
Gapminder VC
Description
Gapminder VC is a leading early-stage venture capital fund headquartered in Bucharest, Romania, with a strategic focus on the burgeoning technology ecosystems of Romania and Central Eastern Europe. The firm primarily targets IT software and services startups that demonstrate strong potential for global scalability. Their investment mandate is centered on Seed and Series A rounds, identifying companies with innovative solutions and ambitious teams ready to expand beyond their local markets.
The fund's investment thesis emphasizes supporting companies that can leverage the region's talent pool and competitive advantages to build world-class products. Gapminder VC has successfully raised and deployed capital across multiple funds, underscoring its commitment to the CEE tech landscape. Their first fund, GapMinder Fund I, had a total size of EUR 45 million. Building on this success, the firm launched its second and current fund, GapMinder Fund II, which closed at EUR 80 million in 2023, significantly increasing their capacity to back promising ventures.
Gapminder VC typically provides initial investment tickets ranging from EUR 200,000 to EUR 2.5 million, catering to the capital needs of startups in their critical early growth phases. Beyond financial investment, the firm prides itself on offering hands-on support, strategic guidance, and access to an extensive network of industry experts and potential partners. This comprehensive approach aims to accelerate the development of their portfolio companies, helping them navigate challenges and achieve their global aspirations.
Investor Profile
Gapminder VC has backed more than 54 startups, with 3 new investments in the last 12 months alone. The firm has led 28 rounds, about 52% of its total and boasts 1 exits across its portfolio.
Investment Focus Highlights
- Concentrates on Seed, Pre Seed, Series A rounds (top funding stages).
- Majority of deals are located in Romania, United Kingdom, United States.
- Strong thematic focus on Software, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Information Technology.
- Led 3 rounds in the past year.
- Typical check size: $216K – $2.7M.
Stage Focus
- Seed (52%)
- Pre Seed (28%)
- Series A (9%)
- Series B (6%)
- Series Unknown (6%)
Country Focus
- Romania (61%)
- United Kingdom (26%)
- United States (9%)
- Luxembourg (4%)
Industry Focus
- Software
- Artificial Intelligence (Ai)
- Information Technology
- Fintech
- Enterprise Software
- Saas
- Machine Learning
- Financial Services
- E-commerce
- Health Care
Frequently Asked Questions
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