The world of startups has always demanded agility and vision. As someone who bootstrapped my companies, while juggling the roles of a solo founder, a community builder for women in STEM, and a startup mentor, I’ve learned what it takes to thrive in high-pressure environments without a financial safety net. So, when I heard about Clover’s €30 million fund targeting early-stage work and education startups, my first thought was this: opportunity, especially for founders in Europe who often feel overshadowed by larger US-based funding narratives.
Clover’s fund, led by Samuel Tual, isn’t just another venture capital move. It’s structured to specifically invest in Pre-Seed and Seed stage companies, meaning the kind of startups that most larger VCs dismiss as “too early to de-risk.” For founders like you and me, this is big. Let me break it down.
What Clover’s Fund Means for Entrepreneurs in Work and Education
Clover’s strategy is laser-focused: 20 to 30 investments every year, with individual ticket sizes ranging from €100,000 to €200,000. They’re starting strong with €30 million on the table, and they are looking for founders across Europe and the United States who are reshaping how people work and learn.
Here’s why Clover’s fund stands out to me:
1. The Pre-Seed Window
Early stage funding is fragile in Europe. Most VCs want to see traction, sharp revenue growth, or global scalability before they write checks. Clover’s model, a literal lifeline for startups too young for traditional venture funding, could change this dynamic. They’re stepping into the messy process of validating ideas, offering portfolio companies both financial backing and, if we take Tual’s word for it, personalized guidance.
2. Focus on Work and Education
The pandemic redrew the rules of work and learning around the globe. From hybrid models of remote work to AI-powered tools for job recruitment or professional training, founders focusing on disruption in this sector are creating lasting impact. Clover’s dedication to becoming the “VC for Work and Education” aligns with global trends, like Europe’s intensified AI adoption and the collaborative tools segment growing steadily.
3. An Evergreen Fund to Nurture Growth
What’s particularly promising is that Clover operates as an evergreen fund. This allows them flexibility when it comes to reinvesting capital or staying in the game long-term. For entrepreneurs, this means potential follow-on support without the typical fund lifecycle pressures that “force” VCs to prematurely focus on exit strategies.
Statistics Every Entrepreneur Should Know
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Europe still lags behind the U.S. in venture funding. In 2023, less than 20% of global VC funding went to European startups, with early-stage investments making up merely 22% of that figure.
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Budgets are growing tighter for Pre-Seed and Seed ventures. Reports show fewer micro-VC funds were created in 2024 compared to previous years, with first-time founders being hit hardest.
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Startup success rates increase with small funding boosts. According to Startup Genome, businesses that secure Seed investments see a 34% higher chance of reaching Series A than bootstrapped peers.
Clover’s commitment to smaller checks in seed stages goes directly against the current trend of larger, later-stage funds.
Three Mistakes Women Entrepreneurs Must Avoid
As a female founder, nobody handed me VC funds wrapped in a ribbon. The road is different, especially in tech. To maximize opportunities like Clover’s fund, avoid these pitfalls:
1. Waiting for Confidence
Imposter syndrome whispers that your product isn’t perfect. Ignore it. The greatest female founders I know sent funding applications long before their MVP was fully baked. Clover isn’t asking for perfection, they’re asking for potential.
2. Focusing Solely on Products in Pitching
Too often, women pitch their product rather than their market opportunity. Investors, especially VCs prioritizing emerging sectors, need to see that you’re not just solving today’s problems. Show how your startup grows with future workforce trends like AI-driven collaboration.
3. Not Researching Your VC
Would Clover’s mandate work for you? Inspect it. Clover’s model matches startups that redefine education and job creation through concrete, scalable frameworks, and there are strong cross-Atlantic trends to support this. Do your homework before pitching.
Lessons Clover’s Fund Highlights About European Funding
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US Networks Are Critical: By emphasizing their solid U.S. ties, Clover highlights a bitter truth: Europe’s market is expansive, but scaling fast often depends on tapping into American-centric ecosystems.
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Specialization Isn’t Limiting, It’s Strategic: It gives startups a chance to align with investors who understand their vision. Clover addresses this niche beautifully.
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Collaborative Efforts Yield Innovation: Beyond money, Clover aims to actively engage in growing Europe’s startup ecosystem for work and education. For entrepreneurs, this is a chance to form partnerships beyond just capital.
How You Can Pitch Clover
Follow this guide to prepare for funds like Clover:
1. Understand Their Investment Theses
Root your presentation in work and education trends. Build a data-driven case: whether AI in job training or tools for upskilling remote teams, tailor your pitch.
