London: Following the success of its first two funds, UVC Partners has launched a new fund with a volume of €150 million. Even during the corona pandemic, the team managed to raise more than 70% of the target amount during a first closing thanks to its extensive network and established investor base. With its third fund, which seamlessly continues to invest in outstanding European B2B startups, UVC Partners keeps up its successful strategy as the leading venture capital 3.0 investor.
Nationally and internationally, the venture capital industry has changed drastically during the last years. While the first VC funds focused primarily on financing issues, the second generation increasingly offered support in operational matters. But third-generation venture capital, of which UVC is one of the pioneers, is all about sustainable, partnership-based relationships with the founding team.
“Collectively, we are tackling major challenges such as setting up sales strategies as well as opening up our large network to top executives of the German economy,” said Johannes von Borries, Managing Partner at UVC Partners. “Since long sales cycles and high development costs complicate the market entry, the early access to innovation friendly customers is of particular importance for B2B startups”.
And this is precisely where UVC can use its unique advantage – the close partnership with UnternehmerTUM, Europe’s largest innovation and startup centre at the TU Munich. With 150 corporate partners and more than 5000 students, UnternehmerTUM forms an important nucleus for Europe’s next generation of entrepreneurs.
“We are already accelerating more than 10% of all German tech startups and serve as a central and open innovation platform for future challenges of leading SMEs and DAX-listed corporations,” says Prof. Dr. Helmut Schönenberger, Managing Partner at UVC and CEO of UnternehmerTUM. “Our team of 250 people continuously pushes innovation projects with startups and established companies. UVC Partners has access to this network’s strong abilities when it comes to implementation”.
With its first two funds, UVC has proven that this VC model works and is financially attractive. In terms of financial returns, UVC I ranks among the top ten percent of European VCs in the information and communication technology sector. “Through this success, we were able to attract new investors despite COVID-19,” says Dr. Ingo Potthof, Managing Partner at UVC.
The investor base of the new fund is highly diverse and ranges from successful startup entrepreneurs, such as the FlixBus founders, to institutional investors, family offices, corporations and family businesses. Especially corporations profit from the financial returns as well as from access to the innovative products of the startups. UVC Partners’ successful concept is also praised by investors. “We have invested in UVC III because we expect a good financial return when it comes to our pension assets and see added value in working together with UVC Partners,” said Oliver Stratmann, Head of Treasury & Investor Relations at LANXESS AG.
With the new fund, UVC Partners will invest in German and European startups in the fields of industrial technologies, B2B software and mobility. “Typically, we invest in Seed or Series A rounds,” says Dr. Ingo Potthof. “In this stage our model offers the best support and we can remain an active partner throughout the entire life cycle”.
Johannes von Borries is absolutely convinced of the third fund’s high growth potential as well: “The deal flow in our sectors has been rising continuously and strongly for years. This proves the enormous demand for innovative hard- and software solutions in the B2B segment. We are confident that the next wave of Unicorns will emerge right here”.
