Tensor Ventures has introduced a new €50 million fund aiming to support emerging deep tech startups across diverse sectors, including quantum technologies, biotech, and energy. This initiative marks a significant move for the Czech-Luxembourg technology-focused fund, which is spearheaded by Roman Smola, Martin Drdul, and Petr Ulvr. With a global reach, Tensor Ventures seeks to provide capital to startups with advanced technologies that traditionally struggle to attract conventional investment due to their complexity.
How has Tensor Ventures Invested in Startups Previously?
Over the last four years, Tensor Ventures has successfully invested €20 million in 20 startups worldwide. These investments have targeted a range of sectors, such as quantum computing, biotech, and security technology, highlighting the fund’s commitment to fostering innovation. Notably, the fund supported startups like QC82 and Quantagonia in quantum tech, and HeartBeat.bio in biotech. This approach reflects Tensor Ventures’ strategy of focusing on cutting-edge technologies with significant potential for growth.
What Are the Expectations for the New Fund?
The newly launched fund aims to continue this trend by allocating half of its resources to projects within the Czech Republic, while the remaining half will be invested in promising startups globally. The fund’s primary focus will be on early-stage startups, with several initial agreements already underway. By targeting the early stages, Tensor Ventures hopes to capitalize on emerging technologies before they achieve mainstream recognition.
Historically, the deep tech sector has shown resilience against global investment fluctuations, maintaining stable growth. This has been a motivating factor for investors, as highlighted by Roman Smola from Tensor Ventures, who noted the sector’s consistent year-over-year growth. This new fund aims to build on these strengths, offering investors a stake in future technological advancements.
The fund has already facilitated significant acquisitions, including UltimateSuite by ServiceNow and Neuronix AI by Microchip Technology. These successes underscore the potential of the startups backed by Tensor Ventures to attract interest from major industry players. Additionally, the fund has expanded its team, bringing in Ondřej Ptáček as CFO and Jan Faflík to lead its biotech investments, strengthening its operational capabilities.
The launch of Tensor Ventures’ new fund represents a strategic effort to support the next wave of deep tech innovation. By focusing on early-stage investments and leveraging its expertise, Tensor Ventures aims to identify and nurture startups with the potential to impact various industries significantly. As the fund progresses, it will be essential to monitor how well these startups perform and whether they can fulfill their promise of advancing technology.
