Europe

The New York-based firm matches technology start-ups with its network of conglomerates to drive innovation in industrial sectors.

Investments in sovereign resilience blur the lines between defense, civil tech and public safety, writes Nick Kingsbury, a partner at Amadeus Capital Partners.

Venture Capital Journal sits down with Ben Luckett, who set up Aviva's VC platform in July 2015 and has led it since then as managing director of venture and strategic capital.

VCs worldwide raised a combined $16.8bn, the lowest quarterly figure since Q4 2015, according to Venture Capital Journal research.

The Denmark-based firm has raised €134m towards its €300m target to invest entirely in quantum technologies.

The early-stage VC’s portfolio spans everything from space-based robotics to quantum computing and cryptography research.

LPs include fund of funds Top Tier Capital Partners and Aldea Ventures, as well as multi-family office Granite Capital Management and real estate investor Dominus.

The Alternatives Investing Center will help financial advisers navigate investment strategies within venture capital and other private asset classes, adding to other efforts to sharpen the investment firm’s focus on private markets.

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.