The EBRD is an international financial institution founded in 1990 and headquartered in London that provides project financing and advisory services to support private sector development and transformation in emerging markets. It finances banks, industries, and businesses, supports new ventures and investments in existing companies, and helps privatize and restructure municipal services in publicly owned entities. Through its banking and treasury activities, it offers loans, equity and quasi-equity investments, guarantees, and equity funds for smaller enterprises, along with trade finance and loan syndication. It works with commercial partners to invest in private enterprises across sectors including energy, manufacturing, ICT, infrastructure, agribusiness, and real estate, across Europe, the Middle East and beyond, including a significant footprint in Central and Eastern Europe, the Baltics, and the Caucasus. It provides policy reform dialogue and advisory services to support market modernization, governance, and reform. It has invested over €130 billion in more than 5,000 projects.

Eleven Ventures is a Sofia, Bulgaria-based venture capital firm and accelerator that backs early-stage technology startups in Southeast Europe. Founded in 2012, it has supported hundreds of ventures and focuses on fintech, healthcare, the future of work, and the future of food, with broad exposure to software-enabled sectors. The firm runs accelerator programs that provide capital, office space, back-office services, and mentorship, along with subsequent funding options to help portfolio companies scale in Bulgaria and neighboring markets.

Global Finance is an independent investment firm founded in 1991 in Athens, Greece, and has been a pioneer of private equity and venture capital in Southeast Europe. Its operations include private equity fund management, real estate development, and advisory services, with equity investments in mid-market companies across sectors such as manufacturing, information technology, specialty retail, media and entertainment, healthcare, telecommunications, and services. The firm concentrates on opportunities in Greece and neighboring Southeast European markets and maintains a regional footprint with offices and activity in Sofia, Belgrade, Bucharest, and London. Typical investments are up to €40 million in Greece and up to €15 million for Eastern European ventures. Exit options include trade sales, initial public offerings, management buybacks, and sales to other investors. Global Finance aims to create value for investors and dynamic companies by supporting growth and improving operational performance in Southeast Europe.

BlackPeak Capital is a growth equity and private equity firm based in Sofia, Bulgaria, with offices in Bucharest, Ljubljana and Vienna. It targets high-growth SMEs in Southeast Europe and parts of the EU, investing equity, mezzanine and other hybrid forms of capital, as well as follow-on rounds. The firm operates as a generalist investor across niche manufacturing, FMCG, information technology, industrials and healthcare, favouring export-oriented companies or those with unique technology or strong local market positions. Typical ticket sizes are in the low to mid single-digit millions of euros per transaction, with the potential for significant minority or majority stakes and co-investments. Investments can involve early and mid-venture, small buyouts and inorganic growth through acquisitions, and exits are pursued via trade sales or IPOs. The firm was founded in 2014 and focuses on Southeast Europe, including Romania, Bulgaria, Slovenia, Croatia and Serbia.

LAUNCHub Ventures is a Bulgaria-based venture capital firm founded in 2012 and based in Sofia that invests in seed- and early-stage technology startups in Southeastern and Central Europe. The firm typically makes initial investments from €300,000 to €2 million and can provide follow-on support up to around €4 million across portfolio rounds. It backs startups across AI/ML, SaaS, future of work, proptech, crypto and blockchain, devtools, marketplaces, health tech, fintech, hardware, robotics, and related enterprise and consumer sectors, prioritizing scalable businesses with initial traction. LAUNCHub Ventures focuses on founders from SEE and CEE regions, partnering with them beyond capital and offering programs such as a Series A academy to help achieve milestones and raise subsequent rounds. The approach aims to strengthen the regional startup ecosystem and attract attention from global investors.

Genesis Ventures is a venture capital firm with a presence in Santiago, Chile, and Athens, Greece, and activity across Chile, Greece and Southeast Europe. It provides multi-stage funding for technology-enabled startups, along with mentoring to help internationalize their businesses. The firm targets sectors such as software as a service, fintech, healthcare, e-commerce, education technology, and other technology-driven fields, and it pursues responsible investment aligned with the Principles for Responsible Investment. In addition to venture funding, Genesis Ventures operates a coaching and angel investment platform for early-stage startups connected to Greece and the wider region, reflecting a blend of formal VC and early-stage support.

