Central and Eastern Europe continues to make headlines in the startup world, and let me tell you, it’s refreshing to see so many opportunities blossoming after years of underrepresentation. As someone who bootstrapped their own startups and dove into the deep waters of entrepreneurship, my heart warms every time I see more funds and initiatives stepping in to support small businesses and dreamers in this part of Europe. For female founders like myself, figuring out how to navigate funding and scaling can be overwhelming, but the tides are turning, and that’s worth celebrating.
Wide open investment doors in CEE
Let’s start with the facts. In the third quarter of 2025, Central and Eastern Europe startups raised a whopping €510 million across 148 funding rounds. Countries like Poland, Ukraine, and Lithuania led the transactions and demonstrated why this ecosystem deserves more eyes on it. Notable investments include Mondu, securing €100 million in debt from J.P. Morgan Payments, and Wakuli, with €5 million raised in Series A to scale regenerative coffee solutions. If you want to see the specifics about Mondu’s advancements, you can read about the funding details.
These success stories show that businesses targeting B2B tech, AI-powered solutions, and climate-friendly initiatives are getting attention and gaining traction. As the founder of CADChain, I know how crucial it is to position yourself in a trending market.
How funds are shifting the landscape
Poland’s Cofounder VC, for example, has launched an early growth fund beyond the seed stage, with plans to distribute up to €30 million among approximately eight startups. Their focus is squarely on tech-driven businesses that have proven revenue, rather than the wild-west of unvalidated ideas. On the Baltic side, Aneli Capital has started a €35 million fund aimed at supporting robotics, ICT, photonics, and deep-tech solutions. These funds are not just about writing cheques, they’re about building relationships and helping founders scale beyond borders. If you're a tech founder in these countries, don't overlook the fund's Baltic tech focus.
A brighter spotlight for women founders
Having built startups from scratch and hustled my way into funding rounds as a female founder, I’ve realized that sometimes women are playing a completely different game. The starting positions can feel miles apart compared to male founders. Here are some lessons that stuck with me over the years:
- Don’t underestimate smaller funding rounds. A €500,000 investment can move mountains when you’re bootstrapping. Not every startup needs millions at the beginning.
- Storytelling wins investors. Every pitch is an opportunity to connect with potential investors emotionally, show them the "why" behind your business. I’ve found authenticity is your strongest weapon.
- Stay involved in your ecosystem. Communities make or break founders. Joining seed accelerator groups or events, like Women Startup Bootcamp, can expand your network in ways you didn’t think possible.
Mistakes that kill potential funding fast
Let’s address the elephant in the room: why do some female founders fail to secure funding despite stellar ideas? I’ll say it bluntly, lack of preparation and alignment with fund requirements (such as proven traction) is often the culprit.
- Ignoring market validation: No investor is going to get excited over an unproven concept. Sort the groundwork first.
- Mismatched focus: If your business targets health tech but you're applying to a robotics-focused fund, you’re wasting time.
- Being underconfident: The nervousness is natural. Still, rehearsing your pitch and focusing on your strengths as a founder can shift perspectives.
A beginner-friendly guide: how to find the right fund
For any startup founder intimidated by the maze of accelerators and investment criteria, here’s a practical plan:
- Start locally. Platforms like Google for Startups Ukraine Support Fund exist to offer seed-level support with fewer strings attached.
- Research sector-specific funds. Many funds are homing in on niches like AI SaaS or climate tech. Get crystal clear about what your startup offers and match it with targeted funding opportunities.
- Build a professional network. LinkedIn isn’t just for showing off your job title. You’ll often find posts like this investor activity rundown, where venture capitalists openly discuss trends, and sometimes funding opportunities.
The truth? Navigating the funding process starts with clarity about what you want and researching until you strike gold.
Closing thoughts to keep you moving forward
It’s clear that the investment space in Central and Eastern Europe is picking up speed, fast. But there’s still room for more equity, diversity, and female-led ventures to rise to the surface. Every piece of funding, whether it's a €100,000 seed round or a €5 million Series A, marks potential to create businesses that solve real challenges in local and global markets.
If you’re a founder or freelancer trying to move your ideas forward, now is the time to brush up on your pitching, get involved in regional startup events, and connect with other founders navigating the same world. Remember, you don’t have to sprint to win. Bootstrap if necessary, stay scrappy, and use resources like VestBee’s funding insights to understand the ecosystem better.
Trust me, if I can bootstrap multiple startups while juggling a non-profit mission and real-time AI development projects, adding your pitch to Europe’s investment scene is entirely doable. Let’s keep showing the world that good ideas can come from anywhere, especially Central and Eastern Europe.
FAQ
1. How much funding was raised by startups in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) in Q3 2025?
Startups in CEE raised €510 million across 148 funding rounds, with notable contributions from countries like Poland, Ukraine, and Lithuania. Learn more about VC funding in CEE
2. Which sectors are gaining traction in the CEE startup ecosystem?
B2B tech, AI-powered solutions, and climate-friendly initiatives are currently leading the way in CEE based on investment trends. Discover CEE startup trends
3. What are some of the notable investments in 2025 for the CEE region?
Examples include Mondu raising €100 million in debt financing from J.P. Morgan Payments and Wakuli securing €5 million in Series A for regenerative coffee solutions. Explore Mondu's funding details
4. What is the focus of Poland’s Cofounder VC’s new fund?
Cofounder VC launched a growth fund targeting startups beyond the seed stage, with €30 million reserved for tech-driven businesses with proven revenue. Learn more about Cofounder VC’s focus
5. What industries does the €35 million Aneli Capital fund target?
Aneli Capital focuses on robotics, ICT, photonics, and deep-tech solutions across the Baltics and Central and Eastern Europe. Read about Aneli Capital's investment strategy
6. How can female founders improve their chances of securing funding?
Female founders are encouraged to avoid underestimating small funding rounds, focus on storytelling during pitches, and stay involved in startup ecosystems through bootcamps and events.
7. What are common mistakes startup founders make during funding rounds?
Key mistakes include neglecting market validation, targeting the wrong funds, and underconfidence during pitches.
8. How can founders identify the right funding opportunities?
Founders should start locally, research sector-specific funds, and build professional networks through platforms like LinkedIn. Discover networking opportunities on LinkedIn
9. What is the Google for Startups Ukraine Support Fund?
This fund provides equity-free cash awards and support to Ukraine-based startups to help them sustain and grow their businesses. Learn about Google for Startups Ukraine Support Fund
10. Why is the CEE region gaining attention from global investors?
The region offers favorable conditions for innovative businesses with its tech-focused funds, growing ecosystems, and increasing number of scalable startups. Check out CEE startup scene growth
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.
