European VC Directory

UB Forest Industry Green Growth Fund (UB FIGG)

Helsinki, FI

UB FIGG is a private equity fund focused on accelerating the adoption of renewable bio-based materials. They believe that almost everything made from fossil materials today can be made from bio-based materials tomorrow. The fund invests in innovative growth companies demonstrating the industrial scale and commercial viability of renewable alternatives, contributing to climate change mitigation. The fund is a signatory of Operating Principles for Impact Management and reports on the environmental and climate impact of its investments. They are committed to supporting the growth of bio-based industries and proving that plastic-free and renewable packaging can work at scale.

Venture capital firm investing in high-growth technology companies.

Venture capital firm investing in high-growth technology companies.

UG Investments

Tallinn, EE

UG Investments (UGI) is an Estonian investment holding company focused on creating a better and more sustainable living environment through its investments. They provide a solid capital base to sustainable companies with good potential and professional management, with a time horizon suitable for all parties. UGI acts as a responsible and development-oriented owner for its investments. The firm prioritizes reducing environmental impact and promoting responsible business practices across its investments. They collaborate closely with the management and other owners of their portfolio companies.

Venture capital firm investing in high-growth technology companies.

UI Investissement

FR

UI Investissement supports the growth of unlisted SMEs and mid-sized companies (ETIs) throughout France and at all stages of their development. They engage in Capital Development and Transmission (LBO), Capital Innovation, and Consolidation strategies. They invest in companies to accelerate their growth, industrialize their technology, and consolidate their shareholding. Their approach involves a combination of financial investment and active support, aiming to enhance operational excellence.

Venture capital firm investing in high-growth technology companies.

UKI2S invests in early-stage UK science and technology startups emerging from publicly funded research, driving sustainable growth and societal impact.

Venture capital firm investing in high-growth technology companies.

UK Space Agency

Didcot, GB

The UK Space Agency's involvement in investments is driven by a strategy to foster the growth of the UK's space economy and establish a leading position in space-enabled manufacturing. This involves supporting companies pioneering in-orbit manufacturing, such as those developing pharmaceuticals in space, by addressing barriers like regulatory uncertainty and supply chain gaps. The agency aims to facilitate the translation of space-based research into practical applications, contributing to advancements in areas like medicine and semiconductor manufacturing. This investment strategy is underpinned by the belief that microgravity environments can offer unique advantages in manufacturing, leading to higher quality and more effective products. The agency's strategy also includes investing in regional infrastructure through initiatives like the Space Clusters Infrastructure Fund (SCIF). This aims to strengthen regional space economies and build sovereign capabilities in strategically important technologies. By funding projects such as the National Microgravity Research Centre, the agency supports the development of terrestrial facilities that complement space-based manufacturing activities. This hybrid approach, combining in-space manufacturing with ground-based processing and scaling, is designed to accelerate the commercialization of space-derived technologies. Furthermore, the UK Space Agency works collaboratively with other government bodies, such as the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), the Regulatory Innovation Office (RIO), and the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), to create a supportive regulatory environment for space-related industries. This includes providing regulatory guidance, establishing regulatory sandboxes, conducting case studies, and engaging with supply chain stakeholders. By offering regulatory clarity and addressing practical challenges, the agency seeks to encourage innovation and attract investment in the UK space sector. Ultimately, the goal is to ensure that the UK remains at the forefront of space technology and can reap the economic and societal benefits of space exploration and utilization.

UK Space Agency - Space Clusters Infrastructure Fund (SCIF)

GB

Based on the provided website content, the UK Space Agency - Space Clusters Infrastructure Fund (SCIF)'s investment thesis revolves around fostering growth and innovation within the UK space sector. The fund aims to achieve this by supporting initiatives that promote space sustainability, accelerate commercial readiness among space entrepreneurs, and facilitate collaboration between UK expertise and international partners. This support extends to various facets of the space industry, including the development and deployment of satellite technologies, the use of space data for environmental and agricultural applications, and the advancement of space communications. The fund's underlying principle is to bolster UK prosperity by ensuring space remains safe, secure, and sustainable for future generations.

UKRI

GB

UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) is the UK's main public funder of research and innovation. Their strategy for 2022-2027 focuses on creating an outstanding research and innovation system in the UK, providing opportunities for everyone to contribute and benefit. This involves advancing knowledge, improving lives, and driving growth nationally and globally. UKRI aims to deliver the government’s ambitions for the UK as a global leader in research and innovation, aligning with plans for growth, R&D roadmap, innovation strategy, R&D people and culture strategy, integrated review, and levelling up white paper. The firm's strategic approach is underpinned by four principles: diversity, connectivity, resilience, and engagement. These principles are fundamental to how UKRI operates and aims to foster a flourishing research and innovation system in the UK. The strategy also outlines six objectives focused on people, places, ideas, innovation, and impacts, supported by UKRI as a world-class organization. UKRI's investment strategy involves funding various research councils, including the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC), Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), Innovate UK, Medical Research Council (MRC), Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), Research England, and Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC). UKRI is transitioning to a more strategic, UKRI-wide model for investing in research and innovation, aiming to deliver the greatest possible impact for the public. This involves coordinating funding across different councils and establishing UKRI-wide themes, such as the UKRI Life Sciences Priority Programme under the MRC. The organization is committed to sustaining curiosity-driven research through grant awards and fellowships.

Venture capital firm investing in high-growth technology companies.