Founded in 2020, Sofia Angels Ventures is a venture capital firm based in Sofia, Bulgaria. It focuses on co-investing in technology startups at the seed and angel stages across Bulgaria, Southeastern Europe, and Central & Eastern European countries.

The Blue Minds Company is a Vienna-based firm focused on accelerating the energy transition through business model development, research, consulting, and communications. It collaborates with companies to address 21st-century energy challenges and acts as a startup incubator, identifying, mentoring, and supporting startups on their path to become architects of the energy transition. With strong regional connections across Southeast Europe, Turkey, and the MENA region, the company leverages local expertise to facilitate innovation and implementation. The firm operates Blue Minds Israel in Tel Aviv, which develops software for digital energy services to meet the evolving needs at the intersection of energy, Internet and telecommunications. The Blue Minds Company positions itself as a partner for organizations seeking practical, scalable approaches to energy transition and value creation in an increasingly interconnected energy landscape.

Gapminder Venture Partners is a venture capital firm founded in 2017 that invests in early-stage B2B startups across Central and Eastern Europe and the SEE region. The firm backs IT software and services, SaaS, machine learning and artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, fintech, and data-driven and digital transformation initiatives. It typically engages at pre-seed, seed, and Series A rounds, with seed investments ranging from approximately 0.5 to 5 million euros and follow-on investments up to around 12 million euros. The firm emphasizes hands-on support to portfolio companies, assisting with scaling operations, go-to-market, and financial planning to help teams expand internationally and compete in global markets. The team includes former operators and entrepreneurs, leveraging operational experience to add strategic value beyond capital.

European Investment Fund (EIF) is a public institution established in 1994 to improve access to finance for Europe's small and medium-sized businesses. It designs and develops venture capital and guarantee instruments to support SMEs and to catalyse private investment, aiming to build a robust European equity ecosystem. EIF engages in venture capital, growth capital, and guarantee operations, backing innovative entrepreneurs primarily in technology and life sciences, as well as across other sectors. Through cornerstone investments and fund participation, EIF seeks to crowd in private investors and stimulate venture activity across Europe. Its equity portfolio has grown substantially, with assets under management exceeding EUR 14 billion, reflecting its broad role in strengthening SME finance and supporting entrepreneurship and growth.

Velocity Partners is a venture capital firm based in Athens, Greece, established in 2017, focused on seed- and early-stage technology companies in Greece. It supports Greek founders with hands-on operational guidance, access to capital and talent, and a global network that helps portfolio companies scale and pursue category-defining growth.

Roca X is a privately funded Romanian venture capital firm based in Bucharest that invests in early-stage technology startups, including MVP or prototype phases, with a global reach and a focus on disruptive ideas and social impact.

Early Game Ventures is an early-stage venture capital firm based in Bucharest, Romania. Founded in 2018, it invests in startups across Europe's emerging markets, focusing on innovative sectors such as enterprise technology and cybersecurity. The firm prefers to be the first institutional investor in companies with vested founders addressing big markets.

Oktogon Ventures is a Budapest-based venture capital firm that backs early-stage technology-driven startups in Central and Eastern Europe. It leverages local knowledge, operational experience, and a broad network to help portfolio companies achieve rapid growth, with a focus on technology-heavy businesses that can scale globally from early stages. The firm emphasizes regional reach across Hungary, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Poland, Croatia, Romania, Slovenia, and Bulgaria, and maintains strong connections to US and Western European co-investors, mentors, and talent pools. Its portfolio includes Bitrise, Recart, and Enduraid, illustrating emphasis on software and technology-enabled solutions. Oktogon engages with founders through a hands-on approach and aims to support companies with global appeal from day one, enabling scalable, extraordinary growth.

