For early-stage startups, it is important to secure funding and support from venture capital investors. This can be a make-or-break point for the startups that are in the nascent stages. This makes it important to find the right VCs to back to the business, which can be a tricky process.
While selecting the investment firm, founders and entrepreneurs should see if the vision of the business and VC go hand-in-hand. Furthermore, there are hundreds of thousands of VC investment firms in Europe that make the process tougher.
This is where the report by Dealroom ranking the most promising European venture capital investors comes handy. It ranks the venture capital firms based on their unicorn investments, realised and unrealised unicorns, etc. Take a look at the list of the most promising venture capital firms in Europe in 2020.
Rocket Internet/GFC (Berlin)
Founders: Alexander Samwer, Marc Samwer, Oliver Samwer
Total funding: €1.3 billion
No of funding rounds: 6
Why its hot: Established in 2007, Rocket Internet incubates and invests in internet and technology companies across the world. The venture capital firm provides deep operational support to entrepreneurs and helps them build market-leading companies. The company helps these companies scale their presence internationally. Select companies in Rocket Internet’s portfolio are active in a large number of countries around the world. It has funded companies such as Delivery Hero, Funding Circle, etc.
LocalGlobe (London)
Founders: Robin Klein, Saul Klein
Total funding: €4 billion
No of funding rounds: 32
Why its hot: LocalGlobe is a venture capital firm focusing on seed and impact investments. The seed-stage venture capital firm is one of the most active firms in the UK that funds ambitious founders and startups. It launched a new fund dubbed Latitude aimed at Series B funding, which will help companies scale. LocalGlobe has funded startups such as Monzo, TransferWise, Robinhood, etc.
Seedcamp (London)
Founders: Reshma Sohoni, Saul Klein
Total funding: €1.3 billion
No of funding rounds: 17
Why its hot: Since 2007 Seedcamp is investing in world-class founders and solving real problems with the help of technology. It focuses on multiple sectors and helps startups achieve great things. Recently, the venture capital firm announced the fourth fund to back early-stage tech startups. Seedcamp has invested in startups such as TransferWise, Revolut, wefox, UiPath, and others.
Point Nine Capital (Berlin)
Founders: Christoph Janz
Total funding: €1.7 billion
No of funding rounds: 13
Why its hot: Founded in 2011, Point Nine Capital is a venture capital firm with a prime focus on early-stage internet investments in SaaS, mobile technology, and marketplace sectors. The investment firm has backed a number of highly successful Internet companies, including Delivery Hero, Clio, Shiftplanning, Zendesk and more at their early stages.
Hoxton Ventures (London)
Founders: Hussein Kanji, Rob Kniaz
Total funding: €32.5 million
No of funding rounds: 18
Why its hot: Hoxton Ventures is a venture capital investment firm that is in operation since 2013. It invests in companies that have the potential to become valuable, large, and a global market leader. It focuses on founders who are on a mission to change the industry they service irrespective of how long they have been in the business. It has invested in companies such as Clio, Revolut, etc.
Cherry Ventures (Berlin)
Founders: Christian Meermann, Daniel Glasner, Filip Felician Dames
Total funding: €3.25 billion
No of funding rounds: 16
Why its hot: Cherry Ventures founded in 2013 is a venture capital fund based in Berlin, which invests in the best teams across the world. The ambition of the company is to add value by supporting the venture teams in building sustainable and successful businesses. Cherry Ventures has invested in AUTO1 Group and FlixBus among others.
Stride.VC (London)
Founders: Fred Destin, Harry Stebbings
Total funding: €57 million
No of funding rounds: 4
Why its hot: London-based Stride.VC is a venture capital firm targeting seed stage startups. Founded in 2018, the firm has invested in unicorns such as Zoopla, Forward Health, Cazoo, etc. Stride.VC aims to make larger seed investments instead of focusing on the number of investments.
Entrée Capital (London)
Founders: Aviad Eyal, Martin Moshal
Total funding: €72 million
No of funding rounds: 3
Why its hot: Since 2004, Entrée Capital has been providing multi-stage funding for innovative startups and companies across the world. It has a good track record of successful investments including Glovo, Rapyd, Gusto, etc.
Kima Ventures (Paris)
Founders: Jeremie Berrebi, Xavier Niel
No of funding rounds: 33
Why its hot: Kima Ventures established in 2010 is one of the world’s most active early-stage investors. Besides providing the capital, it also helps the founders network and supports them to take their business to the next level. Mostly, Kima Ventures is a lead investor but it also works with other investors. Headquartered in Paris, Kima also has an office in London and has invested in Carta, TransferWise, etc.
Project A (Berlin)
Founders: Ben Fischer, Christian Weiss, Florian Heinemann, Thies Sander, Uwe Horstmann
Total funding: €4.7 billion
No of funding rounds: 13
Why its hot: Project A is an international venture capital firm that is passionate about backing early-stage entrepreneurs. Operating since 2012, Project A focuses on early-stage startups and provides operational support to its portfolio companies. It has invested in companies such as WorldRemit, Spryker, Voi, Kry, etc.
Stock photo from Number1411/Shutterstock
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