Most Active Lead Partners in Europe
Mark Pearson and Jan Hammer are among the most active lead VC partners. This list profiles the top 20 lead partners and their recent investment themes.
- 01Fuel Ventures24 investmentslast 2 years
Backs UK-based early-stage fintech and AI-driven workflow platforms. Recent investments include PANTA (financial index SaaS), Locai (edge AI infrastructure), and WealthAI (wealth management operating system).
Portfolio+18 - 02Bitfinex,Tether18 investmentslast 2 years
Focuses on Bitcoin-native infrastructure, stablecoin payment systems, and consumer technology. Recent investments include Utexo (USDT settlement), Eight Sleep (health tech), and Gold.com (tokenized gold marketplace).
Portfolio+12 - 03Northern Gritstone•London11 investmentslast 2 years
As a partner at Northern Gritstone, supports university spin-outs in deep tech, agtech, and advanced materials. Recent investments include AmpliSi (silicon battery anodes), Cytotrait (agricultural gene-editing), and Optalysys (photonic computing).
Portfolio
+5 - 04SFC Capital•Greater London11 investmentslast 2 years
At SFC Capital, invests in UK-based pre-seed startups across B2B SaaS, healthcare, and robotics. Recent investments include Rivulo (no-code automation), Matresa (maternal health AI), and ScrubMarine (subsea robotics).
Portfolio+5 - 05Index Ventures•London9 investmentslast 2 years
At Index Ventures, focuses on fintech infrastructure, AI-native automation, and orbital technology. Recent investments include Moment (wealth management AI), Adfin (finance workflow automation), and Cowboy Space (satellite data centers).
Portfolio+3 - 06Indico Capital Partners•Lisbon9 investmentslast 2 years
At Indico Capital Partners, targets Southern European startups in climate tech, aquaculture, and proptech. Recent investments include Spotlite (satellite infrastructure monitoring), SEAentia (sustainable aquaculture), and Gazelle Wind Power (offshore wind platforms).
Portfolio
+3 - 07Entourage•Ghent9 investmentslast 2 years
At Entourage, focuses on AI-agent platforms for enterprise workflows, legal tech, and e-commerce. Recent investments include Handhold (sales AI agents), Dytto (accounting automation), and Lexroom.ai (legal research AI).
Portfolio+3 - 0820VC•London8 investmentslast 2 years
Through 20VC, participates in AI-native vertical SaaS and infrastructure rounds. Recent investments include fonio.ai (AI phone agents), Archestra (enterprise AI data connectivity), and Prelude (onboarding trust infrastructure).
Portfolio+2 - 09British Design Fund•London8 investmentslast 2 years
At British Design Fund, invests in engineering-heavy hardware, agtech, and medical devices. Recent investments include Cordon Technologies (precision spraying), Enteral Access Technologies (tube placement verification), and Flomark (IV flow meters).
Portfolio+2 - 10General Catalyst•Berlin7 investmentslast 2 years
At General Catalyst, backs European defense tech, enterprise AI, and fintech. Recent investments include Onodrim Industries (defense technology), Parloa (contact center AI agents), and ICEYE (SAR satellite constellations).
Portfolio - 11Plural,Taavet+Sten•London7 investmentslast 2 years
At Plural, focuses on sovereign AI infrastructure, autonomous systems, and predictive healthcare. Recent investments include Callosum (AI chip interoperability), Starship Technologies (autonomous delivery), and Teton.ai (computer vision for care).
Portfolio+1 - 12Cherry Ventures7 investmentslast 2 years
At Cherry Ventures, invests in compliance automation, fusion energy, and deep tech. Recent investments include Sphinx (AML compliance agents), Forgent AI (procurement agents), and Proxima Fusion (stellarator energy).
Portfolio+1 - 13Index Ventures•London7 investmentslast 2 years
At Index Ventures, targets enterprise AI governance, legal tech, and defense software. Recent investments include Wonderful (AI customer service agents), Nexos.ai (LLM governance middleware), and Wordsmith AI (legal automation).
Portfolio+1 - 14Plural•Tallinn7 investmentslast 2 years
At Plural, invests in defense tech, automated manufacturing, and orbital infrastructure. Recent investments include Frankenburg Technologies (missile defense), CircuitHub (automated electronics), and Karman+ (asteroid mining).
Portfolio+1 - 15EIC Fund,European Innovation Council7 investmentslast 2 years
Through the EIC Fund, focuses on deep tech, quantum computing, and clinical biotech. Recent investments include Orange Quantum Systems (quantum chip testing), Kvantify (quantum software), and Leyden Labs (biotech nasal sprays).
Portfolio+1 - 16Balderton Capital7 investmentslast 2 years
At Balderton Capital, backs AI security, energy platforms, and molecular health monitoring. Recent investments include Geordie (AI agent governance), Reson8 (speech recognition), and SAVA (wearable biosensors).
Portfolio+1 - 17seed + speed Ventures•Berlin7 investmentslast 2 years
At seed + speed Ventures, focuses on AI agents for SMEs, B2B payments, and industrial quality assurance. Recent investments include Sous (food service AI agents), finperks (rewards API), and Orq.ai (enterprise AI monitoring).
Portfolio
+1 - 18Coinvest Capital•Vilnius7 investmentslast 2 years
At Coinvest Capital, supports Baltic startups in AI-powered commerce, tokenized securities, and aerospace infrastructure. Recent investments include Tingit (repair-tech AI), Axiology (securities infrastructure), and Starflight Dynamics (orbital propulsion).
Portfolio+1 - 19ICONIQ Growth•London6 investmentslast 2 years
At ICONIQ Growth, focuses on AI-native ERP systems, logistics software, and commerce infrastructure. Recent investments include Conduct (legacy ERP AI), Swap (commerce operating system), and Rillet (AI-native accounting).
Portfolio - 20Balderton Capital•Greater London6 investmentslast 2 years
At Balderton Capital, invests in energy transition infrastructure, healthcare AI, and creative technology. Recent investments include Fuse Energy (renewable utility), Proxima Fusion (stellarator energy), and Voize (nursing AI documentation).
Portfolio
