Venture Capital Firms in Germany

a16z speedrun is an intensive 12-week accelerator program launched by Andreessen Horowitz in 2023, designed to support early-stage founders globally. The program invests up to $1 million in new startups, primarily at the pre-seed and seed stages, with a focus on helping them achieve product-market fit rapidly. It provides direct investment, extensive fundraising support, and connections to a vast network of external investors.The program was established in 2023 by Andreessen Horowitz, a prominent American venture capital firm founded by Marc Andreessen and Ben Horowitz in 2009. Initially, a16z speedrun focused on pre-seed gaming startups, drawing its name from the gaming term "speedrunning" to reflect its emphasis on rapid development. The firm later expanded its scope to encompass a broader range of technology and entertainment startups, including those in AI and creative industries, while maintaining its core ethos of fostering innovation and accelerating growth.Since its inception, a16z speedrun has rapidly scaled, deploying over $180 million to fund more than 150 startups. Notable portfolio companies mentioned include Sekai, Fundamental Research Labs, and k-ID, all of whom have lauded the program's impact on their growth, from securing talent and early design partners to strategic guidance and successful fundraising rounds. The program culminates in a Demo Day, where founders present to a large audience of investors.The a16z speedrun program offers comprehensive coaching and mentorship, including 1:1 sessions with industry leaders and the a16z speedrun team. Key individuals involved include Jon Lai, an integral part of the speedrun team, and Andreessen Horowitz partners like Joshua Lu and Andrew Chen, who provide strategic guidance and mentorship. The program also leverages the broader expertise and network of Andreessen Horowitz, with founders Marc Andreessen and Ben Horowitz participating as speakers and mentors, offering unparalleled access to seasoned operators and a vast ecosystem of resources.

ARBAnova Familienstiftung is the single-family office of German industrialist Reinhold A. Barlian, founder of BARTEC, a global leader in explosion protection technology. Based in Würzburg, Germany, ARBAnova manages the Barlian family’s wealth, focusing on long-term investments, legacy planning, and philanthropic activities with a strong emphasis on sustainability and industrial innovation. Reinhold Barlian founded BARTEC in 1975, building it into a globally respected brand in the field of safety technology for hazardous environments. The company became synonymous with innovation in explosion-proof electrical equipment, serving industries such as oil and gas, mining, and chemical processing. Following the successful growth and international expansion of BARTEC, Barlian created ARBAnova Familienstiftung as a family foundation and investment platform to manage and preserve the wealth generated from his entrepreneurial ventures. ARBAnova acts both as a family office and a foundation, blending capital management with purpose-driven initiatives. Its investment strategy is conservative and values-based, with a preference for real assets, industrial holdings, and green technologies. The family office has a particular interest in supporting sustainable energy, engineering excellence, and socially impactful innovation—reflecting Barlian’s background in high-tech manufacturing and commitment to safety and quality. In addition to wealth management, ARBAnova supports educational programs, environmental causes, and local community development projects, primarily in Germany. The foundation operates under a structure designed to ensure long-term stability, generational continuity, and alignment with the founder’s values of responsibility, innovation, and integrity. ARBAnova Familienstiftung exemplifies the transition of an industrial legacy into a structured, socially conscious family office. Its focus on technical progress, sustainability, and philanthropic impact makes it a distinct and forward-looking player within Germany’s family office ecosystem.

Founded in 2016, BlueYard Capital is a thesis-driven venture capital firm headquartered in Berlin, Germany, with additional presence in the US and Europe. The firm focuses on backing visionary founders who develop transformative technologies that decentralize markets, empower users, and liberate data. BlueYard invests primarily in early-stage companies, from pre-seed to Series A rounds, with investment sizes ranging from $500,000 to $5 million. BlueYard’s investment strategy centers on sectors such as applied computation, engineering, aerospace and defense, biology and chemistry, and crypto networks. They seek to support technologies that either move society toward a utopian future or help hold the line against existential risks. Their portfolio includes notable companies like Protocol Labs, Filecoin, Privy (acquired by Stripe), Chemify, Flashbots, and Marvel Fusion, spanning industries from Web3 and blockchain to synthetic biology and frontier engineering. The firm manages approximately $500 million in assets under management (AuM) across multiple funds, including their latest $185 million Fund III. BlueYard operates as a small, equal partnership with a global perspective, actively investing across Europe and the United States. Their team comprises experienced general partners and operational staff with deep expertise in technology and venture capital, including founders Ciarán O’Leary and Jason Whitmire.

