Germany has a number of investors and VC funds that have an especially strong track record in the field of early-stage investments. This article will help you to get an overview over the best and most successful VC investors in Germany.
This article is part of a series where we present you the best Venture Capital firms across different cities and countries. Here you can view the rankings for Berlin, Cologne, Frankfurt, Hamburg and Munich
Top Venture Capital Firms in Germany
1. Global Founders Capital
GFC is a globally oriented, stage agnostic venture capital firm that empowers gifted entrepreneurs. The firm seeks to invest in companies that operate within the internet, retail, financial software, media, communication, and information technology sectors. It was founded by Oliver Samwer in 2013 and is based in Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
Website: www.globalfounderscapital.com
Founded: 2013
Total fund size: $1.6B
Global Founders Capital's most notable exits include Meta, Rocket Internet, and HomeToGo.
2. High-Tech Grunderfonds
High-Tech Gründerfonds (HTGF) is a seed investor that finances high-potential, tech-driven startups. With EUR 895.5 million in total investment volume across three funds and an international network of partners, HTGF has already helped forge more than 500 startups since 2005. Driven by their expertise, entrepreneurial spirit, and passion, its teamof experienced investment managers and startup experts help guide the development of young companies. HTGF’s focus is on high-tech startups in a range of sectors, including software, media, internet, hardware, automation, health care, chemistry, and life sciences.
To date, external investors have injected over EUR 2 billion into the HTGF portfolio via about 1,400 follow-on financing rounds. HTGF has also successfully sold interests in more than 100 companies. Investors in this public-private partnership include the Federal Ministry For Economic Affairs and Energy, the KfW Banking Group, and Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft e.V., as well as the companies ALTANA, BASF, BAYER, B.Braun, Boehringer Ingelheim, Robert Bosch, BÜFA, CEWE, Deutsche Post DHL, Dräger, Drillisch AG, EVONIK, EWE AG, FOND OF Haniel, Hettich, Knauf, Körber, LANXESS, media + more venture Beteiligungs GmbH & Co. KG, PHOENIX CONTACT, Postbank, QIAGEN, RWE Generation SE, SAP, Schufa, Schwarz Gruppe, STIHL, Thüga, Vector Informatik, WACKER and Wilh. Werhahn KG.
Website: www.htgf.de
Founded: 2005
Total fund size: $1.6B
High-Tech Grunderfonds's most notable exits include Stocard, Mister Spex, and Quentic.
3. Cherry Ventures
Cherry Ventures is an early-stage venture capital firm led by a team of entrepreneurs with experience building fast-scaling companies such as Zalando and Spotify. The firm backs Europe's boldest founders, usually as their first institutional investor, and supports them in everything from their go-to-market strategy and the scaling of their businesses. Cherry Ventures has previously invested in the seed stage of over 50 companies across Europe, including FlixBus, Auto1 Group, Infarm, Rows, Forto, and TourRadar. Cherry Ventures is based in Berlin and invests across Europe with operations in London, Paris, and Stockholm.
Website: www.cherry.vc
Founded: 2013
Total fund size: $719.8M
Cherry Ventures's most notable exits include Quandoo, Save, and Kitchen Stories.
4. Project A Ventures
Project A is an early-stage venture capital firm, combining financial and operational support for technology companies. In addition to $600 M in assets under management, Project A provides its portfolio companies with a wide range of operational support services. This includes more than 100 experts from key areas such as software engineering, business intelligence, marketing, and recruiting. The portfolio includes companies such as Trade Republic, sennder, KRY, Catawiki, WorldRemit, Spryker, and Voi.
Website: www.project-a.com
Founded: 2012
Total fund size: $886.9M
Project A Ventures's most notable exits include Klara, Comtravo, and Gabi.
5. Target Global
Target Global is a venture capital firm that invests in tech companies across their lifecycles. Target Global follows a lifecycle approach, investing in tech companies. Their partners have been investing for more than 15 years in the digital technology space, backing some of the European success stories.
Website: www.targetglobal.vc
Founded: 2012
Total fund size: $1.3B
Target Global's most notable exits include Blue Apron, Circ, and Delivery Hero.
6. btov Partners
Btov Partners is a venture capital firm focused on early-stage investments in digital and industrial technology companies. With investment teams in Digital and Industrial Tech, Btov invests EUR 50m per year in high-growth companies with ticket sizes from EUR 0.25m to 3.5m.
Website: www.btov.vc
Founded: 2000
Total fund size: $579.3M
btov Partners's most notable exits include Ava, Foodspring, and Aprea.
7. Earlybird Venture Capital
Founded in 1997, Earlybird invests in all development and growth phases of technology companies. Among the most experienced venture investors in Europe, Earlybird offers its portfolio companies not only financial resources but also strategic support plus access to an international network and capital markets. With EUR 2 billion under management, eight IPOs and 30 trade sales, Earlybird is one of the most established and active venture capital firms in Europe.
Website: www.earlybird.com
Founded: 1997
Total fund size: $2.2B
Earlybird Venture Capital's most notable exits include FITE, UiPath, and Digital River.
8. Point Nine
Point Nine Capital is a Berlin-based venture capital firm focused exclusively on early-stage Internet investments in areas like Software-as-a-Service (SaaS), online marketplaces, and mobile.
The fund and its managers, Pawel Chudzinski and Christoph Janz have backed a number of highly successful Internet companies such as Delivery Hero, Clio, Shiftplanning, Vend, Typeform, and Zendesk from their earliest stages.
Website: www.pointnine.com
Founded: 2009
Total fund size: $315.1M
Point Nine's most notable exits include Marley Spoon, Delivery Hero, and Back.
9. HV Capital
HV Capital is a Munich- and Berlin-based venture capital firm that supports founders in developing their internet companies.
Since 2000 HV Capital, formerly HV Holtzbrinck Ventures, has invested in Internet and technology companies through various generations of funds and is one of the most successful and financially strongest early-stage andgrowth investors in Europe. HV Capital has already invested in around 200 companies, including Zalando, Delivery Hero, FlixMobility and SumUp. The total of all HV Funds amounts to €1.7 billion. The company supports startups with capital between €500,000 and €50 million. This makes HV Capital one of the few venture capitalists in Europe that can finance startups through all growth phases.
Website: www.hvcapital.com
Founded: 2000
Total fund size: $2.3B
HV Capital's most notable exits include HelloFresh, Penta, and Groupon.
10. APX
APX is Europe’s leading very-early-stage VC. Based in Berlin and backed by Axel Springer and Porsche, we support and partner with the most ambitious founding teams from Europe and beyond - often as their first investor.
We invest up to EUR 500K in startups until a series A starting with a quick EUR 50K investment, and within a few months, depending on traction and speed, we can invest further.
Each month we invest in new teams who become part of the APX community, counting hundreds of other founders. Since 2018, we have invested in 100+ startups across 20+ industries with founders from 20+ countries together with 100+ co-investors.
Website: www.apx.vc
Founded: 2018
Total fund size: €55M
APX's most notable exits include Yolife, FRAMEN, and RemoteMore.
