Motivate Ventures
Motivate Ventures empowers ambitious founders to realize their vision of tomorrow. They invest across the earliest stages of a company’s lifecycle, providing experience, connections, and capital to the leaders of tomorrow’s greatest companies. They are early stage specialists, focusing on pre-seed and seed stage companies. They actively work with high-caliber founders to co-create and bring ideas to life. Motivate Ventures also invests in and supports formidable emerging pre-seed and seed stage VC Funds. MVC invests in optimism, ingenuity, and humanity’s insatiable desire to creatively improve. They back incredible founders with strong domain knowledge who are tackling real, durable problems. They seek opportunities with very high growth potential in large and growing markets. Lauren Deluca at Motivate focuses on fintech and B2B software at the earliest stages – from idea through Seed – often supporting founders with incredible domain expertise and a non-consensus industry worldview.
Mountain Alliance
Mountain Alliance AG is a listed German venture capital company that strategically invests in digital growth companies. Their investment approach is centered around building long-term value by backing scalable tech businesses and helping them convert potential into performance. The firm aims to acquire entire portfolios in a targeted manner, primarily through the contribution of own shares at NAV. They focus on strengthening the overall exit capability of their investments. Mountain Alliance is increasingly focusing on the defense tech sector, particularly on dual-use applications in drone and satellite technology, cybersecurity, and artificial intelligence. They are actively seeking opportunities in attractive technologies for further expansion of their portfolio while maintaining a strong focus on exits. The firm invests in companies that leverage AI for new security-related and civilian applications, thereby transforming markets. Recent moves indicate a shift toward more mature scale-ups. The firm's investment in MindGuard AG, an innovative Swiss company developing an AI-supported ecosystem designed to strengthen mental resilience in security-critical areas, exemplifies their focus on AI and defense technologies. Mountain Alliance aims to expand its portfolio in the defense technology sector, focusing on companies leveraging AI for new security-related and civilian applications, with plans for further investments in drone and satellite technology as well as cybersecurity.
Mountain X
Venture capital firm investing in high-growth technology companies.
Mudrick Capital Management
Mudrick Capital Management, L.P. is an SEC-registered investment management firm specializing in stressed and distressed credit investing in the U.S. and European credit markets. Founded in 2009 by Jason Mudrick, the firm aims to provide equity-like returns with credit-like risk and volatility in an uncorrelated fashion. The firm focuses on opportunities across the corporate capital structure to find investments with attractive risk-reward ratios. Mudrick manages approximately $3.1 billion on behalf of a diverse group of sophisticated global institutional investors. Their investment strategy revolves around identifying undervalued opportunities in the stressed and distressed credit space. They are willing to invest across the capital structure and actively engage with companies, including taking board seats and participating in creditor committees, to maximize value. This hands-on approach allows them to influence restructuring outcomes and generate attractive returns. The firm's team comprises seasoned research professionals with over 180 years of combined investing experience. They leverage their expertise to conduct in-depth analysis of potential investments and make informed decisions. The team's extensive experience serving on boards of directors and creditors' committees further enhances their ability to navigate complex situations and drive successful outcomes for their investors. Ultimately, Mudrick Capital seeks to deliver superior risk-adjusted returns by capitalizing on inefficiencies in the stressed and distressed credit markets. Their experienced team, deep research capabilities, and active engagement approach position them to generate attractive returns for their institutional investors.
Mutuelle d'assurances du corps de santé français (MACSF)
Venture capital firm investing in high-growth technology companies.
Mätch VC
Mätch VC backs the next generation of European innovators by combining capital with a network of ~90 German industrial family businesses (Mittelstand). Their thesis centers on early-stage investments in highly technical teams solving complex B2B challenges, with a focus on deep tech, AI-driven solutions, and sustainable industrial innovation. They prioritize founders who can benefit from their unique ecosystem of Mittelstand expertise and connections.
NAP
NAP focuses on partnering with expert founders, offering capital, candid advice, and relevant introductions. They emphasize a small, close-knit team structure to provide hands-on support without the bureaucracy and ego often found in larger firms. Their team comprises builders and specialists experienced in scaling companies, including taking them from zero to IPO, and have also learned from failures. NAP seeks founders who are adept at both strategic boardroom discussions and operational execution, especially those with deep industry experience.
NAP (formerly Cavalry Ventures)
NAP, formerly Cavalry Ventures, focuses on backing expert founders. The firm emphasizes providing capital, candid advice, and relevant introductions. They prioritize staying small to remain useful to their portfolio companies, avoiding platform bureaucracy and ego-driven management. They focus on partnering with builders who have a strong understanding of both the strategic and operational aspects of their businesses, seeking founders who are fluent in both boardrooms and the command line, operators with industry scars and the commits to fix them.
