Germany’s new Startup and Scaleup Strategy sends an important signal for the country’s innovation ecosystem. It sets important priorities: better access to growth capital, less bureaucracy, stronger technology transfer and improved conditions for startups to scale in Germany.   What stands out most for us at HTGF: HTGF is designated as the central platform for direct federal investments in startups. The strategy also confirms the continuation of our public-private seed fund model, with HTGF V planned for launch next year.   For more than 20 years, HTGF | High-Tech Gründerfonds has built a platform that brings together public and private capital, deep-tech expertise and an industrial network, supporting startups from Seed to Growth. That is how Germany and Europe can turn technological strength into successful companies and build the next generation of global tech champions.   We look forward to shaping this next chapter. CC: Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy

We are a few months into our latest corporate fundraising round, and to be frank, the experience hasn't been very encouraging. Is deep European venture capital really this risk-averse, or is early growth capital in Europe simply non-existent? Here is a small sample of the feedback we’ve been getting: 1. A regional BE investment fund: "We love what you do, it’s truly impactful. But two-sided platforms are just really difficult." My reaction: "Isn't that precisely why risk capital exists? To back ambitious founders through the difficult parts so we can build category-defining companies?" 2. A Belgian VC firm: "What you are doing is genuinely unique. Nobody else is executing this model, and you have at least a 3-year head start on any potential competitor. That's a massive advantage in a winner-takes-all market." Followed by the killer line: *"But you are too unique for us. You don't fit neatly into one of our predefined boxes and we're afraid we don't know the market yet.' (I have heard this last excuse a million times now.) 🙄🙄🙄 In Europe, we constantly talk about wanting to build global (tech) winners, yet the capital ecosystem frequently penalizes true innovation because it doesn't fit into a comfortable template. If you are a conviction-driven VC or investor who isn't afraid of unique models and bold execution, let's talk. We're building, regardless. #VentureCapital #StartupFunding #EuropeanTech #FounderLife #RWA #BuildingInPublic #ScaleUps

“Europe has no shortage of scientific talent, ambitious founders, or breakthrough ideas. What it needs is more patient, informed capital—and stronger relationships between the people who provide it and the people who invest it.” – Dr. Thorsten Lambertus, Managing Director, DEEP - Institute for Deep Tech Innovation. Europe creates more new tech startups each year than the US, yet European startups are 40% less likely to secure VC funding after five years. The European Union also has only one-fifth as many scale-ups as the US. This is not an ideas gap. It is a scale-up capital and capability gap. Building a stronger venture ecosystem requires informed investors, capable fund managers, and better connections between those who allocate capital and those who invest it. The 2027 Leader in Venture Capital program at ESMT Berlin brings together current and aspiring GPs and LPs to explore these questions through practical, expert-led learning. 🔎 Explore the program: https://lnkd.in/euZAjV6G #venturecapital #privatemarkets #europeaninnovation

At ESMT Berlin, we believe Europe needs a stronger, more connected VC ecosystem, and that starts with investing in the people who allocate and manage capital. That is why we have launched the Leaders in Venture Capital Program: a practical learning journey for current and aspiring GPs and LPs, covering fund strategy, fundraising, manager selection, portfolio construction, governance and more. Learn more here: https://lnkd.in/eHNsPjrG #VentureCapital #PrivateMarkets #EuropeanInnovation

Scaleup Europe Fund ready to begin investing in European tech companies within weeks 🔗https://lnkd.in/dhvVTGQg “Today’s announcement marks a change in the investment landscape for European technology companies. With the Scaleup Europe Fund we are building on Europe’s scientific prowess and strong performance in startups and closing the financing gap for our most promising companies to become global leaders while maintaining their base in Europe. The Scaleup Europe Fund also demonstrates what we can achieve in a short time when the Commission works hand in hand with leading private investors,” said Ekaterina Zaharieva, European Commissioner for Startups, Research and Innovation.

Europe just put €85 billion on the table for deep tech. The EIB Group is preparing up to €80 billion for the continent's next generation of tech giants, and the new Scaleup Europe Fund adds another €5 billion specifically for deep tech scaleups. Fintech Magazine reported this week that the EIB commitment is the largest ever for European innovation. The European Commission's own strategy page confirms the Scaleup Europe Fund as Europe's boldest-ever initiative for deep tech. That is not a typo. Eighty-five billion euros. For context: the entire European VC market deployed roughly €50 billion in all of 2024. This single public push nearly doubles it. Still chewing on what this actually changes on the ground. Public money at this scale can crowd in private capital — or it can create a subsidy layer that distorts pricing and slows real market discipline. The EIB has a decent track record, but €80 billion is a different order of magnitude. Hard to know yet whether the deployment mechanisms will match the ambition. What matters for anyone running technology strategy in Europe: the capital excuse is evaporating. If you have a deep tech play that genuinely needs patient, large-scale funding, the wall just got a door. Whether European founders and investors walk through it with the same urgency as their US counterparts — that is the real question. Deep tech or bust — where do you land? #EuropeanTech #DeepTech #TechSovereignty #Innovation #EUtech #Scaleups

Brussels is sleepy, but out of Sweden, the EU's new multi-billion Scaleup Europe Fund, managed by EQT Group takes a furious start: — Last week, it participated in the €1 billion funding round of Finnish satellite maker ICEYE. — Today, it announced it will co-lead the latest funding round of Swedish AI champion Lovable, at a €13.3 billion valuation. Money well spent? Thoughts appreciated. https://lnkd.in/efzD5wai

My DEPO colleague Jan Lukačevič on Czech deep tech. I sign both points. The slowdown is not fewer opportunities. It is higher quality expectations. Healthy. Founders must learn to sell, yes. But Jan says the harder part out loud: investors must learn to read the science. A lab result is not a company. And an investor who cannot read it will not help build one.

While the 🇨🇿 Czech Republic has built internationally recognized companies in fintech and enterprise software, the country's next wave of growth could come from deep tech, defense and university spin-offs. 💡 Yet according to scientist and investor Jan Lukačevič, the ecosystem still needs stronger commercialization, closer investor collaboration, and a broader international outlook to fully realize its potential. 🌍 The Czech startup ecosystem has entered a more selective investment environment. While recent findings from the recent DEPO Ventures' investor survey suggest that many investors expect to reduce their investment activity, Lukačevič argues that the slowdown reflects a shift in quality expectations rather than a shortage of opportunities. ➡️ Read the interview: https://lnkd.in/d5KsT_v5

Read the interview of our venture partner, scientist & science advocate Jan Lukačevič on Czech #deeptech startups in the new article by The Recursive