Connect Ventures Launches $55M Fund V to Back Early-Stage Tech Founders
Connect Ventures closed a $55M fifth fund to back early-stage technology companies with technical expertise across Europe.
The big picture: Connect Ventures has announced the first $55 million close of its fifth fund, targeting $80 million, to invest in early-stage technology companies across Europe. This vehicle continues the firm’s strategy of backing founders with deep technical expertise at the core of their businesses.
What it will back:
- Stage Focus: Connect Ventures leads pre-seed rounds, with a focus on companies across Europe.
- Check Size: The fund will write checks ranging from $500,000 to $5 million per company.
- Sector Focus: Emphasis on founding teams with technical expertise that shapes the company’s product, ambitions, and development.
Who is behind it:
The GP-only investment team at Connect Ventures comprises Pietro Bezza, Sitar Teli, and Rory Stirling. Sitar Teli is a co-founder and co-managing partner. The fund is anchored by the British Business Bank, with additional participation from returning limited partners including Aldea Ventures, Sella Venture Partners, and Molten Ventures. New investors include European family offices and founders of companies previously backed by Connect Ventures. Founded in 2012, Connect Ventures has invested in over 120 companies at pre-seed and seed stages, including Aikido Security and TrueLayer.
The catch: Connect Ventures operates a low-volume, high-conviction investment model, backing a relatively small number of startups to work closely with founders. While this approach allows for deep engagement, it requires exceptional deal selection to compete effectively against larger, more generalist funds in Europe’s increasingly crowded early-stage tech landscape. The focus on technical depth could be a differentiator, but the challenge lies in consistently identifying and securing the most promising teams in a competitive market.
Key Facts
- Firm: Connect Ventures
- Fund: Fund V
- Raised so far: $55M
- Status: First close
- Stage: pre-seed to early-stage
- Focus: technology companies with technical expertise
- Geography: Europe
- Cheque size: $500,000 to $5 million
- Anchor LPs: British Business Bank, Aldea Ventures, Sella Venture Partners, Molten Ventures
- Partners: Pietro Bezza, Sitar Teli, Rory Stirling
- Announced: 2026-09-23