NB Renaissance
NB Renaissance is a leading investment firm that partners with ambitious entrepreneurs and management teams to create market-leading businesses. They focus on accelerating growth and realizing the untapped potential of portfolio companies. The firm leverages a value creation strategy centered on organic growth, international expansion, product expansion, operational excellence, human capital development, digitalization, and sustainability & ESG initiatives. NB Renaissance also leverages the global private markets platform of Neuberger Berman to enhance investment decisions and support portfolio companies. NB Renaissance was established in 2015 as a spin-off from Intesa Sanpaolo Private Equity, in partnership with Neuberger Berman. This structure provides a strong foundation and access to a broad network. The firm's investment strategy targets market-leading, primarily family-owned companies located in Italy or other European countries. The firm aims to generate revenue internationally through their portfolio companies by finding, unlocking, and executing complementary add-on acquisitions. Since its inception, NB Renaissance has completed over 85 bolt-on acquisitions in over 20 countries across the globe. In 2023, their portfolio companies generated approximately 60% of their revenues internationally. They have a dedicated team of 30 professionals based in Milan and Luxembourg, supported by Neuberger Berman’s global private markets platform of over 470 team members across multiple global offices. This international reach further enhances their support of portfolio companies and deal execution.
NBG Business Seeds
NBG Business Seeds is a program by National Bank of Greece (NBG) aimed at fostering innovative entrepreneurship through grants, equity financing, convertible bonds, and specialized loans. It provides mentorship, bootcamps, and tailored banking products to support startups in Athens, Thessaloniki, Patras, and Heraklion.
NEAR Foundation
NEAR Foundation (NF) is a Switzerland-based non-profit foundation (Stiftung) focused on enabling community-driven innovation to benefit people around the world. Its primary focus is the NEAR ecosystem, which includes a decentralized blockchain platform for building decentralized applications. NF operates by allocating support and resources to other entities within the NEAR ecosystem, aiming to minimize its own direct involvement over time, fostering a self-sufficient and decentralized infrastructure. NF's governance is structured through the NEAR Foundation Council (NFC), which acts as the governing body overseeing the foundation's operations and strategic decisions. The NFC empowers the executive team to manage daily operations while maintaining oversight and approving significant decisions. The foundation emphasizes transparency and operates within the stringent regulatory framework of Switzerland's "Stiftung" structure, ensuring accountability and adherence to its stated purpose. The foundation's financial resources are primarily directed toward allocating funds throughout the ecosystem, supporting ecosystem-level functions, and championing decentralization efforts. The Foundation supports the NEAR Protocol, a platform designed to overcome barriers in the Web3 space. NF champions the development of a decentralized and autonomous ecosystem. NEAR Protocol introduced the Blockchain Operating System (BOS), aiming to be an open-source alternative to major tech companies, providing a secure and accessible platform.
NEOM
NEOM is not a venture capital firm in the traditional sense, but rather a region under development in northwest Saudi Arabia, conceived to diversify the Kingdom’s economy and provide urban solutions for harmonious coexistence between people and the planet. Its approach involves building a new sustainable region powered by renewable energy, prioritizing nature conservation, and fostering an inclusive and empowered society. NEOM aims to set new standards for sustainable development and collective wellbeing through social responsibility programs and strategic investments in various sectors. NEOM's investment strategy involves the NEOM Investment Fund, which aims to attract capital, identify business opportunities, and build partnerships. It focuses on sectors such as energy, water, mobility, digital infrastructure, biotech, and tourism, among others. These investments are aimed at enabling major infrastructural progress across these sectors, contributing to the development of smart and sustainable urban environments. Key projects include THE LINE, Oxagon, and Trojena, all designed to be models of future living and working. NEOM's regions span 26,500 square kilometers and feature developments like Oxagon (a port-based industrial city), THE LINE (an urban development concept), and Trojena (a mountain destination). Essential infrastructure is being developed, including road networks, water pipelines, fiber optic cables, wastewater recycling facilities, and high bandwidth subsea cables. These projects are integral to creating a technologically advanced and environmentally conscious region. NEOM's commitment extends to social responsibility, with initiatives to accelerate local entrepreneurship, promote environmental awareness, and enhance the quality of life for stakeholders. The region's social responsibility programs also aim to address stakeholders’ needs by embedding responsible practices and sustainable initiatives. NEOM emphasizes creating a global model for economic, social, and environmental sustainability, with a focus on human-centered development and meaningful impact at scale.