2. Lead with Your Market Opportunity
Europe’s work-tech and learning markets are sprouting rapidly. Show them that you not only know the game but are ahead of the curve.
3. Know Your Numbers
Break down how €200,000 can take you from iteration to refinement. Be bold with experimentation but conservative in how you pace yourself through funding.
4. Position Yourself as the Founder They Want
Clover is founder-focused. Be confident, transparent, and upfront about the gaps you need help filling. Convince them that partnering with you will strengthen not just their portfolio but their reputation as thought-leaders in these fields.
Wrapping Up
Clover has planted its €30 million stake in a crucial, future-facing sector. For European women entrepreneurs, particularly those in the tech or educational startups space, this is a pivotal chance to access early-stage funding that’s no strings attached. We don’t need to bootstrapped forever; we get to scale thoughtfully when niche VCs start betting on us.
Let’s keep our eyes open and portfolios ready for opportunities like Clover. You can read more about Clover’s launch through this Tech.eu Clover announcement. No matter the next move, there’s one thing I know, I’ve never regretted preparing for a chance that would finally say “yes.” And neither will you.
FAQ
1. What is Clover's €30 million fund for?
Clover's €30 million fund is designed to back early-stage startups in work and education, with specific focus on Pre-Seed and Seed-stage companies in Europe and the U.S. Learn more about Clover’s €30M Fund
2. How much does Clover invest per startup?
Clover invests between €100,000 and €200,000 per startup, targeting companies in the early stages of development. Explore Clover’s Investment Strategy
3. What sectors does Clover focus on?
Clover focuses on startups that are reshaping work and education, particularly in areas such as AI-powered job tools, digital learning platforms, and workforce transformation solutions.
4. Who leads Clover?
Clover is led by Samuel Tual, an entrepreneur and Vice-President of MEDEF, and Hugo Mendes, a former entrepreneur and investor with deep experience in both Europe and the U.S. Read more about Clover’s Leadership
5. What is unique about Clover’s fund model?
Clover operates as an evergreen fund, meaning it reinvests capital over time and avoids the typical fund lifecycle pressures, making it more flexible for long-term growth. Understand Clover’s Evergreen Approach
6. How many startups does Clover plan to invest in every year?
Clover aims to make 20 to 30 investments annually, focusing on early-stage ventures. Learn about Clover’s Annual Targets
7. Why is early-stage funding important in Europe?
Early-stage funding remains fragile in Europe due to reduced venture capital investment, making funds like Clover essential for fostering innovation and supporting founders early in their journey.
8. How does Clover tailor its strategy for work and education startups?
Clover aligns with global work-tech and education trends, providing support beyond capital, including personalized guidance for founders addressing workforce transformation and learning needs. Explore Clover’s Strategic Focus
9. What role does the U.S. market play in Clover’s strategy?
Clover leverages strong U.S. ecosystem ties to help European startups scale quickly and access international networks, positioning itself as an Atlantic bridge for innovation. Read about Clover’s U.S. Connections
10. What defines Clover’s founder-focus strategy?
Clover is structured like a startup itself, emphasizing agility and prioritizing partnerships that go beyond funding, aiming to deeply collaborate with entrepreneurs to drive success.
About the Author
Violetta Bonenkamp, also known as MeanCEO, is an experienced startup founder with an impressive educational background including an MBA and four other higher education degrees. She has over 20 years of work experience across multiple countries, including 5 years as a solopreneur and serial entrepreneur. Throughout her startup experience she has applied for multiple startup grants at the EU level, in the Netherlands and Malta, and her startups received quite a few of those. She’s been living, studying and working in many countries around the globe and her extensive multicultural experience has influenced her immensely.
Violetta Bonenkamp's expertise in CAD sector, IP protection and blockchain
Violetta Bonenkamp is recognized as a multidisciplinary expert with significant achievements in the CAD sector, intellectual property (IP) protection, and blockchain technology.
CAD Sector:
- Violetta is the CEO and co-founder of CADChain, a deep tech startup focused on developing IP management software specifically for CAD (Computer-Aided Design) data. CADChain addresses the lack of industry standards for CAD data protection and sharing, using innovative technology to secure and manage design data.
- She has led the company since its inception in 2018, overseeing R&D, PR, and business development, and driving the creation of products for platforms such as Autodesk Inventor, Blender, and SolidWorks.