UKTV Ventures

London, GB

UKTV Ventures operates as a media-for-equity investment fund, backed by the television broadcaster UKTV. Their core strategy involves providing premium advertising inventory on UKTV's diverse portfolio of channels (U&Dave, U&W, U&Gold, and others) in exchange for minority equity stakes in direct-to-consumer (DTC) startups. This approach allows the startups to rapidly scale their brand awareness and customer acquisition through TV advertising, while UKTV Ventures gains equity in potentially high-growth businesses. The fund's objective is to help these companies establish themselves as recognizable brand names within the UK market. The investment proposition is tailored to companies that are ready to leverage television advertising to accelerate their growth. By foregoing traditional cash investment, UKTV Ventures provides a unique value proposition, unlocking access to a broad audience through targeted advertising campaigns. The fund aims to identify companies with a strong product-market fit and the potential to become household names, enabling them to significantly expand their customer base and market presence.

UM6P Ventures

Ben Guerir, MA

UM6P Ventures is the investment arm of University Mohammed VI Polytechnic (UM6P), established to foster entrepreneurship and accelerate the commercialization of scientific innovations in Morocco and the broader African continent. The firm operates two funds: a Digital Transformation Startup fund and a Deeptech Ventures fund. They invest in pre-seed and seed stages, providing capital and access to resources such as talent sourcing, subject domain expertise, and specialized equipment through the UM6P ecosystem. The firm's vision involves identifying early-stage startups with scalability potential and embedding a venture builder culture to support founding teams. UM6P Ventures aims to bootstrap startups from the pre-seed phase towards a Series A round. They are sector-agnostic but have a focus on deeptech and hardtech startups, particularly those in agriculture, chemicals, greentech, and healthtech. UM6P Ventures looks for startups with a minimum viable product, an identified target customer, high growth potential, a competitive advantage, a skilled and complementary founding team, and a viable business model. They aim to provide early-stage capital to help startups transition into established businesses and ensure continued capital injection and growth through direct investments or regional co-investments. Their model gives startups access to resources, labs, and the UM6P community, along with SMEs to facilitate launch and growth. UM6P Ventures fosters an experience-based learning community by connecting ventures with incubators, accelerators, angel investors, and VCs within a broad ecosystem.

UNEXO

FR

UNEXO is a venture capital firm focused on supporting the development of companies in the Grand Ouest region of France. They offer capital innovation, capital investment, and private debt solutions, indicating a flexible approach to funding different stages and needs. The firm emphasizes its team of experts and their commitment to partnering with ambitious entrepreneurs. They appear to be stage-agnostic, offering support at various key development stages. Their investment approach is designed to cultivate the potential of businesses within their geographic focus.

UNIIQ invests in research-driven startups with complex technology, often originating from academic institutions in Zuid-Holland. It provides capital and intensive mentorship to accelerate market introduction, with a focus on societal and economic impact. The fund emphasizes a transparent, business-friendly process to facilitate follow-on financing, achieving over €328M in subsequent funding for its portfolio within three years.

Venture capital firm investing in high-growth technology companies.

Venture capital firm investing in high-growth technology companies.

UTokyo Innovation Platform Co., Ltd.

Tokyo, JP

UTokyo Innovation Platform Co., Ltd. (UTokyo IPC) was established in 2016 as the first investment company wholly owned by the University of Tokyo. Its mission is to return the knowledge of research institutions, including the University of Tokyo, to society and create new industries and value. The firm aims to foster an innovation ecosystem originating from academia, supporting startups from their creation to growth. UTokyo IPC focuses on providing not only financial support but also management assistance, community building for entrepreneurs and researchers, collaboration programs with industry, and partnerships with overseas innovation hubs. The firm has evolved from a pure "investment company" to an "ecosystem builder." They aim to create an environment where researchers and entrepreneurs can confidently take on challenges by implementing research knowledge into society and returning it through industry. This involves nurturing talent, circulating funds, and fostering new challenges. UTokyo IPC emphasizes its role as a "Company" committed to responsibility, results, and providing sustainable value to society, acting as a foundation for the long-term growth of university-originated innovation. UTokyo IPC operates three funds: the IPC Fund 1, AOI Fund 1, and ASA Fund, with a combined asset size nearing JPY 60 billion. These funds are used to invest primarily in deep tech startups that aim to solve social issues and have the potential to deliver significant impact. The firm's investment strategy revolves around supporting startups in fields such as life science, healthcare and agritech, space, robotics and hardware, IT and services, and artificial intelligence (AI). The firm also offers incubation and acceleration programs. Startup Building Program is a hands-on support program that works alongside researchers and Entrepreneurs-in-Residence (EIRs) to launch startups, while 1stRound is a Cross-academia Accelerator conducted in collaboration with universities and research institutions. The overarching goal is to link academia with the industrial world, thereby implementing technologies and knowledge into society.

Uebermorgen Ventures

CH

Übermorgen Ventures is dedicated to fixing the planet by investing in exceptional founders who are building a resilient and zero-carbon economy. They believe the climate crisis is here and see climate change as an opportunity to disrupt entire industries and deliver long-term value. The firm invests in early-stage startups across three key areas: decarbonization, carbon removal, and adaptation & resilience. Decarbonization investments target technologies that cut emissions of greenhouse gases in sectors such as energy, transportation, industry, resource efficiency, built environment, food, and agriculture. Carbon removal investments focus on technologies that remove carbon from the atmosphere and either store or utilize it, alongside markets that support the viability of carbon removal. Adaptation & resilience investments explore ways to manage and insure against climate risks, protect ecosystems, and reduce vulnerabilities to extreme weather, rising seas, and resource scarcity.

Venture capital firm investing in high-growth technology companies.

Ukraine Phoenix Tech Fund invests in early-stage Ukrainian tech companies with high-growth potential, providing funding, mentorship, and access to global markets.

Venture capital firm investing in high-growth technology companies.