healthy work environment for their employees, with flexible working hours, company bicycle leasing, subsidized sports memberships, and the maximum employer subsidy for the Deutschlandticket. They actively advocate for practical requirements for founding teams in relevant areas within their network, ensuring standardization and transparency in ESG reporting. They offer ESG Due Diligence before investing and provide ESG Support for Impact after the investment, supporting companies to set up sustainably from the very beginning. They help startups to collect relevant data for annual ESG reporting, helping them present themselves transparently and convincingly to customers and investors.

Pre-Seed, SeedAIDeep Tech

HackFwd

DE

HackFwd backs top European pre-seed tech talent with funding and intensive support to prototype pioneering products without scaling to dilute founder focus.

Pre-SeedDeveloper Infrastructure

Hannover Beteiligungsfonds

Hannover, DE

Based on the crawled content, Hannoverimpuls appears to be an economic development agency for the Hannover region in Germany, rather than a traditional venture capital fund. Their primary focus is on promoting entrepreneurship, supporting startups, and attracting skilled workers to the region. They achieve this through various programs, initiatives, and events, such as "Gründung Kompakt" which assists unemployed individuals in starting their own businesses, and "leanlab" which helps transform ideas into business models. They also highlight successful local companies and initiatives, such as INLEAP Photonics (drone defense), MOST (mobile stress tests for athletes), and QVLS-iLabs (quantum technology cluster). Therefore, Hannoverimpuls' "investment thesis" isn't a direct monetary investment but rather an investment in the ecosystem by providing resources, connections, and visibility to foster innovation and economic growth within the Hannover region. Their strategy involves collaboration with local universities, businesses, and government agencies to create a supportive environment for startups and established companies alike. Their economic development activities are not purely for profit, but serve to improve the prosperity of the Hannover region. Since Hannoverimpuls is an economic development agency, it is likely that any financial "investments" they make are small and likely seed or pre-seed stage or are grants or non-dilutive funding. Hannoverimpuls actively promotes the Hannover region as an attractive location for businesses and skilled workers. This involves highlighting the region's strengths in various industries, such as technology and manufacturing, and showcasing successful companies that have established themselves in Hannover. Additionally, they organize events and workshops to connect entrepreneurs with potential investors, mentors, and partners. Overall, Hannoverimpuls plays a critical role in supporting the economic development of the Hannover region by fostering innovation, promoting entrepreneurship, and attracting skilled workers. Their multifaceted approach, which combines direct support for startups with broader initiatives to enhance the region's business climate, makes them a valuable asset for the local economy. Their mission is to support and grow business within the Hannover region.

Pre-seed, Seed (likely through supporting programs, not direct investments)DeepTechPhotonics

Heliad Equity Partners

Frankfurt, DE

Heliad Equity Partners focuses on providing generational founders with access to capital markets. They invest in early-stage companies through their fully owned early-stage investment vehicle, Collective Ventures, supporting founders from pre-seed to Series A. They also make growth-stage and beyond investments directly from their balance sheet, utilizing an evergreen structure that allows for long-term partnerships, even beyond an IPO. Heliad emphasizes its ability to support companies through various stages of their growth, without being constrained by typical fund life cycles. They aim to be more than just investors, acting as partners to help companies reach their full potential.

Pre-seed, Seed, Series A, Growth-stage, Beyond IPOAIAutomation

Point Nine Capital (P9)

DE

Point Nine invests in AI-driven startups across SaaS, B2B software, and emerging sectors like healthcare, robotics, and agriculture, focusing on pre-seed and seed-stage companies with global potential. The firm emphasizes thesis-driven investments, working closely with founders to accelerate growth and provide operational support.

