News

C4 Ventures has already raised €40m out of a targeted €100m for Fund III and plans to bet big on European AI companies.

Anchored by fund of funds PFR Ventures, the Warsaw-based firm will invest in seed-stage AI, SaaS and healthtech start-ups.

The Paris-based firm has already completed 15 investments concentrated around its five offices on the continent.

The firm’s investment strategy builds on academic research that shows 51% higher returns over 40 years for venture-backed companies tackling big societal problems than their peers.

The venture firm is targeting one-third of the amount it raised for its eighth fund three years ago.

The financial services and IT-focused later-stage investor also invests through direct secondaries and provides structured financing options to start-up founders and executives.

LPs include “individual founders” from Arch Venture Partners, Lux Capital, Polaris Partners, Third Rock Ventures.

The Prague-based firm plans to back both VC funds and start-ups while unlocking billions in historically-conservative EU pension fund AUM.

The early-stage climate tech investment firm is anchored by Voloridge Investment Management, with other LPs including Cathay Innovation’s InnoSquare fund, Morgan Stanley and WovenEarth Ventures.

In response to extended fundraising periods, start-ups are raising bigger seed rounds to bridge the gap, shows JPMorgan’s latest half-year report.