Bosch Ventures, officially known as Robert Bosch Venture Capital GmbH (RBVC), is the corporate venture capital arm of the Bosch Group. Established in 2007, RBVC invests globally in innovative startups across all stages of development, focusing on technologies that are strategically significant to Bosch's future. RBVC's investment portfolio encompasses sectors such as automation, electrification, energy efficiency, enabling technologies, and healthcare systems. By leveraging Bosch's extensive global network and industry expertise, RBVC provides not only capital but also strategic support to its portfolio companies, fostering growth and innovation. With offices in Germany, the United States, Israel, and China, RBVC maintains a strong international presence. The firm typically invests between €500,000 and €10 million per company, with total assets under management exceeding €200 million.

Btomorrow Ventures (BTV) is the corporate venture capital arm of British American Tobacco (BAT), established in 2020. The firm is dedicated to fostering world-class businesses that drive transformation and accelerate change, aligning with BAT's vision to build "A Better Tomorrow™" by reducing the health impact of its business and transitioning into a consumer-centric multi-category CPG company. BTV goes beyond mere financial investment, actively developing strategic partnerships with ambitious founders. It leverages the global distribution network and financial resources of BAT, spanning over 80 countries and 11 million points of sale, to combine corporate scale with startup innovation for accelerated growth.The firm's investment mandate is sharply focused on specialist categories, including consumer brands, digital transformation, new technologies, and future sciences, all underpinned by robust Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) criteria. BTV seeks out global founders and startups that can make a positive impact on BAT, its consumers, and the planet. This includes investments in functional food and beverage brands, emerging technologies, and innovative ESG solutions. BTV also operates various Labs, such as the Consumer Delight Lab, Futures Lab, and ESG Lab, to provide accelerated growth programs and industry-specific support.Btomorrow Ventures boasts a diverse portfolio of innovative companies. Notable investments include Actronika, which develops haptic technology; Awake, a producer of functional caffeinated chocolate; FlexSea, which develops compostable biopolymer materials from seaweed; Youvit, a leading Asian vitamin and functional gummy company; and Hesperos, involved in human-on-a-chip technology for drug discovery. The firm has also invested in companies like Bloom Biorenewables, which converts biomass into functional materials, and one.five, focused on sustainable packaging solutions. In December 2024, BTV launched its second fund with £200 million in committed capital, specifically targeting wellbeing and stimulation products to further support BAT's move beyond nicotine, with a focus on later-stage startups in Series B and Series C rounds.The BTV team comprises experienced professionals from various disciplines, bringing expertise in M&A, corporate finance, consumer packaged goods, and venture capital. Key team members include Annie Goman (Managing Director), Lukasz Garbowski (Chief Investment Officer), Fiona Kinghorn, Peter Wozny, Sam Morris, Karen Xiang, Yemo Guo, Emma-Jane Frost, Juan M. Palacios (MD), Letícia Boente, Jamie Price, Kory Sun, Joshua Galpin, Lexy Prosszer, Alice Smith, Deborah Lowther, Andrea McVeigh, Sarah Stapley, Tacio Cruz Solbes, Sarah Newnham, and Emily Arnett. Several team members have received industry recognition, such as Lukasz Garbowski being named a Global Top50 Emerging Leader by Global Corporate Venturing multiple times, and Juan M. Palacios receiving GCV’s highest accolade on behalf of BTV in 2024.

