Speedinvest is a Vienna-based pan-European seed-stage venture capital firm and one of Europe's most active early-stage investors. Founded in 2011 by Oliver Holle, Daniel Keiper-Knorr, Erik Bovee, Werner Zahnt and Michael Schuster with an initial micro fund of approximately EUR 10 million, the firm has grown to more than EUR 1 billion in assets under management. Speedinvest operates dedicated specialist vertical teams across Deep Tech, Fintech, SaaS & Infra, Marketplaces & Consumer, Health, and Climate & Industrial Tech, backing pre-seed and seed-stage technology startups across Europe and adjacent emerging regions. The firm has offices in Vienna, Berlin, London, Munich and Paris and has invested in 400+ portfolio companies including Bitpanda, GoStudent, Tide, Wefox, Upvest, Moove, Sylvera and Open Forest Protocol. In January 2024 Speedinvest announced the final close of its fourth flagship fund, Speedinvest 4, at EUR 350 million, EUR 50 million above its target, alongside a separate EUR 250 million pool for follow-on co-investments.
Company data and valuation marks are estimates and may be incomplete, stale, erroneous, or revised.
Founded
2011
Employees
51–200
Total Funding
EUR 1B+ AUM
4 rounds
Total raised EUR 1B+ AUM across 4 rounds
Funding data and valuation marks are estimates and may be incomplete, stale, erroneous, or revised.
Last updated 05-11-2026
Latest Round
Type
Fund Final Close (Speedinvest 4)
Date
January 31, 2024
Amount
EUR 350M
Valuation
—
| Date | Round | Amount Raised | Valuation | Lead Investors |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January 31, 2024 | Fund Final Close (Speedinvest 4) | EUR 350M | — | |
| December 2022 | Fund First Close (Speedinvest 4) | EUR 300M (first close) | — | |
| 2020 | Fund Close (Speedinvest III) | — | — |
Oliver Holle
Co-Founder, CEO & Managing Partner
Daniel Keiper-Knorr
Co-Founder & Founding Partner (Investor Relations)
Marie-Helene Ametsreiter
General Partner, Portfolio Success
Markus Lang
General Partner
Andreas Schwarzenbrunner
General Partner
Nora Frizberg
Chief Operating Officer
Tom Lesche
Partner, Growth Lead
Competitor list is illustrative and may be incomplete, stale, or erroneous.
Earlybird Venture Capital
Berlin-headquartered pan-European VC founded in 1997 with over EUR 1B AUM, investing across early and growth stages and a direct rival to Speedinvest for European seed and Series A deal flow.
Atomico
London-based European VC with around USD 4.7B AUM founded by Niklas Zennstrom; competes with Speedinvest's growth strategy and overlaps on later-stage European tech investing.
Index Ventures
Multi-stage global VC headquartered in London and San Francisco that frequently co-invests and competes with Speedinvest on European seed and Series A opportunities.
Cherry Ventures
Berlin-based pan-European seed VC focused on early-stage technology investments, directly overlapping Speedinvest's pre-seed and seed segment across DACH and Europe.
Project A Ventures
Berlin-based operational VC investing in European early-stage tech with hands-on portfolio support, a direct competitor to Speedinvest's seed-stage thesis.
Lakestar
European VC based in Zurich and Berlin investing from early to growth stage in technology companies; competes with Speedinvest on later seed and Series A rounds in DACH.
No. Speedinvest is a private company and does not have a public stock ticker or trade on a public stock exchange. Its shares are generally held by founders, employees, investors, and other private shareholders. Buyers and sellers may be able to transact in Speedinvest shares through private secondary transactions, but any transaction depends on share availability, buyer and seller agreement, transfer restrictions, company approval rights, and any applicable right of first refusal. There is no guarantee that Speedinvest will complete an IPO or other liquidity event.
Yes, it is sometimes possible to buy Speedinvest shares pre-IPO through private secondary transactions. This depends on finding a willing seller, company approval, and satisfying any transfer restrictions or rights of first refusal.
Buyers interested in buying Speedinvest shares on the secondary market typically do so through SetterVC and other secondary-market platforms, subject to eligibility requirements, share availability, transfer restrictions, and issuer approval. Buyers may need to satisfy sophistication, accreditation, institutional, platform, regulatory, or other eligibility requirements before participating. Once eligible, buyers may be able to view listings, make bids, and work with a licensed broker through the transaction process. Buyers should ensure they have appropriate legal and financial advisors guiding them before completing any transaction.
Speedinvest's latest disclosed funding round was a Fund Final Close (Speedinvest 4) round in January 31, 2024. The round raised approximately EUR 350M. Primary funding rounds are different from secondary transactions: in a primary round, capital goes to the company, while in a secondary transaction, investors buy existing shares from current shareholders. Funding-round data reflects publicly reported or collected information and may be incomplete.
Speedinvest has raised approximately EUR 1B+ AUM in disclosed funding across 4 rounds. These figures reflect primary capital raised by the company and do not include every possible secondary transaction, undisclosed round, debt facility, or private transfer. Reported funding totals can change as new rounds are announced or older round details are corrected. Eligible users can use SetterVC to track Speedinvest's funding history alongside private-market activity where available.
