The LP Lens

The NATO Innovation Fund (NIF), a €1 billion multi-sovereign fund supported by 24 Allied countries, was announced in June 2022 with the aim of investing over a period of 15 years into promising deeptech startups that can address capability gaps in defence, security and resilience across NATO nations. 

Kría Venture fund is a newly established state fund, a result of the merger between two major Icelandic funds, the Icelandic New Business Venture Fund and Kria fund of funds, embodies the country’s appetite to grow its technology ecosystem. In a bid to marry together the strengths of these individual funds, Kría venture fund will double down on two main investment categories — both longer-term, patient capital into funds as well as direct investments in early-stage startups.

In June this year, the British Business Bank – the UK government’s economic development bank – announced its total financial capacity had been expanded to £25.6 billion. The institution has sprawled in size and ambition since it was established in 2014. Initially focusing on bolstering SMEs to drive economic development by providing access to capital, the bank has supported over 64,000 small businesses across the UK. Now, it’s also doubling down on its efforts to galvanise the country’s equity and venture space. This year, it earmarked a fresh £6.6 billion in new capital for promising investments – and Christine Hockley, managing director and the co-head of funds at the British Business Bank, told European Women in VC that the bank has lofty ambitions to tap into the growth market.

While global enthusiasm toward ESG investing is cooling off, EIFO remains committed to the green transition. The state-owned fund, which is both a national promotional bank and export credit agency, backs Danish companies by injecting long-term capital into the country’s ecosystem, both directly in startups, indirectly through funds and by financing energy and other projects around the world. 

Stockholm has long touted the mantle of being the ‘Silicon Valley of Europe’ – and a banner run of IPOs and fundraises from the country in 2025 have helped it to live up to its epithet.