Pre-seed and Seed (with some Series A and later-stage investments)AI for the digitalphysical

Positron Ventures

DE

Positron Ventures focuses on helping and funding Europe-based scientist-entrepreneurs who are pursuing moonshots for planetary health. They invest in scientist-entrepreneurs working on breakthroughs across the natural sciences, backing teams from day one in their pursuit of solving major global challenges. The firm often acts as the first believer and investor, offering support across all aspects of building a company. They proactively conduct deep dives in scientific niches to thoroughly understand the state of science in a given field before investing. Their investment strategy appears to be focused on early-stage, pre-seed deeptech companies. Positron Ventures aims to turn breakthrough research into successful companies by investing at the frontier of science and building systems that help deeptech founders succeed. This includes support across operations, people, communications, and LP engagement. Positron Ventures invests in deeptech funds in Europe and the US, and is launching the Positron Foundation to support high-risk, pre-commercial research.

Pre-seedPlanetary healthnatural sciences

Project A Studio

Berlin, DE
P

Project A Studio is a proving ground for Europe's boldest entrepreneurial talent, partnering with founders at the ideation and validation stage. They provide hands-on support from their experienced team, helping to shape and test the founder's vision. When conviction is mutual, they lead the pre-seed round on founder-fair terms and bring in high-signal angels.

Pre-SeedAIFintech

Realyze Ventures

DE

Realyze Ventures invests in European startups leveraging technology and innovation to decarbonize the built environment, improve process efficiency, and enable superior returns. Focus areas include sustainability, energy efficiency, digitalization, and scalable solutions for real estate and construction challenges.

Early-stage to growth-stage (pre-seed, seed, and scale-up)Startups driving transition in real estate and construction through technologysustainability

STARTHUB Ventures

Berlin, DE

STARTHUB Ventures focuses on providing financial support and a vast network to visionary entrepreneurs in the pre-seed and seed stages. They aim to boost leading young entrepreneurs and take their businesses to the next level, step by step, until they reach the sky. Their investment strategy revolves around identifying founders who combine vision with execution excellence, can build and lead outstanding teams, and have the courage and ability to change markets. They look at around 1,500 to 2,000 early-stage startups per year, primarily through recommendations from other investors, founders of portfolio companies, databases, media publications, accelerator graduates, and events. They emphasize the importance of early-stage capital and leverage their network, particularly in international logistics, to assist portfolio companies. The firm is open to various fields but primarily invests in digital companies within specific sectors. Their investment process includes sourcing, contact, deal screening, co-investor meetings, due diligence, contract negotiations, closing/signing, and payment. The duration can vary from 2 hours to 2-3 weeks depending on the startup's investment readiness. The firm looks for companies with founders who have experience and where contracts are finalized already. Alternatively, they also invest in companies coming out of accelerator programs and are ready to take the lead on first round investments. They aim to be the largest private investor in the first round. The firm wants a referral from an existing portfolio company or co-investor.

Pre-Seed, SeedHealthtechLogtech

Spread Ventures

DE

Spread Ventures is a venture capital firm focused on empowering sustainable fashion solutions. They aim to improve the future of fashion by investing in creative minds and turning seemingly impossible ideas into the new normal. Backed by Spread Group, a global provider of customized fashion and lifestyle products, Spread Ventures combines operational e-commerce and made-to-order production know-how with venture capital expertise. They leverage this combination to drive change in the fashion and creator industry. Spread Ventures invests in tech-driven early-stage companies, primarily in the pre-seed and seed stages. Their investment strategy centers around partnering with startups, founders, and visionary pioneers who possess the potential to redefine the fashion and creator industry. They seek companies aligned with a vision for a better and more sustainable future. The firm focuses on specific sub-sectors within the fashion tech and creator economy, including made-to-measure, mass customization, production-on-demand, digital creator services, content creation and monetization, virtual fitting, avatar & metaverse, phygital fashion, sustainable materials, supply chain & circularity solutions, and new textiles & circular fashion. This targeted approach allows them to leverage their operational background and market knowledge to support their portfolio companies effectively.