VentureFriends is a venture capital firm based in Athens, Greece, specializing in seed and pre-seed investments in tech-enabled startups across Europe. It backs early-stage companies in fintech, proptech, marketplaces, B2B software as a service, e-commerce, IT, and related sectors, with typical checks ranging from a few hundred thousand to a couple of million euros and potential follow-ons. The firm emphasizes a founder-friendly approach, drawing on the experience of ex-entrepreneurs and angel investors to support growth and go-to-market efforts. Investments target companies capable of building durable moats and scalable businesses, primarily in Europe, with activity across the broader EMENA region. The firm is credited with establishing a presence in Athens and focusing on a broad tech-enabled toolkit for portfolio development, networks, and strategic guidance.

Openfund is a venture capital firm based in Athens, Greece, focusing on seed investments and incubation for startups, with follow-on and Series A financing. It targets technology companies in software, mobile, and web sectors and typically invests in pre-seed and seed rounds, with initial checks around €50,000 and follow-on rounds up to €750,000. The firm aims for equity stakes around 15% in portfolio companies, allocated 5% to the executive board and 10% to investors. Openfund supports portfolio startups globally, with investees registered in Greece, leveraging a team of executives, advisors, and investors to help entrepreneurs turn ideas into products and growth. It exits its investments after five months by selling its stake to management or to the next round's investors.

UNI.FUND is a venture capital firm based in Athens, Greece, founded in 2017. It supports the growth of ventures by leveraging Greece's universities, R&D and tech ecosystem, and pursues investments in Europe across technology-driven sectors, including information and communication technology, fintech and insurtech, healthcare technology, the internet of things, robotics, energy, biotechnology, materials, environment, retail, supply chain, tourism and maritime, and other areas within the broader technology space. It emphasizes people and team development, strengthening core capabilities, and helping with go-to-market strategies, aiming to provide the right conditions for growth and close collaboration throughout a company's journey.

Marathon Venture Capital is a Greek venture capital firm based in Athens that invests in seed-stage technology startups across Greece. It aims to help ambitious Greek founders build world-class technology companies and collaborates with like-minded teams and leading investors to back early-stage ventures. Its partners' track record includes investments in Bugsense, Taxibeat, Workable, and Resin.io, reflecting a history of backing ventures from inception through growth.

Fil Rouge Capital is a Europe-focused venture capital firm that backs early-stage technology and tech-enabled companies. It pursues investments across sectors such as IT, software as a service, e-commerce, consumer and business products and services, IoT, artificial intelligence and machine learning, advanced manufacturing, and infrastructure, typically deploying equity or debt and aiming to complement founders' technical and entrepreneurial backgrounds. The firm operates across Europe, with activity reported in Luxembourg, Croatia and Central and Eastern Europe, including Slovenia, Austria and Southern Germany, and has shown willingness to invest opportunistically in other European markets. Typical investment sizes range from 0.5 to 5 million euros.

PJ Tech Catalyst is an Athens-based venture capital firm founded in 2012 that backs seed-stage start-up companies in Greece, with a focus on information and communications technology. The firm supports entrepreneurship in the Greek startup ecosystem by providing early-stage funding to technology-driven businesses.

Brookstreet Equity Partners is a London-based venture capital and private equity firm established in 2016 that provides growth capital and invests in small and medium-sized businesses. With offices in Athens and New York, the firm targets European opportunities across technology-driven sectors such as artificial intelligence, 4th Industrial Revolution applications, ESG-enabled digital transformation, cybersecurity, energy management, smart buildings and smart cities. It positions itself as a platform investor addressing the scale-up funding gap, taking a selective, hands-on approach to portfolio development. The firm pursues international opportunities and emphasizes themes such as AI, robotics, digital platforms and Longevity, while leveraging strategic advisory networks through partnerships like Candesic. Brookstreet focuses on growth-stage opportunities, aiming to generate value for portfolio companies and their stakeholders by active involvement and disciplined capital deployment.

Innovation Capital is a venture capital firm based in Sofia, Bulgaria, founded in 2019. It provides equity and quasi-equity funding to Bulgarian startup companies and focuses on high-potential sectors including enterprise software, e-commerce, financial services, education, automotive and transport, logistics, healthcare, entertainment, media, food and consumer goods, cybersecurity, travel, and related areas. The firm aims to support the growth and scaling of startups by applying professional innovation management and by helping them connect with international partners and innovation leaders to facilitate integration and expansion abroad.