Speedinvest's most-cited competitors include Earlybird Venture Capital, Atomico, Index Ventures, Cherry Ventures, Project A Ventures and Lakestar. Investors often compare these companies by sector, product focus, valuation, funding raised, growth signals, investor base, and private-market activity.
Secondary-market demand for Speedinvest shares can be affected by company performance, revenue growth, profitability, funding history, valuation, investor interest, sector momentum, public-market conditions, expected timing of a liquidity event, and the availability of shares for sale. Demand can also be affected by transfer restrictions, company approval rights, right of first refusal processes, limited information, and the price expectations of buyers and sellers. Strong demand does not guarantee strong pricing, liquidity, or investment returns. Weak demand does not necessarily reflect the company's long-term prospects. Demand signals should not be treated as a recommendation or prediction of investment performance. Buyers and sellers should treat demand signals as informational and conduct their own diligence before transacting.
Sellers often rely on intermediaries and platforms, such as SetterVC and other secondary-market platforms, to identify potential buyers. The exact process varies by company and transaction, but sellers often begin by confirming their ownership, desired price, transferability, and any company approval or notice requirements. If the seller agrees with a buyer on acceptable price and terms, the company may need to be notified through a share transfer notice or similar process. If a right of first refusal, company approval right, or other transfer restriction applies, the seller may need to wait until that process is completed. The parties may then execute a purchase and sale agreement, complete required transfer documentation, and close if all required conditions are satisfied. Sellers should always seek proper legal and financial advice before completing the transaction.
Yes, current and former Speedinvest employees, early investors, and other existing shareholders may be able to sell vested shares before an IPO through a private secondary sale. This is not automatic; it depends on whether the shareholder has transferable shares, whether there is buyer demand, and whether the company's governing documents permit the transfer. Many companies require prior notice, company approval, or a right of first refusal before shares can be sold. Sellers should also seek proper legal and financial advice before proceeding.
A Speedinvest secondary transaction usually involves an existing shareholder selling shares to a buyer before a public listing. The buyer and seller typically agree on price, number of shares, share class, and closing conditions. The seller may then need to notify Speedinvest through a share transfer notice or similar process. If Speedinvest or existing investors have approval rights, transfer restrictions, or a right of first refusal, those steps may need to be completed before the transfer can close. The parties typically enter into a purchase and sale agreement, complete any required transfer documentation, and close only if the necessary conditions are satisfied. Timing and certainty can vary by company and transaction.
In most private secondary transactions, parties commonly use a purchase and sale agreement that outlines price, terms, and conditions. They may also use share transfer documentation, often a stock transfer notice, share transfer notice, transfer instruction, or similar document, along with any required company approval or right of first refusal materials. Proof of ownership, such as a cap table entry, share certificate, brokerage statement, issuer confirmation, or administrator confirmation, may also be important. Buyers often request recent company financials, but private companies may limit disclosure. Since every deal varies, buyers and sellers should consult legal and financial advisors to understand which documents are needed.
Buying Speedinvest shares pre-IPO is risky. Shares are illiquid, no IPO or liquidity event is guaranteed, valuations can change, transfers may require company approval, and private companies may provide limited financial disclosure. Be prepared for total loss. SetterVC and Setter Capital do not provide due diligence, legal, tax, accounting, valuation, or investment advice. Buyers must conduct their own due diligence, verify information, and seek independent legal and investment advice before proceeding.
Private secondary shares are typically illiquid. Unlike public stocks, there is no active public market, so selling them can be difficult and time-consuming. Sales depend on finding a willing buyer and often require company approval. Investors should be prepared to hold the shares for an extended period, with no guarantee of a future sale. Always assess your need for liquidity before investing.
SetterVC and Setter Capital do not provide due diligence, legal, tax, accounting, valuation, or investment advice. Buyers must conduct their own due diligence, including verifying ownership, transferability, legal structure, company approval, and assessing the company's prospects. SetterVC and Setter Capital do not provide advice on whether an investment is good, what price to pay, or what the best bid or ask is. SetterVC and Setter Capital may share documents in some circumstances, but it does not guarantee their accuracy or completeness. Due diligence is essential. Seek legal and investment advice as needed.
Before buying Speedinvest shares, a buyer should try to review the share class, price per share, implied valuation, transfer restrictions, ROFR process, company approval rights, seller ownership evidence, recent financing or tender-offer information, available financial information, information rights, resale restrictions, tax considerations, and expected liquidity paths. Not all information may be available for a private company. Buyers should confirm available diligence, process details, and information needs with their own legal, tax, and investment advisers.
SPVs carry risks. Examples include the need to confirm the company allows SPV-based transfers, verify that the SPV truly owns the shares or interests it claims to own, and ensure it has not sold more interests than it holds. Due diligence is essential. Seek legal and investment advice as needed.
Forward contracts carry risks. Examples include the seller refusing to transfer the shares at the future date, even if the seller owns them, the seller going bankrupt with creditors claiming the shares, or the seller committing the same shares to multiple parties. Due diligence is essential. Seek legal and investment advice as needed.
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