Pre-seed, SeedMade-to-MeasureMass Customization

Square One

DE

SquareOne is a venture capital firm that invests in B2B tech entrepreneurs at the pre-seed and seed stages. They focus on entrepreneurs who are deeply committed to solving complex problems in large, expanding markets. Their website highlights a focus on industry expertise, product advising, tech advising, mentorship, and customer connections to provide value beyond capital. The firm appears to take a hands-on approach, assisting portfolio companies with building, connecting, facilitating, and hustling. SquareOne's investment strategy seems centered around identifying and supporting companies developing innovative solutions, often involving deep tech or software, as evidenced by their portfolio. They aim to actively assist their portfolio companies in scaling and navigating the challenges of early-stage growth. The inclusion of veteran mentors and guaranteed connections indicates an emphasis on practical guidance and leveraging a strong network. Their approach to 'squaring ideas' likely encompasses a rigorous evaluation process coupled with active involvement in refining and executing the company's vision. Given the repeated reference to assistance with 'building, hustling, connecting, and facilitating,' SquareOne seems to position itself as an active, operationally-focused investor, rather than solely a provider of capital. The fund invests in startups across various sectors including AI, robotics, cybersecurity, ecommerce, and green technology. They appear to offer a strong network through their industry, product, and tech advisors to help with customer connections and problem-solving.

Pre-seed, SeedB2B techDeep Tech

Styx Urban Investments

Mannheim, DE

STYX Urban Investments is a venture capital firm focused on investing in entrepreneurs who are reimagining the urban environment. They aim to support startups that offer innovative solutions for greener cities and buildings. Their investment strategy revolves around providing not only capital but also access to their 'Urban Living Labs,' which allow startups to test and validate their products in real estate assets across key European markets. STYX targets pre-seed funding rounds, helping urban tech startups prepare for seed rounds. They consider themselves to be more than just an investor, viewing themselves as an enablement partner and an Urban Living Lab VC.

Pre-SeedPropTechUrban Tech

Sunfish Partners

Berlin, DE

Sunfish Partners is an early-stage venture capital firm focused on investing in deep tech startups originating from Eastern Europe (CEE). Their core mission revolves around bolstering Europe's autonomy through strategic investments in the space and defense sectors, alongside hardware and software startups. They provide pre-seed funding with ticket sizes between €150k to €300k. The firm's investment strategy targets companies that contribute to technological advancement and independence within Europe, particularly within the space and defense industries. They invest in both hardware and software, acknowledging the critical intersection of these domains in fostering impactful innovation. Geographically, they prioritize founders based in Eastern Europe (CEE). Sunfish Partners emphasizes providing early-stage capital and expertise to support the growth of promising startups. They actively engage with the space and defense tech ecosystem, participating in events and sharing insights through articles and videos. They are dedicated to fostering the next generation of deep tech companies in the region.

Pre-seedSpace & DefenseHardware

Venture Stars

Munich, DE

Venture Stars is a Munich-based venture capital firm that focuses on early-stage investments in innovative, digital B2C and B2B business models. They specialize in pre-seed and seed investments, supporting bold founders who are shaping the future. With a serial entrepreneurial background, Venture Stars brings hands-on experience in founding and scaling startups, enabling them to offer not just capital, but strategic guidance and operational support. Before becoming a VC fund, Venture Stars operated as a company builder, co-founding market-leading startups with significant revenue and profit, and securing substantial funding. Their investment philosophy focuses on founders first, taking a boutique approach by investing in a selected, high-quality portfolio to fully support the companies to successfully develop.

pre-seed, seeddigital B2Cdigital B2B

argo vantage GmbH

Gilching, DE

argo Vantage GmbH is a European venture capital firm focused on investing in innovative startups within technology, health, and sustainability. They prioritize making follow-on investments and actively engage with entrepreneurs, striving to advise and challenge them as board members. The firm emphasizes direct and transparent relationships built on trust, utilizing a "no bullshit" approach. They seek founders who share their values and are driven by a desire to build companies that contribute to a positive vision of the world. Their investment strategy focuses on identifying and supporting groundbreaking B2B solutions in Deep Tech, Business Process Automation, and Mass Consumer Disruption, seeking to disrupt massive consumer markets through digital technology.

Early-stage (pre-seed to series B)TechnologyHealth