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BASF Venture Capital

Europe, Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany, Ludwigshafen

Description

BASF Venture Capital (BVC) is the corporate venture capital arm of BASF Group, a global chemical company headquartered in Ludwigshafen, Germany. Established in 2001, BVC operates globally with offices in Europe, North America, South America, and Asia, reflecting its broad reach and commitment to international innovation. Its primary objective is to strategically invest in innovative startups that align with BASF's core business areas and future growth initiatives, leveraging the parent company's vast resources and market expertise.

BVC's investment strategy is sharply focused on identifying and supporting young companies developing disruptive solutions in key areas such as new materials, digitalization, and sustainable technologies. The firm actively seeks startups that offer innovative products, processes, or business models relevant to the chemical industry and its adjacent markets. While BVC typically participates in Series A and B funding rounds, it demonstrates flexibility by also considering seed and later-stage opportunities, adapting its investment approach to the specific needs and maturity of promising ventures.

Beyond providing capital, BVC offers its portfolio companies significant strategic value, including access to BASF's extensive research and development capabilities, global infrastructure, and market reach. This collaborative approach aims to accelerate the growth and commercialization of the startups' innovations by integrating them into BASF's ecosystem. The typical first check size for BVC ranges from €1 million to €10 million, with the potential for follow-on investments as companies mature and achieve milestones. Since its inception in 2001, BVC has made over 100 investments, showcasing its consistent activity and commitment to fostering innovation within its strategic domains, establishing itself as a significant and long-standing player in the corporate venture capital landscape.

Investor Profile

BASF Venture Capital has backed more than 77 startups, with 2 new investments in the last 12 months alone. The firm has led 30 rounds, about 39% of its total and boasts 16 exits across its portfolio.

Investment Focus Highlights

  • Concentrates on Series B, Series Unknown, Series A rounds (top funding stages).
  • Majority of deals are located in United States, Germany, China.
  • Strong thematic focus on Manufacturing, Biotechnology, Energy.
  • Led 1 rounds in the past year.
  • Typical check size: $1.1M – $10.8M.

Stage Focus

  • Series B (31%)
  • Series Unknown (26%)
  • Series A (14%)
  • Series C (10%)
  • Seed (8%)
  • Series D (4%)
  • Private Equity (3%)
  • Debt Financing (1%)
  • Post Ipo Equity (1%)
  • Corporate Round (1%)

Country Focus

  • United States (55%)
  • Germany (10%)
  • China (6%)
  • Switzerland (6%)
  • United Kingdom (6%)
  • India (4%)
  • Israel (4%)
  • Brazil (3%)
  • Canada (3%)
  • France (1%)

Industry Focus

  • Manufacturing
  • Biotechnology
  • Energy
  • Electronics
  • Renewable Energy
  • Nanotechnology
  • Agriculture
  • Chemical
  • Artificial Intelligence (Ai)
  • Machine Learning
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FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Learn who this investor regularly partners with—both firms and angels—and explore their latest activity.

Who does BASF Venture Capital frequently co-invest with?

Wellington Partners
Europe, Bayern, Germany, Munich
Co-Investments: 3
4V
Europe, Luxembourg, Luxembourg, Luxembourg
Co-Investments: 3
Prelude Ventures
North America, California, United States, San Francisco
Co-Investments: 2
DSM Venturing
Europe, Limburg, The Netherlands, Heerlen
Co-Investments: 3
HTGF | High-Tech Gruenderfonds
Europe, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany, Bonn
Co-Investments: 3
Comcast Ventures
North America, California, United States, San Francisco
Co-Investments: 2
Bosch Ventures
Europe, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany, Stuttgart
Co-Investments: 2
Verve Ventures
Europe, Zug, Switzerland, Zug
Co-Investments: 3
RockPort Capital
North America, Massachusetts, United States, Boston
Co-Investments: 3
Pitango VC
Asia, Tel Aviv, Israel, Herzliya
Co-Investments: 2

Which angels does BASF Venture Capital often collaborate with?

EL
North America, Florida, United States, Miami Beach
Shared Deals: 1
SK
Europe, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom, Newcastle Upon Tyne
Shared Deals: 1
JA
North America, Massachusetts, United States, Marlborough
Shared Deals: 1
DS
Europe, United Kingdom
Shared Deals: 1
NB
North America, Florida, United States, Miami
Shared Deals: 1
JO
North America, Florida, United States, Miami
Shared Deals: 1
LF
Europe, England, United Kingdom, London
Shared Deals: 1
Shared Deals: 1

What are some of recent deals done by BASF Venture Capital?

DePoly

Sion, Valais, Switzerland

DePoly is a PET-to-raw-material recycling company that converts dirty, post-consumer plastic items into valuable raw materials.

ChemicalRecyclingWaste Management
SeedApr 29, 2025
Amount Raised: $23,000,000
ACT-ion Battery Technologies

Dallas, Texas, United States

ACT-ion Battery Technologies is a manufacturing company that offers cathode active materials for lithium batteries.

SeedFeb 10, 2025
Amount Raised: $7,500,000
Phomera

Zhuhai, Guangdong, China

Guangyu Technology is a high-tech enterprise specializing in the R&D and industrialization of flexible metamaterials.

Manufacturing
Series AApr 29, 2024
Amount Raised: $13,814,635
Traive

São Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil

Traive is a lending and credit risk assessment platform powered by LLMs and GANs to revolutionize credit, in agriculture and beyond.

AgTechArtificial Intelligence (AI)Financial ServicesFinTechGenerative AILendingMachine Learning
Series BFeb 2, 2024
Amount Raised: $20,000,000
Phomera

Zhuhai, Guangdong, China

Guangyu Technology is a high-tech enterprise specializing in the R&D and industrialization of flexible metamaterials.

Manufacturing
Series UnknownJul 3, 2023
DePoly

Sion, Valais, Switzerland

DePoly has developed chemical process that converts unsorted, dirty, post-consumer PET plastic items into virgin grade raw materials.

ChemicalRecycling
SeedJun 27, 2023
Amount Raised: $13,761,437
Ecorobotix

Yverdon-les-bains, Vaud, Switzerland

Ecorobotix provides AI powered plant-by-plant recognition and ultra-high precision crop treatment

AgricultureAgTechArtificial Intelligence (AI)Cloud Data ServicesFarmingMachine LearningRobotics
Series BMay 9, 2023
Amount Raised: $51,673,897
pH7

Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada

pH7 designs and implements sustainable extraction and refining of strategic metals.

Environmental ConsultingRenewable Energy
Series AMar 27, 2023
Amount Raised: $16,000,000
Gastrograph

New York, New York, United States

Gastrograph uses artificial intelligence to help companies predict and personalize flavor for new food products.

Artificial Intelligence (AI)Food and BeverageFood ProcessingMachine Learning
Series UnknownJan 20, 2023
Amount Raised: $7,000,000
Traive

São Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil

Traive is a lending and credit risk assessment platform powered by LLMs and GANs to revolutionize credit, in agriculture and beyond.

AgTechArtificial Intelligence (AI)Financial ServicesFinTechGenerative AILendingMachine Learning
Series BOct 26, 2022
Amount Raised: $10,000,000