ZOLLHOF Launches ZOHO.VC: €10 Million Fund Hits 70% First Close

ZOHO.VC, the newly established venture capital arm of ZOLLHOF – Tech Incubator based in Nuremberg, has proudly announced the successful First Closing of its inaugural fund. The fund, with a target volume of €10 million, has already secured 70% of the target fund volume, exceeding expectations by closing ten months ahead of schedule.

The fund, currently valued at €7 million, focuses on investing in early-stage technology-driven startups that have a strong connection to the ZOLLHOF ecosystem.

Dennis Kirpensteijn, who serves as the General Partner at ZOHO.VC, expressed his excitement about this achievement, stating: “The fact that we have secured 70% of our capital by the First Closing is a testament to the confidence our LPs have in us. They not only provide capital but also offer their extensive networks, industry knowledge, and entrepreneurial experience. Our approach, deeply rooted in the operational startup ecosystem, resonates well in today’s market.”

Recent analysis from 2025 and 2026 reveals a sustained interest in early-stage, technology-driven venture funds across Europe, setting the stage for ZOHO.VC’s successful first close.

Various European regions have seen significant activity in this space. The Footprint Firm launched a €76 million fund focusing on early-stage climate and DeepTech companies in Northern Europe. In Germany, Vanagon Ventures and Ananda Impact Ventures secured substantial funding for DeepTech and impact-focused technology startups, respectively.

On a broader scale, U2V, a pan-European investor, unveiled a €60 million fund to support pre-Seed and Seed DeepTech startups originating from technical universities. Southern Europe has also witnessed the emergence of new early-stage capital, with funds like Step Fund and Mission making significant investments in Seed-stage tech startups.

When combined, these developments represent a total of approximately €294 million in newly raised or first-close capital directed towards early-stage technology sectors, highlighting the growing commitment of European investors to pre-Seed and Seed-stage technology investing.

“Our role goes beyond just providing financial support; we are partners from day one. The launch of our venture capital fund is a natural progression for ZOLLHOF – Tech Incubator, ensuring that it can continue to foster the growth and scaling of technology startups in the future,” added Dennis.

ZOHO.VC, a VC fund rooted in the ZOLLHOF innovation center, focuses on investing in technology startups in the pre-Seed and Seed stages. With a blend of capital, technical expertise, and a network of partners, ZOHO.VC aims to provide startups with more than just financial backing.

The VC is led by Dennis Kirpensteijn, Benjamin Bauer, and Nicolas Sievers, with support from Dr. Judit Klein, Head of Startups at the ZOLLHOF Tech Incubator, in making investment decisions.

The investment strategy includes startups from ZOLLHOF’s incubation program, labeled a “Startup Factory” by the German Federal Government, as well as co-investment opportunities from their network of investors.

This strategy has already shown results, with the investment team adding five startups to its portfolio during the fundraising process. Notably, Merge Labs, a new venture by Sam Altman and FAU alumnus Alex Blania, secured funding led by the OpenAI Startup Fund. 

Due to the steady flow of deals and rapid growth, partners Benjamin Bauer and Dennis Kirpensteijn, along with Principal Nicolas Sievers, plan to increase the fund volume beyond the initial target in 2026.