Capnamic Ventures is a Cologne- and Berlin-based venture capital firm that focuses on early-stage investments in technology-driven startups. With deep roots in the German startup ecosystem, Capnamic provides not only capital but also strategic support, industry access, and operational guidance to help young companies scale effectively.The firm invests across various digital sectors including SaaS, B2B solutions, consumer internet, marketplaces, and enterprise tech. Capnamic’s team combines entrepreneurial experience with a strong corporate network, helping portfolio companies secure customers, talent, and next-round financing. The firm often co-invests alongside top international investors to maximize growth potential.Capnamic maintains a strong presence in the DACH region (Germany, Austria, and Switzerland), focusing on founders with scalable business models and global ambitions. Through its hands-on approach, Capnamic has built a reputation as a founder-friendly partner, offering value far beyond funding to the next generation of European tech leaders.

Founded in 2015 by Mingpo Cai and Denis Barrier, Cathay Innovation is a global venture capital firm affiliated with Cathay Capital. The firm focuses on multi-stage investments in innovative startups across sectors such as artificial intelligence, fintech, digital health, consumer technology, and energy. With offices spanning North America, Europe, Asia, and Latin America, it leverages a global network to support founders in scaling their ventures internationally. In 2025, Cathay Innovation launched its largest fund to date—Fund III, a $1 billion investment vehicle focused on AI startups. The fund targets application-layer innovations in digital health, consumer apps, fintech, and energy/mobility. Strategic LPs include leading corporates such as Sanofi, TotalEnergies, and BNP Paribas Cardif, reinforcing the firm’s strong links between venture investment and corporate innovation. The firm invests from Series A to late-stage rounds with check sizes ranging from $5 million to $80 million. Already backing 14 companies through Fund III, including Nabla and Mogic AI, Cathay Innovation unites startups, investors, and corporates to deliver strategic growth. Its hybrid global-local model ensures unique market access and operational support to portfolio companies worldwide.

Creandum is a prominent European venture capital firm founded in 2003, specializing in early-stage investments in innovative technology companies. With headquarters in Stockholm and offices in Berlin, London, and San Francisco, Creandum supports founders building global, category-defining businesses across multiple sectors including SaaS, fintech, healthtech, climate tech, consumer internet, and AI/ML.The firm emphasizes partnering with exceptional entrepreneurs, providing financial backing, strategic guidance, and access to a broad network to scale companies from seed rounds through IPO and beyond. Creandum’s investment philosophy centers on identifying startups with strong founding teams, differentiated products, and large market opportunities.They typically invest between €200K and €10M in seed and Series A rounds, nurturing companies with global ambitions. The firm is known for its hands-on approach, combining operational experience from investors who are former founders, engineers, and specialists, to support portfolio companies through growth challenges and international expansion.Over its history, Creandum has invested in over 280 companies, managing assets of approximately $2 billion USD. Creandum maintains a strong presence in the Nordic region while leveraging its offices in major innovation hubs to connect European startups with global markets, including the US. Their commitment extends beyond capital, focusing on building long-term partnerships with entrepreneurs to create lasting impact in technology and innovation.

EWOR is a Germany-based founder fellowship and early-stage venture capital platform founded in 2020 that uniquely combines education, capital, and mentorship to empower exceptional founders. It invests early in individuals, often before a company is formed, providing up to €500,000 in funding alongside hands-on support from unicorn founders and a global network of investors. EWOR’s model integrates venture capital with a fellowship program that includes weekly sparring sessions, personalized mentorship, and access to over 2,000 VC and expert partners.The company focuses on founders solving deep, systemic problems across sectors such as deep tech, AI and machine learning, health tech, space, robotics, climate, and energy storage. EWOR’s fellows have achieved record-breaking pre-seed funding rounds and raise capital at significantly higher valuations than typical startups. The fellowship is highly selective, with an acceptance rate around 0.1%, emphasizing quality over quantity and fostering a community of outlier founders who push each other to excel.EWOR is led by a team of serial entrepreneurs and unicorn founders who have created over €12 billion in company value. The organization operates globally, supporting founders from ideation through traction stages, and provides extensive educational resources, cloud credits, and investor connections. Its headquarters are in Berlin, Germany, and it maintains a strong focus on founder-first investment and long-term value creation.