Big Pi Ventures is a venture capital firm based in Athens, Greece, founded in 2017, that backs technology startups at the early stage. The firm focuses on proprietary technologies across information technology, artificial intelligence, life sciences, and climate technologies, and provides more than capital through active involvement with portfolio companies. It manages funds that invest in Greece and abroad, including the United States, with typical early-stage commitments described as approximately USD 0.5-3 million or EUR 1-3 million depending on the fund. The team draws on founders' experience to help turn innovative ideas into scalable businesses, and seeks ambitious teams with the potential to solve significant problems.

Goodwell Investments is an Amsterdam-headquartered impact investment firm that provides early through growth-stage equity and hands-on support to inclusive businesses serving the majority world. The firm targets financially sustainable, scalable ventures in Africa and India, with emphasis on sectors such as financial services, agriculture, mobility and transport, education, health, and basic services. It pursues minority stakes and partners with entrepreneurs to expand access, inclusion, and livelihoods in underserved communities while seeking solid financial returns. Goodwell operates from Amsterdam with additional offices in Cape Town and Nairobi, reflecting its regional focus on Sub-Saharan Africa and India. By combining capital with strategic guidance, it supports portfolio companies to scale and improve access to essential goods and services across emerging markets.

South Central Ventures is a venture capital firm founded in 2015 with a focus on the Balkans and Adriatic region. It conducts direct startup and growth investments and collaborates with other investment vehicles to back technology companies across sectors such as ICT, software-as-a-service, mobile, IoT, HealthTech, FinTech, and digital media, with regional emphasis on Croatia, Serbia, Slovenia, and North Macedonia. The firm operates from offices in Ljubljana, Zagreb, Belgrade, and Skopje to support local founders and accelerate regional growth. It targets early- to growth-stage opportunities and typically takes minority stakes to help companies scale internationally, often backing ventures capable of competing in global markets. By combining regional network strength with selective capital, South Central Ventures aims to connect Balkan tech firms with international investors and customers while building a sustainable local start-up ecosystem.

Sparking Capital is a venture capital firm based in Bucharest, Romania, founded in 2017. It makes pre-seed and seed investments in early-stage startups across sectors, with a preference for consumer internet, marketing technology, supply chain technology, financial technology, property technology, and circular economy technology. The firm remains industry agnostic, backing ventures that offer differentiating value propositions and the potential to scale nationally or internationally.

Metavallon is a model social enterprise that empowers and accelerates startups at their very early stages. Its mission is to uplift passionate enterprising spirits around the world and generate a powerful venturing movement across Europe. It works on the ground with budding entrepreneurs to build capacities and networks, and acts as an ecosystem enabler through support services to accelerators across Europe, awareness campaigns, and research. Since 2012, Metavallon has enabled over 320 founders in their entrepreneurial endeavors.

Gecad Ventures is a Bucharest-based venture capital firm that supports early-stage and expansion-stage hi-tech companies in Central and Eastern Europe with potential for international growth. The firm focuses on cybersecurity, fintech, AI/ML, AR/VR, IoT, transportation, agritech, healthcare, software and e-commerce, among other technology sectors. It typically invests equity in the range of €1 million to €7 million and provides strategic guidance and resources to help portfolio companies scale and access international markets. With over two decades of history, Gecad Ventures traces its roots to the Gecad Group and has a track record of notable exits to major global players, underscoring its experience in nurturing companies through growth. The firm emphasizes close collaboration with founding teams to support objectives and accelerate international presence.

Underline Ventures is a venture capital firm based in Bucharest, Romania, founded in 2022. It backs startups across seed, early, and growth stages with a focus on Eastern Europe. The firm seeks opportunities in information technology, big data, e-commerce, the Internet of Things, software as a service, and telecommunications, media, and technology sectors. It partners with Eastern European founders pursuing global ambitions, providing capital at early stages (with typical checks around €500,000) and supporting portfolio companies as they scale. By combining seed-stage funding with hands-on support and access to a network of co-investors, Underline Ventures aims to help high-growth startups accelerate product development, market entry, and expansion across the region and beyond.

