We’re an early stage venture capital fund partnering with founders at Seed, Series A and Series B stage. Across Europe and the US.
Since 1996, we’ve made over 175 investments, raised over $1.7 billion, and survived two financial crises unscathed. We’ve learned to trust our instincts through all of the ups and downs.
Because of this, things that are typically important to VCs, aren’t as important to us. We’re happier operating on principles rather than an overriding investment thesis. And we always stand behind the entrepreneurs we work with, so you can earn your own success.
We invest early
- Seed: For your first round. If you have a huge idea and the hunger to make it happen, we’ll help you understand what else you need to make it real.
- Series A & B: These investments are typically between $1 – 25 million. You’ll have assembled a strong founding team. You’ll have a product targeting a significant market opportunity, and you’ll be ready to prove it. Or you’re ready to scale globally.
- Special Cases: We traditionally operate early, but are occasionally open to participating in later funding rounds. We never say never.
A partner as determined as you are
You want to redefine the category, be the category leader. We are as determined. Decades of investment and operational experience. An international network of backers and founders. A perspective shaped by lives as entrepreneurs. Still, the value of Northzone remains the same. We hold an unwavering commitment to the people we partner with. We’ll always be there when you need us. No ifs, no buts.
Dedicated to entrepreneurs
We’re both on the same side. You have a business to run, and we have a business to run. So we’ll keep things straight. We’ll never tiptoe around subjects, just as we won’t bullshit just to get you on side. We want the same from you in return.
- Aim for the upsides: We have to be optimists. As you drive your business forward, we’ll help you prep for the biggest possible outcomes.
- Zero added sugar: We appreciate candour and self-awareness. You can handle it when we give you the truth, even when it’s not pretty.
- Shit happens. That's life: Mistakes and failures don’t faze us, and they won’t faze you either. Let’s fail fast, learn, and move on.
A refreshing view on venture capital
- Ignore the $100k MRR bar: It’s the one KPI we really don’t care about. You can be more than ready for Series A without it.
- No pressure on the preference stack: If you convince us that you’re going to make it, we’ll let you say where we sit in the stack.
- We follow your lead: Lead, co-lead or stay stealth – whatever the round, it’s always your call.
- Fair ownership targets: No two companies are the same. When a 20% stake feels like too much to give away, we’ll still be interested.
- Diversity isn’t optional: And, for us and for you, building a team with diverse perspectives and backgrounds is core to making business models future proof.