Forbion is a venture capital firm that specializes in the life sciences sector, with a particular focus on biotechnology and pharmaceuticals. Established in 2009, the firm has built a strong reputation for its investments in innovative life sciences companies. Forbion is dedicated to supporting the development of new therapeutics and technologies that can significantly impact healthcare outcomes.The firm operates primarily in Europe and North America, targeting regions that are known for their advancements in life sciences. Forbion's investment strategy emphasizes the importance of fostering innovation in healthcare, and it aims to partner with companies that are at the forefront of scientific research and development.With offices located in Amsterdam, Munich, and San Francisco, Forbion is well-positioned to leverage its extensive network and expertise in the life sciences industry. The firm is recognized for its commitment to nurturing the growth of its portfolio companies, providing not only financial support but also strategic guidance to help them navigate the complexities of the healthcare landscape.

General Catalyst is a leading global venture capital firm founded in 2000 by Joel Cutler, David Fialkow, David Orfao, and Bill Fitzgerald. Headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts, the firm has expanded its presence with offices in San Francisco, New York, London, Berlin, and Bengaluru. General Catalyst partners with visionary entrepreneurs from seed to growth stages, aiming to build companies that have a lasting impact on society. Under the leadership of CEO Hemant Taneja, General Catalyst has evolved beyond traditional venture capital. The firm has launched initiatives like the Health Assurance Transformation Corporation (HATCo), which acquired Summa Health, marking a pioneering move into healthcare operations. Additionally, General Catalyst has established GC Wealth, a wealth management arm, and the General Catalyst Institute, a think tank focused on influencing global tech policy. These endeavors reflect the firm's commitment to driving systemic change across industries. With over $33 billion in assets under management, General Catalyst's portfolio includes notable companies such as Airbnb, Stripe, Snap, Gusto, Grammarly, and Factorial. The firm focuses on sectors like technology, healthcare, fintech, and AI, investing globally with a strong emphasis on the U.S., Europe, and India. General Catalyst's mission is to support founders in building enduring businesses that align with its vision of responsible innovation and transformative impact.

Founded in 2000 as Holtzbrinck Ventures and now independent, HV Capital is a venture capital firm headquartered in Munich (with an office in Berlin), supporting European startups at every stage—from early seed rounds to growth financing. Over its nine fund generations, the firm has built a strong track record backing iconic internet and technology disruptors across Europe. HV Capital deploys capital in rounds ranging from €0.5 million at seed level up to €60 million in growth stage investments, with follow‑on reserves up to €100 million per company. Its largest fund to date, Fund IX (closed in May 2023 at approximately €710 million), underscores the firm’s ability to support founders over the long haul. A continuation fund launched in 2022 (HV COCO Growth, €430 million) further demonstrates their commitment to multi‑phase backing. The firm targets sectors including fintech, B2B/SaaS, mobility, consumer marketplaces, healthtech, education and green‑tech. With €2.8 billion in assets under management as of mid‑2023, more than 225 companies backed, and a team of over 60 experienced professionals, HV Capital is one of Europe’s most active and established early‑stage and growth investors.

Kurma Partners is a leading European venture capital firm founded in 2009, headquartered in Paris, France, with an additional office in Munich, Germany. The firm specializes in financing innovation in healthcare, biotechnology, digital health, and related life sciences sectors. Kurma Partners focuses on early-stage and development capital investments, supporting companies that translate disruptive scientific discoveries into cutting-edge medicines and medical devices aimed at treating severe diseases with high unmet medical needs.Kurma Partners has built a strong network of partnerships with top European academic research institutions, hospitals, and industrial experts. This collaborative approach enables the firm to guide portfolio companies from concept through clinical development, providing both equity funding and strategic support. The firm manages dedicated funds such as Kurma Biofund, focused on therapeutics, and Kurma Diagnostics, targeting diagnostics and digital health innovations.With approximately €470 million under management, Kurma Partners has supported over 72 companies and helped create about 25 startups, many of which have become leaders in their respective markets. The firm’s investment strategy spans from seed to growth stages, primarily across Europe, including France, Germany, and broader Southwestern and Southern Europe. Kurma Partners is recognized for its rigorous scientific and business analysis, fostering innovation to improve patient outcomes and address unmet medical needs.

