Noctua Science Ventures

Noctua Science Ventures is an early-stage venture capital firm based in Vienna, Austria, dedicated to transforming pioneering scientific research into commercial ventures. The firm primarily focuses on academic spin-offs and deep-tech startups emerging from Austrian universities and research institutions. Their core mission is to bridge the funding gap between scientific discovery and market application, providing crucial early-stage capital and strategic guidance to intellectual property-heavy companies.

Established in 2025, Noctua Science Ventures was founded as a joint initiative between Speedinvest, a prominent European seed investor, and the Technical University of Vienna (TU Wien). This unique partnership combines Speedinvest's extensive experience in early-stage investing with TU Wien's high-potential research expertise and network. The firm aims to accelerate the commercialization of scientific innovations, fostering the growth of Austria's deep-tech ecosystem and helping researchers translate their ideas into scalable businesses.

While specific portfolio companies were not detailed in the available information, Noctua Science Ventures targets investments across several key sectors, including Software & AI, Climate & Industrial Tech, Synthetic Biology & Biotechnology, and HealthTech. They focus on pre-seed, seed, and seed+ (extension) stages, acting as first-cheque investors and facilitating connections to later-stage funding rounds. The firm emphasizes a hands-on approach, supporting startups with team building, intellectual property strategy, business scaling, mentorship, and navigating operational challenges.

The team at Noctua Science Ventures includes Philipp Stangl as Investment Lead, Lukas Rippitsch as Portfolio Support Lead, and Antonia Rinesch as Partnerships Lead. Their collective expertise leverages the strengths of both founding partners, offering comprehensive support to academic founders. This integrated approach ensures that spin-offs receive not only financial backing but also the strategic resources and network necessary to succeed in competitive technology markets.