Connect Ventures has announced the first close of its $80 million Fund V, targeting early-stage technology companies built by technical founders across Europe.
The London-based venture capital firm said the new fund will back founders building technology-led businesses, continuing its focus on software and deep technical innovation at the earliest stages of company building.
The fund comes as European startups face a more selective funding environment, making access to early institutional capital important for founders outside the region’s most established startup hubs.
For Black and Brown technical founders, Connect Ventures’ new fund could provide another route into European venture capital, where funding access remains uneven across founder groups. Its focus on technical founders may also create opportunities for entrepreneurs developing AI, software and other technology-heavy products.
The first close gives Connect Ventures fresh capital to deploy as European investors focus on companies with strong technical foundations that can scale globally.
