In 2024, Europe’s venture capital ecosystem has demonstrated remarkable resilience and growth, marked by a series of record-breaking fundraises from both established and emerging players. From London-based heavyweights like Index Ventures, Atomico, and Balderton Capital, to specialized funds focusing on life sciences (Forbion) and deep-tech (Innovation Industries), these firms are charting a dynamic new era for European tech. With multi-billion-dollar war chests at their disposal, European VCs are fueling innovation in sectors such as AI, fintech, biotech, climate tech, and more—cementing Europe’s position as a global hub for transformative startups.

Index Ventures

Index Ventures, a globally renowned venture capital firm founded in 1996 by Neil Rimer, David Rimer, and Giuseppe Zocco, has solidified its position as a major player in the tech investment landscape. With dual headquarters in San Francisco and London, and additional offices in Geneva, Jersey, and New York, the firm focuses on backing innovative entrepreneurs across the U.S., Europe, and Israel. Index invests in transformative industries, including technology, e-commerce, fintech, gaming, and, more recently, artificial intelligence. In 2024, the firm raised $2.3 billion across two funds: $1.5 billion for its 12th growth fund and $800 million for its 7th venture fund, with a strategic emphasis on AI. Known for its early support of groundbreaking companies like UK neobank Revolut and French AI startup Mistral, Index continues to shape the global tech ecosystem.

Forbion

Forbion, a leading European venture capital firm specializing in life sciences, raised over €2 billion in 2024 across two new funds: €1.2 billion for its third Growth Opportunities Fund and €890 million for its seventh Venture Fund. Founded in 2006 after spinning out from ABN AMRO Capital Life Sciences, Forbion operates from offices in Naarden, Munich, Germany, and Boston. With total assets under management now reaching €5 billion, the firm plans to invest the new funds in approximately 30 innovative biotech companies across Europe and North America. Forbion has a strong track record, achieving six successful exits exceeding $1 billion in the past year, solidifying its reputation as a key player in life sciences investments.

Balderton Capital

Balderton Capital, a leading London-based venture capital firm, has raised $1.3 billion in new funds exclusively dedicated to European startups, marking the largest-ever pool focused solely on the region. The funds comprise a $615 million Early Stage Fund IX and a $685 million Growth Fund II, with contributions from notable LPs like British Patient Capital and a US pension fund. Founded in 2000 as Benchmark Capital Europe and becoming independent in 2007, Balderton has invested in hundreds of companies across sectors, including exits like Darktrace and Depop, as well as current portfolio companies such as Photoroom, GoCardless, and Wayve.

Atomico

Atomico, the London-based venture capital firm founded in 2006 by Skype co-founder Niklas Zennström, has raised $1.24 billion for two new funds in 2024, marking a significant 50% increase from its previous fund. The funds include a $754 million Growth Fund VI, targeting Series B to pre-IPO investments, and a $485 million Venture Fund VI, focused on Series A and selective seed-stage investments. Atomico, known for backing companies like Klarna, DeepL, and Spotify founder Daniel Ek’s Neko Health, remains dedicated to supporting European tech innovation across sectors such as digital work, enterprise data, mobility, and climate technology.

Accel

Accel, a leading global venture capital firm founded in 1983 by Arthur Patterson and Jim Swartz, has raised a $650 million fund dedicated to investing in European and Israeli startups. This marks the firm's eighth Europe-focused fund, further solidifying its long-standing presence in London since 2000. The sector-agnostic fund aims to support 30 companies at the seed and Series A stages, with investment sizes ranging from $1 million to $20 million. Accel, headquartered in Palo Alto with offices in London, San Francisco, and Bangalore, has a strong track record of backing notable European companies, including Doctolib, UiPath, and GoCardless, and focuses on investments in enterprise SaaS and consumer technology.

Innovation Industries

Founded in 2017, Innovation Industries is a Dutch venture capital firm specializing in deep tech investments. The firm recently raised €500 million for its third fund, Innovation Industries Fund III, along with an additional €100 million for its strategic partners fund. Backed by LPs such as Invest-NL, the European Investment Fund, and KfW Capital, it targets innovative technology companies in the Benelux and Germany, with investment sizes ranging from €2 million to €50 million across multiple funding rounds. Focused on addressing significant challenges in sectors like health tech, high-tech systems, robotics, photonics, AI, energy, circularity, and agrifood, the firm emphasizes sustainability and alignment with UN Sustainable Development Goals. Innovation Industries provides both financial backing and strategic guidance to foster scalable innovations with societal impact.

Creandum

Creandum, a leading European venture capital firm specializing in early-stage technology investments, has raised €500 million for its seventh fund in just 12 weeks. Backed by 30 global LPs, including prominent US investors such as university endowments and pension funds, the firm plans to invest in 35-40 seed and Series A startups across Europe over the next 2-3 years. Headquartered in Stockholm with offices in Berlin, London, and San Francisco, Creandum has a strong track record of supporting over 120 innovative companies, including Spotify, Klarna, and Depop. Known for its hands-on approach, the firm focuses on empowering ambitious entrepreneurs in sectors such as fintech, e-commerce, health tech, and AI, aiming to drive disruptive innovation globally.

Plural

Plural VC, a London-based venture capital firm founded in June 2022, has quickly gained recognition in the European venture capital scene. Known for its unique approach, Plural is led by founders who have successfully built their own companies. The firm has had a dynamic year, co-leading the highly anticipated funding round of Franco-German spacetech company The Exploration Company and investing in innovative companies like Proxima Fusion, a nuclear fusion startup. Plural recently announced the closing of its second fund, which totals €500 million, less than two years after raising its first fund.

20VC

Harry Stebbings’ London-based venture capital firm, 20VC, has raised $400 million for its third fund. The capital is allocated with $125 million for seed-stage investments and $275 million for Series A companies, with ticket sizes ranging from $500k to $25 million for both European and US startups. Backed by tech entrepreneurs, MIT, Horsley Bridge, and RIT Capital Partners, 20VC has made notable investments in startups like BeReal, Poolside, and Ledgy. The firm focuses on early-stage investments in startups that target large markets with low competition and aim to address challenges faced by incumbents.

SpeedInvest

SpeedInvest, a prominent European venture capital firm founded in 2011 and headquartered in Vienna, Austria, has raised €350 million for its fourth fund, focusing on early-stage investments in deeptech, health, and SaaS sectors. The firm, which manages over €1 billion in assets, has already invested in notable startups such as German autonomous trucking company Fernride, crypto broker Bitpanda, and Ledgy. Led by Oliver Holle and Michael Sieghart, SpeedInvest operates across multiple cities, including Berlin, London, and San Francisco, with a team of over 40 investment professionals. The firm has made 400-500 investments and achieved 10-50 exits, with portfolio companies like Moove, Wefox, and GoStudent.

The scale of fundraising among Europe’s top venture capital firms in 2024 reflects the continent’s growing influence on the global innovation stage. By fostering cutting-edge breakthroughs in fields ranging from artificial intelligence to life sciences, these VCs are not only backing the next generation of industry-defining companies but also contributing to broader economic growth and societal impact. As Europe continues to attract more capital, talent, and opportunity, the momentum built by these leading funds is set to drive technological progress well into the future, solidifying Europe’s role as a world-class powerhouse for entrepreneurial success.