As investor interest in early stage deeptech continues to rise across Europe, one German fund is moving faster than expected to support the next generation of technology companies. ZOHO.VC, the venture capital arm of ZOLLHOF Tech Incubator, has completed the first closing of its inaugural fund, securing seventy percent of its target volume a full ten months before the planned final close.
A Fund Built Inside a Leading Startup Incubator
ZOHO.VC leverages the unique position of ZOLLHOF, one of Germanys designated Startup Factory incubators, to identify and support promising young ventures at the very earliest stages. With a network that spans corporate partners, research institutions, and technology experts, the fund is designed to provide more than just capital. Startups receive access to hands on technical guidance, customer introductions, and a community of co investors.
The funding strategy focuses on pre seed and seed stage startups emerging from ZOLLHOFs ecosystem, especially university spin offs and technology driven companies. These ventures benefit from both the deep research roots of academic institutions and the practical industry connections offered by ZOLLHOFs partners.
Early Traction and Strategic Investments
Even as the fundraising continues, ZOHO.VC has already begun deploying capital. The team has completed five investments to date, including backing Merge Labs, a startup working on next generation technology solutions. This early activity underscores the abundance of promising companies within the incubators pipeline and the funds commitment to making rapid, targeted investments where early support can have outsized impact.
The current fund size stands at approximately 7 million euros, which the team considers an important first milestone. The limited partners behind this early success include entrepreneurial families and founders who have firsthand experience building technology companies and bring additional operational insight to the table.
Focus on Deeptech and University Innovation
Deeptech has become a strategic priority for Europe as countries seek to build competitive capabilities in hardware, artificial intelligence, advanced materials, robotics, and cybersecurity. ZOHO.VC’s approach reflects this shift, placing a strong emphasis on science based innovation and commercialising research that emerges from universities.
By engaging founders at the earliest stages, the fund aims to bridge the gap between technological breakthroughs and commercial viability. Many deeptech companies face long development cycles and require investors who understand both the risks and the transformative potential of their work. ZOHO.VC positions itself as one such partner, combining patient capital with technical knowledge and an active support model.
Extending the Fund Beyond Initial Targets
The strong early momentum has prompted the partners Benjamin Bauer and Dennis Kirpensteijn, along with Principal Nicolas Sievers, to revise their original plans. Given the level of demand from founders and the growing pipeline within the ZOLLHOF network, the fund now intends to expand beyond its initial target in 2026.
The goal is to support more startups tackling major technological and societal challenges. These include solutions in climate tech, digital infrastructure, health innovation, industrial automation, and next generation software systems. By scaling the fund, ZOHO.VC expects to play an even more influential role in developing the next wave of European technology leaders.
Strengthening Germanys Deeptech Landscape
The rapid progress of the inaugural fund highlights both an appetite for high impact early stage investing and the strength of the ZOLLHOF ecosystem. As Germany seeks to grow its innovation capacity and deepen its role in European technology development, funds like ZOHO.VC are becoming an essential part of the infrastructure supporting young companies.
With its combination of capital, technical expertise, and close proximity to founders, ZOHO.VC aims to continue building the conditions for world class innovation rooted in science and engineering.