NGC Ventures
NGC Ventures focuses on early-stage web 3.0 infrastructure startups and projects. The firm seeks projects with disruptive innovation, aiming to solve problems with solutions that are characterized by simplicity, cost affordability, speed, uniqueness, and a compelling product-market fit. They adopt a long-term and hands-on approach to investing, supporting portfolio companies through their entrepreneurial journey from market access, go-to-market strategy, recruiting, technical expertise, and regulatory guidance. NGC Ventures actively invests in research via grants, donations, or investments into research teams at institutions of higher learning such as the National University of Singapore, Nanyang Technology University, and UC Berkeley. This allows them to identify promising Web3 projects early on. Furthermore, they invest in other funds in the web 3.0 space that complement their investment thesis, providing their investees with a broader network and resources. Founded in 2017, NGC Ventures manages over $500M in AUM. The team comprises seasoned entrepreneurs and fund managers, as well as individuals deeply involved in the blockchain space. With team members located in Singapore, San Francisco, California, Texas, London, Shanghai, and Taipei, they maintain a globally diverse presence. Their LPs include listed entities from Web 2.0, family offices, HNWI, as well as founders who were previously investees.
NOM
NOM (Investerings- en Ontwikkelingsmaatschappij voor Noord-Nederland) is the Investment and Development Agency for the Northern Netherlands. They aim to help businesses take the next step, whether it's securing financing, finding the right location, or becoming investor ready. The organization facilitates collaboration among entrepreneurs in innovative clusters. NOM's services encompass investment, innovation, and internationalization, focusing on converting ideas into opportunities and supporting establishment and international growth. They also provide support for businesses looking for subsidies and are involved in projects promoting digitalization and the circular economy. The firm invests in and supports companies across various sectors in the Northern Netherlands, including Agri & Food, Energy, Green Chemistry, HTSM (High Tech Systems and Materials), IT, Life Sciences & Health, Water Technology, and Maritime. They offer services such as investment, innovation support, and internationalization assistance to foster economic growth and development in the region. NOM collaborates with various partners, including ROMs (Regional Development Agencies) and universities, to enhance entrepreneurship and innovation ecosystems. NOM is also actively involved in cross-border subsidy projects aimed at supporting SMEs in the area of digitalization and Industry 4.0. They provide insights and knowledge through blogs, podcasts, webinars, and entrepreneur stories, aiming to keep businesses informed and connected. Customer reviews suggest that the firm's startup programs are valuable for structuring work and validating assumptions, contributing to the growth of startups.
NPM Capital
NPM Capital is an independent investment partner focused on helping medium-sized and large companies in the Benelux and DACH regions achieve their ambitions. They target family-owned enterprises and companies with strong, dedicated management teams. NPM Capital aims to build the businesses of the future together with their portfolio companies. As a long-term investor, ESG performance is integral to their DNA, focusing on companies that offer innovative products/services, create jobs and better working conditions, take action against climate change, and create sustainable value leading to long-term returns. They integrate ESG into all investment decisions and portfolio company partnerships.
NREP
Nrep, now known as Urban Partners, is a real estate investor focused on driving real change in the real estate sector for people and the planet. They aim to solve real urban problems by addressing underserved segments and creating sustainable urban environments. Their investment strategy is built on three pillars: decarbonizing at scale to reduce the real estate industry's carbon footprint, investing where it matters by developing properties that cater to the needs of various communities and improve urban living, and being local and collaborative by working with local teams and partners to maximize impact in specific communities. Nrep seeks to accelerate the transition to a carbon-neutral real estate sector through scalable solutions with a commercial focus, improve societal efficiency in logistics, develop workplaces that allow businesses to thrive and create inclusive spaces for people. They focus on the intersection of urban mega trends, structural challenges, and demographic shifts that cause shortages in specific segments.
NUNC Capital
NUNC Capital invests in and builds defense companies that enhance NATO and allied defense capabilities through disruptive technologies in emerging domains. The firm focuses on accelerating innovation from prototype to operational deployment, leveraging deep market expertise and an international network to strengthen allied deterrence, interoperability, and adaptability.
Nabtesco Technology Ventures
Nabtesco Technology Ventures (NTV) is a corporate venture fund launched in 2018 by Nabtesco Corporation, in partnership with Emerald Technology Ventures. The fund aims to deepen Nabtesco's involvement in the development of disruptive ventures globally, aligning with their open innovation strategy. NTV focuses on identifying and investing in leading-edge technologies across motion control, robotics, transportation, and manufacturing sectors. Their investment strategy is a key element in reinforcing Nabtesco Corporation's position as a global leader in manufacturing technology, allowing for accelerated investment and collaboration on a global scale. The fund seeks to strengthen Nabtesco’s pursuit of open innovation, a key pillar of their company’s growth strategy.