Emma Capital is a private equity and holding firm founded in 2012, with offices in Prague, Nicosia and London. It focuses on investments in the retail and consumer-oriented sectors, including opportunities in Asia, Greece and the republics of the former Soviet Union, and tends to take an active management role in portfolio companies.

New Vision 3 is a Sofia, Bulgaria-based venture capital firm focused on seed and early-stage technology startups. It targets sectors such as fintech, blockchain, artificial intelligence, IoT and big data, 3D printing, robotics, nanotech and biotech, cybersecurity, cleantech, as well as augmented and virtual reality, and also considers shared economy platforms. The firm pursues investments in Bulgaria and internationally, including Europe and the United States, backing early rounds in tech-driven ventures across healthcare, agtech, cryptocurrency and other AI-enabled areas.

Liil Ventures is a Mexico City-based venture capital firm founded in 2017 that invests in early-stage companies active in smart mobility, smart city initiatives, and the internet of things. It supports portfolio ventures beyond capital by providing strategic guidance and transportation intelligence to help startups grow faster and broaden their reach. The firm focuses on teams and ideas aimed at shaping the future of urban life, offering expertise that complements funding to accelerate development and deployment of innovative mobility and city-tech solutions.

Fortech Investments is the venture capital arm of Fortech, based in Cluj-Napoca, Romania. Founded in 2021, it provides early-stage funding for startups in sectors including B2B, energy, healthcare, manufacturing, automotive, and fintech, with a focus on Central and Eastern Europe and particularly Romania. The firm supports portfolio companies with capital and strategic guidance, leveraging Fortech's network and industry expertise to help early-stage ventures scale.

Neogen Capital is a venture capital firm based in Targu Mures, Romania, established in 2000. It focuses on marketplaces and related sectors including internet retail, e-commerce, fintech, human resources, and mobility, with a Europe-wide remit. It makes minority investments across seed, early, and later stages and provides hands-on operational support to help marketplace businesses scale.

BCR Seed Starter is the corporate venture capital arm of Banca Comercială Română, based in Bucharest, Romania. It provides funding and strategic support to early-stage startups, aiming to foster collaboration with portfolio companies and help them scale.

Vitosha Venture Partners is a venture capital firm founded in 2020 and based in Sofia, Bulgaria. It focuses on investing in early-stage and growth-stage companies that are based in or connected to Bulgaria.

Odyssey Venture Partners is a venture capital firm based in Athens, Greece, with an additional office in Santa Clara, California. It focuses on seed and early‑stage investments in information and communication technology companies, including mobile, wireless, and mobile software tools sectors, and it may co‑invest in portfolio companies and seeks to take a board seat on those companies.

Established in 2021 under Greek law, 5G Ventures focuses on managing investments in businesses actively involved in 5G-related research and development in Greece. Its primary sectors of interest include transport, manufacturing, public utilities, health, tourism, and information services.

Established in 2020, TECS Capital is an early-stage investment firm based in Thessaloniki, Greece. It focuses on investing in startups specializing in artificial intelligence, big data, and the internet of things sectors.

Eldorado Gold Corp is a Canadian gold and base metals producer with mining, development, and exploration projects in Europe, Asia, and South America, and operations in Turkey, Canada, and Greece. It maintains a portfolio of assets including Kisladag, Efemcukuru, Skouries, Perama Hill, and Certej, and emphasizes responsible operations, safety and environmental standards, and partnerships with local communities.

MizMaa Ventures is a Tel Aviv-based venture capital firm founded in 2016 that makes early-stage investments in Israeli technology companies. It focuses on cloud, cybersecurity, mobility, artificial intelligence, fintech, and digital health, supporting startups developing scalable software, security solutions, and related technologies.