LEA Partners GmbH is an entrepreneurial-minded multi-stage private equity and venture capital firm headquartered in Karlsruhe, Germany. Founded in 2002, the firm specializes in investing in growth-oriented technology, software, and services companies that are driving transformative change in their industries. LEA Partners leverages hands-on growth expertise to support ambitious founders and executives, helping them achieve market leadership and accelerate their company’s development.The firm operates out of Karlsruhe, one of Europe’s largest IT clusters, and has a global presence with investments spanning Europe, the United States, and Japan. LEA Partners provides both equity and debt financing, as well as strategic advisory services such as financial planning, business development, and operational support. Their portfolio includes companies in sectors such as artificial intelligence, enterprise software, SaaS, financial services, logistics, and industrial technology.LEA Partners manages several funds and has a track record of successful exits and value creation. The firm is known for its collaborative approach, working closely with management teams to foster innovation, drive operational improvements, and support international expansion. With a focus on B2B technology, LEA Partners continues to be a leading investor in the European tech ecosystem.

Lightspeed Venture Partners is a global venture capital firm founded in 2000, specializing in multi-stage investments across enterprise, consumer, fintech, and healthcare sectors. With a mission to accelerate disruptive innovations, Lightspeed has backed over 500 companies worldwide, including notable names like Snap, Affirm, and Nutanix. The firm's collaborative approach and deep industry expertise have positioned it as a trusted partner for entrepreneurs aiming to build impactful businesses. Operating from 14 offices across the United States, Europe, Asia, and Israel, Lightspeed maintains a strong global presence. This extensive network enables the firm to identify and support promising startups in diverse markets. By providing not only capital but also strategic guidance, Lightspeed helps its portfolio companies navigate the challenges of scaling and innovation. As of 2025, Lightspeed manages approximately $28.2 billion in assets under management, reflecting its significant role in the venture capital landscape. The firm's commitment to fostering innovation and long-term partnerships continues to drive its success in supporting the next generation of industry leaders.

Munich Re Ventures (MRV) is the corporate venture unit of global reinsurer Munich Re. Since 2014 it has deployed more than $1 billion across early- and growth-stage companies tackling the future of risk—spanning insurtech, climate resilience, industrial IoT, cybersecurity, digital health and new mobility. Headquartered in San Francisco with satellite offices in NYC and Munich, MRV combines financial capital with Munich Re’s underwriting data, client network and 140-year industry know-how. Portfolio highlights include Hippo, At-Bay, Farmer’s Business Network, Snapsheet and Relay. The 30-strong team of investors and operators accelerates product validation, co-development and global scaling for its portfolio, delivering strategic value to both founders and the Munich Re Group.

NGP Capital is a global venture capital firm founded in 2005, dedicated to partnering with exceptional founders to transform innovative ideas into impactful companies. The firm specializes in backing early to growth-stage B2B companies that drive the convergence of the physical and digital worlds, focusing on sectors such as enterprise software, industrial technology, cybersecurity, and infrastructure.With over $1.6 billion in assets under management, NGP Capital has made 175 investments and achieved 56 portfolio exits, including 19 unicorns and 11 IPOs. The firm emphasizes long-term, loyal partnerships with founders, providing not only capital but also strategic guidance, deep industry expertise, and access to extensive networks.Their investment approach is data-driven and powered by proprietary AI tools to identify promising opportunities and support portfolio growth. NGP Capital operates globally with teams based in Palo Alto (USA), Berlin (Germany), and Helsinki (Finland), investing primarily across Europe, Israel, and the United States, with occasional investments in other regions. The firm typically invests in Series A through Series C rounds, with initial ticket sizes ranging from $5 million to $15 million, often leading or co-leading rounds between $10 million and $50 million in total.NGP Capital's mission is to help founders scale internationally and create companies that shape a better future.

