Europe’s deeptech ambitions are entering a new funding phase as Uplift Ventures launches a €100 million venture capital fund aimed at backing startups before they become the headline companies of the next technology cycle. The new fund will focus on late Seed and Series A companies developing technologies across Physical AI, Energy, Enterprise AI and Logistics, with investments spanning Europe and the US.
The launch comes as deeptech investment increasingly gravitates toward larger, later stage rounds, leaving a financing gap for companies that have demonstrated promising technology but still need substantial capital and strategic support to reach commercial scale.
Targeting the Funding Gap
Uplift Ventures plans to invest in as many as 20 startups through the new fund, while also making selected investments in deeptech funds. The strategy is designed to create a broader network around its portfolio, giving founders access to investors, industrial partners and technology companies beyond the initial financing.
The firm has already backed more than 30 startups across several technology sectors. Its broader approach combines venture investment with company building, strategic partnerships and access to the industrial ecosystem of Jungheinrich, its corporate backer. Uplift describes its mission as shaping the future of moving goods through automation, AI, digital platforms and next generation energy solutions.
Four Core Technology Areas
The new fund will concentrate on four areas that Uplift believes could generate major changes across industries.
Physical AI includes robotics, autonomous systems and technologies that connect artificial intelligence with the physical world. Energy investments will focus on solutions supporting the transition toward more efficient and resilient energy systems. Enterprise AI will target technologies changing how businesses operate, while Logistics will cover innovations reshaping supply chains, transportation and the movement of goods.
The focus reflects Uplift’s existing investment and venture building activities, particularly its interest in robotics, predictive analytics, autonomous logistics and next generation energy technologies.
Christian Noske Joins Leadership
Alongside the fund launch, Christian Noske has joined Uplift Ventures as General Partner. He brings more than a decade of experience investing in deeptech companies across Europe and has previously led European investments at NGP Capital.
Noske was also a founding partner at BMW i Ventures and Alliance Ventures. During his investment career, he has backed companies including The Exploration Company, ANYbotics, Tekion, Dataloop and WeRide. He is also known for hosting the deeptech podcast DeepTech Unleashed.
At Uplift, Noske joins Kerk Wichmann, Christina Hammes and Maike Steding as the firm expands its investment capabilities.
Flexible Investment Strategy
Uplift Ventures says it will take a flexible approach to financing, acting as a lead investor, co lead or participating investor depending on what best suits the founders and the specific funding round.
That approach is intended to give the firm flexibility to support companies at different points in their development rather than applying a single investment structure across its portfolio.
The firm argues that many potential category leaders require specialist capital and experienced partners well before they are ready for major growth rounds. Its new fund is designed to identify those companies earlier and help them build toward larger commercial opportunities.
Backed by Jungheinrich
The €100 million fund is backed by Jungheinrich, the German industrial group and long term partner of Uplift Ventures. The relationship gives the venture platform access to an established industrial ecosystem as it looks to combine startup speed with corporate expertise.
Uplift already uses Jungheinrich’s industry knowledge, network and assets in its venture building activities. Its model includes creating businesses from scratch as well as investing in ambitious external startups.
For deeptech founders, that combination could provide more than financial capital, including access to customers, industry expertise, technology partnerships and potential routes to commercialisation.
Building Europe’s Next Technology Leaders
With its inaugural €100 million fund, Uplift Ventures is positioning itself as a specialist investor for the stage where deeptech companies move from technical validation toward commercial scale.
By combining venture capital, industrial access and a growing network of founders and investors, the firm aims to identify technologies capable of reshaping industries and help turn them into scalable businesses.
