European Investment Fund

The European Investment Fund (EIF) serves as the investment arm of the European Investment Bank, focusing on enhancing access to finance for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across Europe. Established in 1994, EIF specializes in venture capital and private equity investments, targeting early-stage technology companies and supporting micro, small, and medium enterprises primarily in Bulgaria and Slovakia. It engages in direct investments across various stages, from seed funding to growth capital, while also investing in funds that facilitate these investments. The EIF has developed a substantial portfolio of over €14 billion in assets, fostering a dynamic venture capital ecosystem by catalyzing private investments and providing guarantees and financial engineering services. Its investment strategy encompasses multiple sectors, including information technology, life sciences, and materials, and extends to regional funds across Central Eastern Europe and Turkey. By aligning its efforts with European Union objectives, EIF plays a crucial role in promoting innovation, research, and entrepreneurship within the continent.

Simon Buhl

Investment Manager

Filipe Cartaxo

Alternate Director

Pier Luigi Gilibert

Chief Executive Officer

Ulrich Grabenwarter

Deputy Director, Equity Investments

John Holloway

Director, Private Equity Investments

Marc Schublin

Head of General Affairs, Head of Strategic Development and EU Policies and Director

Matteo Squilloni

Head of Southern Europe - Equity Investments - Lower Mid-Market

Piyush Unalkat

Principal, Equity Investments and Head of Technology Transfer and IP Investments

Johannes Virkkunen

Head of ICT Investments, Venture Capital

Past deals in Bulgaria

Middlegame Ventures

Funding Round in 2020
Middlegame Ventures (MGV) is a FinTech​ Venture Capital firm investing in early stage growth businesses focused on Financial Innovation.

MedLease

Debt Financing in 2019
MedLease specializes in financing solutions for healthcare SMEs, young healthcare professionals and patients. Doctors, partnering clinics and MedLease all share the same end customer – the patient. The company strives to achieve synergy via helping young professionals improve their qualification, financing smaller clinics purchase modern machines for treatment/diagnostics and provide the patients with reliable and transparent socially responsible healthcare financing solutions. MedLease believes that this synergy based business model provides trickle down effects that benefits and improves the quality of life of the end customer.

MedLease

Debt Financing in 2018
MedLease specializes in financing solutions for healthcare SMEs, young healthcare professionals and patients. Doctors, partnering clinics and MedLease all share the same end customer – the patient. The company strives to achieve synergy via helping young professionals improve their qualification, financing smaller clinics purchase modern machines for treatment/diagnostics and provide the patients with reliable and transparent socially responsible healthcare financing solutions. MedLease believes that this synergy based business model provides trickle down effects that benefits and improves the quality of life of the end customer.