Point Nine is a venture capital firm headquartered in Berlin, Germany, focused on backing early-stage startups in SaaS and online marketplaces. With a strong belief in the transformative power of software, Point Nine invests primarily at the seed stage, helping founders build scalable, high-impact companies from the ground up. Since its inception, the firm has built a reputation for being founder-friendly and highly involved, offering more than just capital. Point Nine provides portfolio companies with support across key areas such as product development, hiring, go-to-market strategy, and international scaling. Their team leverages deep domain expertise and a powerful global network to foster the success of their investments. Point Nine’s investment thesis revolves around supporting mission-driven teams that are creating technology to disrupt traditional industries. With a focus on Europe and North America, they are particularly drawn to companies that have global ambitions from day one. Over the years, Point Nine has backed notable startups like Zendesk, Delivery Hero, Revolut, and Typeform, proving its ability to identify and nurture game-changing ventures.

Possible Ventures is a venture capital firm that invests in mission-driven teams leveraging frontier technologies to address humanity's most significant challenges. The firm focuses on solutions across climate, energy, health, and society, with a strong emphasis on sustainable initiatives, advanced health solutions, and technologies that foster a more equitable future. They are optimistic about technology's potential to drive positive change.Founded in 2013, Possible Ventures was established to back ambitious teams in the early stages of their development. The firm evolved from the Inventures Collective, which aimed to overcome challenges faced by angel investors by harnessing the experience and networks of numerous entrepreneurial angels to support the next generation of founders. Chris Hitchen is identified as the Founder & General Partner, bringing a background as an entrepreneur and investor.Possible Ventures primarily focuses on pre-seed and seed rounds, though they may consider later-stage companies. Their portfolio includes companies such as The Exploration Company, which aims to make space exploration affordable and sustainable; Orbem, which uses AI-powered imaging for better decision-making in agriculture, food, and health; Reverion, focused on decentralized renewable energy; and Marvel Fusion, working on commercially viable nuclear fusion power. Other notable investments include Meatable, developing cultivated meat, and companies in sectors like Electronic Equipment and Instruments, Enterprise Systems (Healthcare), and Metals, Minerals and Mining.The team at Possible Ventures comprises experienced professionals, including Chris Hitchen (Founder & General Partner), Thyra Seitz (Partner), Dr. Christoph Baumeister (Partner), and Tim Linnenweber (Senior Associate). Chris Hitchen has a strong entrepreneurial background, having built and sold several businesses and invested in over 100 startups. Dr. Christoph Baumeister also has co-founded multiple startups. The firm emphasizes a founder-first approach, leveraging their collective experience and a global network of over 200 active investor/entrepreneurs and 250 founders to provide hands-on support and strategic guidance to their portfolio companies.

Reimann Investors is a Munich-based family office and venture capital firm that manages the assets of members of the Reimann entrepreneurial family. The family divested its stake in the former family business in the late 1990s. The firm focuses on long-term investments in both capital markets and corporate direct investments, particularly in young and fast-growing companies.The firm's venture capital arm primarily backs visionary startups with cutting-edge ideas in the B2B Software, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and Fintech sectors. They invest phase-agnostically, typically in Seed and Series A rounds, but also participate in later-stage growth rounds (Series B, C, D). Reimann Investors positions itself as a strategic and active partner, working closely with management to support and promote company development, particularly in the DACH region (Germany, Austria, and Switzerland).Reimann Investors has a portfolio that includes companies in SaaS, FinTech, and Digital Commerce. Notable past investments include SOFORT (now part of Klarna) and XEMPUS. The firm emphasizes providing resources, mentorship, and a network to help startups scale and achieve their potential, focusing on building lasting legacies rather than solely chasing 'unicorns'.The team at Reimann Investors comprises individuals with diverse backgrounds, including engineers, investors, operators, and analysts. Key team members include Hans-Christian Perle and Samuel Schuler as Managing Directors of Reimann Investors Venture Management GmbH, and Isabell Engel as General Counsel. Johannes Poellmann serves as an Investment Manager, supported by Associates and Analysts, bringing a blend of technical knowledge and business expertise to their investment approach.