UVC Partners secures record fundraising for Fund IV – leveraging Europe's leading startup ecosystem

Munich/Berlin, August 16, 2024 – UVC Partners, a DeepTech B2B venture capital investor affiliated with UnternehmerTUM, Europe's leading startup ecosystem, is thrilled to announce the final closing of its fourth fund, UVC IV, at a hard cap of €250 million. With only six months, this was the fastest fundraising since UVC Partners’ foundation in 2011, and the fund was significantly oversubscribed. This closing brings the total assets under management to over €600 million.

Managing Partner Dr. Ingo Potthof comments on the current fundraising: “Despite challenging fundraising conditions, most existing investors have participated again. Many even increased their investment amounts, and we have gained numerous new, reputable partners. We are overwhelmed by the trust placed in us. We will use this momentum to continue supporting groundbreaking startups and become a booster for Europe's best B2B DeepTech teams.” 

Speaking of the market, Dr. Potthof adds: “This successful fundraising is not just an acknowledgment for the work of UVC Partners, it is also a strong sign that the European startup ecosystem has matured and investors want to be part of this established, attractive market.”

Continuing proven investment-strategy

UVC Partners continues its proven strategy of investing in disruptive B2B startups, focusing on DeepTech, ClimateTech, Mobility, and Software/AI. With initial investments ranging from €1 to €10 million and, in aggregate, up to €30 million per company, the firm remains a strong partner for the most ambitious founders in Europe. With unique access to corporates and SMEs, the geographic investment focus will remain on companies originating from the DACH region and European teams that aim to enter German-speaking markets. 

Over a hundred years of expertise and industry knowledge to empower tomorrow’s innovators

In addition to demonstrating a commitment and resilience to support complex technologies over the long term and provide them with capital, the VC has many other strengths that founders and business partners can rely on. Collectively, the five partners contribute over 100 years of investment expertise, exits, company building, and in-depth industry knowledge. Managing Partner Johannes von Borries describes the firm's essence: “Our goal is to find and grow the game changers of tomorrow. We have already invested in some of Europe's most exciting and forward-looking founders building category-leading companies in AI, Climate Tech, Fusion, or Space. We believe that innovation drivers move society forward – economically and socially. UVC Partners possesses the know-how, the necessary network, and a deep understanding of new technologies and their applications, therefore being perfectly set up to support its startups.”

This is reflected in the portfolio of the past 13 years, which includes startups such as Aleph Alpha, Reverion, Tacto, DeepDrive, Proxima Fusion, TWAICE, Finn, Isar Aerospace, and Flix – some of Europe’s most valuable and promising startups. 

Jonas Andrulis, CEO and co-founder of Aleph Alpha appreciates the investor's immense assessment capabilities: “Long before ChatGPT hit the market, UVC Partners recognized the potential of Aleph Alpha and our mission to create a European alternative to the global AI giants.”

Unique infrastructure and comprehensive support for European startups 

What sets UVC Partners apart is its ability to support selected companies through its value creation team. This team connects startups within the UnternehmerTUM network (Europe's leading startup hub, according to the Financial Times) and beyond, with over 1,000 partners, including industry leaders and decision-makers from the corporate, business, and political sectors. Thus, UVC Partners opens doors through its high-quality network to initial customers, top-notch advisors and scientists, and an extended entrepreneurial base, thanks to the numerous family businesses that support not only with capital but also with market experience and valuable relationships.

“At UVC Partners, everything is geared towards maximizing value creation,” says Daniel Metzler, CEO and co-founder of Isar Aerospace. “You gain access to a broad network in the early days. This is a critical advantage, saving important resources like time, finances, and energy.”

Felix Pörnbacher, CEO and co-founder of DeepDrive elaborates: “Thanks to the ecosystem in which UVC Partners operates, we are fortunate to count current and former top Automotive executives among our investors and advisors. Without this commitment, we would be far behind our current achievements. Instead, we already have an amazing network and a strong base of customers and supporters.”

To maintain the highest support standards for their startups, UVC Partners provides eight partners and principals dedicated to approximately 30 startups. The company will also reserve over 60% of the capital for follow-on investments. Recognizing the volatile nature of startup development, particularly during challenging periods, UVC Partners aims to ensure that its seasoned investment team has sufficient capacity to provide the necessary guidance and support. 

Outlook and Participation

UVC Partners actively seeks disruptive ideas and founders in DeepTech, ClimateTech, Mobility, and Software/AI. Looking ahead, the investor is committed to empowering the next generation of innovators who will shape the future. This dedication to support future game-changers will ensure that Europe remains at the forefront of technological progress and entrepreneurial success.

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About UVC Partners

UVC Partners is a leading venture capital firm that invests in European B2B tech startups and has offices in Munich and Berlin. With more than €600 million in assets under management, the VC typically invests between €1 to €10 million initially and up to €30 million per startup in the areas of DeepTech, ClimateTech, Mobility, and Software/AI. As an independent partner of UnternehmerTUM, Europe's leading startup hub, UVC Partners has unique access to proprietary deal flow, more than 1,000 corporates, and SMEs, as well as to talents from the Technical University of Munich, which belongs to the best European technical universities. UVC Partners' investment portfolio includes Flix, Isar Aerospace, planqc, Proxima Fusion, Reverion, Tacto, TWAICE, DeepDrive, STABL, and many more. All portfolio companies and founders benefit from the team's extensive investment and exit experience, their ability to build sustainable category leaders, and the network of UnternehmerTUM enabling them to speed up market entry. 

Learn more at www.uvcpartners.com and the Handelsblatt article (paywall) here.

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Side Note:

The EIF's commitment to the Fund is partially financed through the LfA – EIF Facility as well as the ERP - EIF Facility.