Invest in country: Montenegro

Lunar Ventures

Lunar Ventures focuses on helping ambitious deep tech software startups succeed. Hardware is also possible, but significant value has to be in the software side. They invest in early stage teams with strong technological founders, and look for indication of ability to execute. Previous entrepreneurial experience is a plus but not a requirement.

They’re well versed with algorithms, AI, machine learning, blockchain and other areas of software deep tech. Their three core partners have backgrounds in software engineering, mathematics, algorithmics and related product strategy and business roles.

Most of their investments are into companies with a valuation in the low single digit millions. They typically lead or co-lead an investment syndicate, but have done solo investments as well.

EIT InnoEnergy

EIT InnoEnergy is a multi-LP fund focusing on energy-related startups in Europe. They have excellent connections, and know the public sector especially thoroughly.

Prefer B2C but others are also interesting. They prefer co-investing but also invest solo.

EIT Innoenergy is a Pan European investor in the cleantech ecosystem. With a strong focus on impact technologies, aiming to empower citizens, provide access to clean(er) energy, and encourage international cooperation. Thematic tracks include renewables, mobility, battery, hydrogen, storage, smart cities, energy efficiency, smart grid, circular economy. A worldwide reach with offices in Poland (responsible for the geographical region ranging from Estonia to Turkey), Germany, Sweden, the Netherlands, Spain, Portugal, and the U.S.

Our aim is to support sustainable energy innovations that provide the industry with derisked solutions. These innovative companies reduce energy costs, increase system performance and competitiveness, while decreasing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and creating jobs.

Blue Minds

The Blue Minds Group focuses on innovative solutions to transform our energy system and industrial value chains. They build innovative companies, invest in promising tech teams and help industry create new skills, promote talents, and develop business models for the digital age.

They invest in very early stage.

They also help companies expand into the German-speaking market (DACH countries).

 

Tehnopol Startup Incubator

Tehnopol Startup Incubator is located in Tallinn, Estonia. Applications are open all through the year, selection process and intake are in batches around the year.

Current focus areas are health tech, space tech, B2B ICT, greentech and smart cities. Startups from other areas are also welcome.

Most of their participating companies are B2B or B2C. They also have a separate program focused on the needs of B2G startups, which they’re happy to tell more about.

Participating teams have to have or establish a company in Estonia (takes 15 minutes) within a month of joining the program.

South Central Ventures

South Central Ventures invests into software B2B(2C) startups in the Southern CEE region, especially in Balkan. They’re sector-agnostic, but focus on technology.

They have offices in Ljubljana, Belgrad, Zagreb, Skopje.

They’re often the first institutional investor and the lead investor in rounds. They often seek a board seat in companies they invest in.

 

Startup Wise Guys

They have three main programs: B2B (SaaS), Cyber Security, Fintech, and a pre-accelerator for idea stage companies. The applications are ongoing, but the programs are done in batches.

Strong focus on B2B. B2B2C is possible if it’s B2B focused. B2G is possible in especially strong cases. They invest in software and marketplaces. Hardware is ok, as long as the main value in the software side.

Main acceleration programs take companies from proof-of-concept stage onwards. Idea stage companies can apply into the pre-acceleration program.

Initial ticket almost always solo, follow-on is a co-investment with possibility to lead.

 

Insta Ventures

Prefer B2B, certain B2C niches are also interesting. Prefer cases with over €15k monthly revenue.

Only co-invest in rounds that already have a lead investor. Majority of deals (70%) from Nordics and Baltics, especially Finland, Sweden, Estonia and Lithuania so far. 15% from Central and Eastern Europe and 15% elsewhere from the world.

Does not invest in mobile gaming or hardware. Hardware-enabled software is interesting.

Karma Ventures

Karma Ventures invest into early-stage deep tech software in Baltics, Nordics, and in especially strong cases also elsewhere in Europe.

They’re looking for companies with technological advantage. Doesn’t have to be IPR, but something valuable and very hard to imitate. They look for companies with traction, first clients validating the demand, but in exceptional cases pre-revenue can also be considered.

In terms of sectors, life sciences are not their focus, but deep tech B2B health software can be interesting.

They prefer to lead, co-lead or invest solo.

Helen Ventures

Helen Ventures is the €50M energy CVC fund of Helsinki energy company Helen. Their investments are connected to energy: production, storage, transmission, usage, saving, carbon neutrality, digital and other operational solutions for a large energy company, and related solution areas like mobility and circular economy.