Nato Innovation Fund (NIF)
The Nato Innovation Fund (NIF) is a venture capital fund backed by 24 NATO allies, deploying over €1 billion in deep tech to address challenges in defence, security, and resilience. NIF empowers deep tech founders, investing independently and supporting portfolio companies with access to 24 nations. The fund aims to secure the future for the alliance's one billion citizens by protecting infrastructure, enabling the climate and energy transition, and ensuring resilient supply chains. NIF serves as a lead investor taking a long-term approach. The fund focuses on cutting-edge science and technology across areas such as novel materials and manufacturing, energy, space, artificial intelligence, autonomy, quantum, biotechnologies, hypersonic systems, and next-generation communications. NIF provides deep tech entrepreneurs in the transatlantic sector with access to 24 allied governments, facilitating access to commercial and government markets. The fund leads initial investments with up to EUR 15 million, with reserves for follow-on rounds. NIF offers unprecedented customer reach across 24 countries and their ecosystems, with access to nearly 90 NATO-affiliated test centers and over 6,000 Allied scientists through extensive networks. By working with startups and scaleups in collaboration with defence primes, NIF bridges the gap for rapid market adoption.
Nauta C
Nauta Capital is a European venture capital firm that focuses on investing in early-stage B2B software companies. They partner with visionary founders across Europe who are striving to disrupt industries with technology. They emphasize a commitment to standing by their founders and providing straightforward feedback. Nauta aims to support companies that are developing innovative solutions in various sectors, including RetailTech, RevenueTech, Fintech, Insurtech, Productivity, HealthTech, Enterprise Software, DevTools & Infra, AI/ML & Data, Security & Privacy, and Deep Tech. Their investment strategy is centered on identifying and supporting exceptional entrepreneurs who are building the next generation of B2B software companies. Nauta positions itself as more than just a financial investor, highlighting their dedication to providing value beyond capital through operational support and networking. They look for companies with the potential to achieve significant exit value, demonstrated by the firm's historical exit value of €2.5B. Nauta's investment approach appears to be data-driven, as suggested by their interest in companies that enable better data utilization and efficiency within enterprises, like ESProfiler. They also demonstrate an interest in companies providing platforms that address digital transformation needs. The firm aims to identify companies providing a competitive advantage in today’s economy. They appear to appreciate solutions that can optimize a company’s resources (like with ESProfiler and security budgets) based on data and analysis. This aligns with their stated interest in AI/ML and data-driven approaches. They look for companies with strong user numbers and global impact potential, as shown by their investment in Connectbase and airfocus respectively.
Navigare Ventures
Wallenberg Investments focuses on long-term, active ownership of companies with leading market positions, driving sustainable value and returns through strategic investments and portfolio development. It consolidates the endowments' grant-making, capital management, and governance activities under five investment units.
Nazca Ventures
Nazca Ventures was founded in 2014 with the mission to empower the best leaders in Mexico and Latin America based on merit. They aim to balance the status quo between capital and talent, believing this will set the region on a path towards social and economic success. Nazca focuses on creating an environment where founders and their teams can flourish and reach their maximum potential faster. They provide multi-stage venture capital, early on, deliver unique peer-learning opportunities and unparalleled expert networks. Nazca enables unprecedented access to key stakeholders and critical gatekeepers and facilitates swift entry and preferred relationships with renowned commercial partners. They help identify and persuade talented individuals to join portfolio company teams. Their approach involves building lasting and sustainable friendships with founders. Nazca emphasizes founder centricity, integrity, boldness, stewardship, impact, and teamwork. They prioritize founders and providing unique support throughout their entrepreneurial journey, building long-term and profound relationships. The firm values honesty, respect, trustworthiness, responsibility, and helping others. They encourage innovative actions to navigate risk and focus on careful and efficient management of founders' dreams and investors' capital. They strive to create a positive impact within the entrepreneurial ecosystem, transforming society through measurable indicators.
Nefco
Nefco accelerates the green transition by providing risk capital to small and medium-sized projects with positive environmental and climate impacts. It focuses on scaling green solutions globally, financing Nordic SMEs, and supporting green recovery initiatives in regions like Ukraine and Moldova. Nefco also promotes high-integrity carbon markets and clean energy access in developing markets.
Neoteny
Neoteny, founded by Joi Ito, has evolved through several iterations. Originally starting as an incubator in Tokyo (Neoteny 1) in 1999, it later transitioned to a Singapore-based fund (Neoteny Labs) in 2009, led by Joi Ito and James Chan, which is no longer actively investing but manages its portfolio. Joi Ito then created Neoteny 3 in 2015, which also has an active portfolio but is not making new investments. The current fund, Neoteny 4, was established in 2018 by Joi Ito and Adam Mullinax and is based in Boston, investing globally. The firm seems to focus on early-stage investments, although a comprehensive thesis is not explicitly stated on the crawled pages. Joi Ito's philosophy of maintaining a "child-like attitude into adulthood" (neoteny) likely influences the firm's approach, perhaps emphasizing innovation and unconventional thinking.