IFU is a venture capital and private equity firm based in Copenhagen, Denmark, that specializes in providing equity, mezzanine financing, loans, and guarantees to projects in developing countries. Established in 1967, IFU focuses on creating and financing new businesses, joint ventures between Danish companies and local partners, and acquiring existing ventures. The firm primarily invests in sectors such as commercial services, biofuels, renewable energy, and irrigation systems, with a particular emphasis on climate and agribusiness. Investments are targeted at countries with a low gross national income per capita, as defined by specific criteria, and include regions across Africa, Asia, Europe, and Latin America. IFU typically invests between DKK 0.5 million and DKK 100 million and often seeks co-investment opportunities with Danish firms. The firm also supports small and medium-sized enterprises and provides advisory services for business investments in developing markets. With a preference for board membership, IFU aims to exit investments within five to seven years, ensuring a positive return for its stakeholders.

Yieldstreet is a platform that provides retail investors access to income-generating alternative investments across asset classes such as art, real estate, legal, corporates, consumer, and commercial assets. Founded in 2015, it uses fintech to broaden access beyond traditional stock and bond markets, offering investments via cash or a low-fee IRA and short-term notes with hold periods of 3 to 6 months. The platform has grown to serve more than 330,000 investors and has facilitated over 2.5 billion in invested capital, returning more than 1.3 billion in principal and interest. Headquartered in New York, it maintains offices in Brazil, Greece, and Malta and employs around 140 people.

Sustainable Forward Capital is a venture capital firm based in Athens, Greece, founded in 2024. It invests in technology-focused startups with an emphasis on sustainability, supporting companies across Greece that develop innovative tech and sustainable solutions.

Established in 2021, L-Stone Capital is a venture capital firm headquartered in Athens, Greece. It focuses on investing in seed and early-stage companies based or operating in Greece, with a particular interest in startups working on innovative projects aligned with three key megatrends: Technology & Digital Evolution, Life in the 21st Century, The new norm, and Green Tech & Development.

Evercurious VC is a venture capital firm based in Agia Paraskev that focuses on early-stage investments in deep-tech across sectors including advanced manufacturing, agtech, life sciences, mobility tech, robotics and drones, seeking startups developing practical, high-impact technologies and supporting them through the critical early growth phase.

Loggerhead Ventures is a venture capital firm founded in 2024 in Thessaloniki, Greece. It backs mission-driven, deep-tech companies rooted in regional innovation ecosystems, spanning information technology, energy, software-as-a-service, agriculture technology, clean technology and climate technology sectors.

BrightCap Ventures is a venture capital firm established in 2018 with activity in Europe, including Amsterdam, Netherlands, and Sofia, Bulgaria. It invests in early‑stage and small to medium‑sized companies operating in artificial intelligence, big data, medical technology, blockchain, and financial technology. The firm focuses on global founders who leverage local engineering talent and benefits from its entrepreneurial experience and international network to help portfolio companies scale.

OCV Partners is a California-based venture capital investment firm headquartered in Los Angeles. It focuses on early-stage investments in healthcare, life sciences, technology, clean-tech and related sectors in the United States. The firm emphasizes backing companies with differentiated technologies and large addressable markets, and provides operational and financial guidance to help build long-term value. It operates as a registered investment adviser and supports portfolio companies across various growth stages, drawing on a team with deep industry experience and a track record as entrepreneurs and investors across technology, healthcare, industrials, and real estate. The investment approach includes flexible solutions to fit a company's needs, with activity spanning healthcare IT, software as a service, fintech, prop-tech, digital health, therapeutics and med-tech.

Empower Capital is a EUR 21 million fund established to provide equity and quasi-equity funding to growing Bulgarian companies. Financed by the European Investment Fund - JEREMIE Initiative Bulgaria, the team offers extensive international operating experience, expertise, and industrial knowledge to support SMEs. With a successful track record in investing and managing companies in Bulgaria, they specialize in raising funds from various investors and facilitating exits to international buyers. Empower Capital plays a crucial role in helping companies reach their potential by identifying valuable organizations and providing growth capital, strategic guidance, and operational support to strong management teams.