- Her leadership has been instrumental in scaling CADChain from a small team to a significant player in the deeptech space, with a diverse, international team.
IP Protection:
- Violetta has built deep expertise in intellectual property, combining academic training with practical startup experience. She has taken specialized courses in IP from institutions like WIPO and the EU IPO.
- She is known for sharing actionable strategies for startup IP protection, leveraging both legal and technological approaches, and has published guides and content on this topic for the entrepreneurial community.
- Her work at CADChain directly addresses the need for robust IP protection in the engineering and design industries, integrating cybersecurity and compliance measures to safeguard digital assets.
Blockchain:
- Violetta’s entry into the blockchain sector began with the founding of CADChain, which uses blockchain as a core technology for securing and managing CAD data.
- She holds several certifications in blockchain and has participated in major hackathons and policy forums, such as the OECD Global Blockchain Policy Forum.
- Her expertise extends to applying blockchain for IP management, ensuring data integrity, traceability, and secure sharing in the CAD industry.
Violetta is a true multiple specialist who has built expertise in Linguistics, Education, Business Management, Blockchain, Entrepreneurship, Intellectual Property, Game Design, AI, SEO, Digital Marketing, cyber security and zero code automations. Her extensive educational journey includes a Master of Arts in Linguistics and Education, an Advanced Master in Linguistics from Belgium (2006-2007), an MBA from Blekinge Institute of Technology in Sweden (2006-2008), and an Erasmus Mundus joint program European Master of Higher Education from universities in Norway, Finland, and Portugal (2009).
She is the founder of Fe/male Switch, a startup game that encourages women to enter STEM fields, and also leads CADChain, and multiple other projects like the Directory of 1,000 Startup Cities with a proprietary MeanCEO Index that ranks cities for female entrepreneurs. Violetta created the "gamepreneurship" methodology, which forms the scientific basis of her startup game. She also builds a lot of SEO tools for startups. Her achievements include being named one of the top 100 women in Europe by EU Startups in 2022 and being nominated for Impact Person of the year at the Dutch Blockchain Week. She is an author with Sifted and a speaker at different Universities. Recently she published a book on Startup Idea Validation the right way: from zero to first customers and beyond, launched a Directory of 1,500+ websites for startups to list themselves in order to gain traction and build backlinks and is building MELA AI to help local restaurants in Malta get more visibility online.
For the past several years Violetta has been living between the Netherlands and Malta, while also regularly traveling to different destinations around the globe, usually due to her entrepreneurial activities. This has led her to start writing about different locations and amenities from the POV of an entrepreneur. Here’s her recent article about the best hotels in Italy to work from.
About the Publication
Fe/male Switch is an innovative startup platform designed to empower women entrepreneurs through an immersive, game-like experience. Founded in 2020 during the pandemic "without any funding and without any code," this non-profit initiative has evolved into a comprehensive educational tool for aspiring female entrepreneurs.The platform was co-founded by Violetta Shishkina-Bonenkamp, who serves as CEO and one of the lead authors of the Startup News branch.
Mission and Purpose
Fe/male Switch Foundation was created to address the gender gap in the tech and entrepreneurship space. The platform aims to skill-up future female tech leaders and empower them to create resilient and innovative tech startups through what they call "gamepreneurship". By putting players in a virtual startup village where they must survive and thrive, the startup game allows women to test their entrepreneurial abilities without financial risk.
Key Features
The platform offers a unique blend of news, resources,learning, networking, and practical application within a supportive, female-focused environment:
- Skill Lab: Micro-modules covering essential startup skills
- Virtual Startup Building: Create or join startups and tackle real-world challenges
- AI Co-founder (PlayPal): Guides users through the startup process
- SANDBOX: A testing environment for idea validation before launch
- Wellness Integration: Virtual activities to balance work and self-care
- Marketplace: Buy or sell expert sessions and tutorials
Impact and Growth
Since its inception, Fe/male Switch has shown impressive growth:
- 5,000+ female entrepreneurs in the community
- 100+ startup tools built
- 5,000+ pieces of articles and news written
- 1,000 unique business ideas for women created
Partnerships
Fe/male Switch has formed strategic partnerships to enhance its offerings. In January 2022, it teamed up with global website builder Tilda to provide free access to website building tools and mentorship services for Fe/male Switch participants.
Recognition
Fe/male Switch has received media attention for its innovative approach to closing the gender gap in tech entrepreneurship. The platform has been featured in various publications highlighting its unique "play to learn and earn" model.
