Europe's venture capital ecosystem continues to expand and adapt as the deeptech sector gains momentum. Jolt Capital has just closed the first funding round for its fifth fund, raising €600 million, an impressive step toward its ultimate goal of €1.1 billion. As someone who runs startups and bootstraps everything, I find this development as exciting as it is eye-opening. Together, we'll unpack what this move means for Europe's deeptech future, its impact on entrepreneurs, and some priceless lessons for women navigating the entrepreneurial space.
The Numbers and What They Represent
Jolt Capital’s Fund V isn't just a pile of money, it’s a marker for the growing recognition of deeptech as a cornerstone of European innovation. The fund’s anchor investor, the European Investment Fund (EIF), contributed €260 million, showing institutional confidence in scaling advanced technologies like semiconductors, AI, and renewable energy. Other contributors include sovereign wealth funds, insurance companies, banks, and family offices, further proving that deeptech is no longer niche, it’s big business.
The fund will invest in approximately 20 European growth-stage companies. These aren’t your typical startups trying to become unicorns overnight. Jolt Capital focuses on “rhinos,” a term that describes robust companies built to withstand global challenges, from geopolitical tensions to supply chain disruptions.
Why Deeptech Matters Now
Deeptech encompasses scientific and technological breakthroughs, things like advanced materials, medical devices, AI-powered software, and renewable energy solutions. Europe has historically been slower than the U.S. and Asia in scaling these cutting-edge technologies, but that’s changing.
What caught my attention is the rise of IV and V funds like the one from Jolt Capital. This shift points to Europe waking up to its tech potential and fostering companies that prioritize strong intellectual property and sustainability. If you're a founder or entrepreneur, this is critical information. Keep an eye on sectors where Europe intersects global risks (chip shortages, energy management) because they’re ripe for growth, and funding.
What Entrepreneurs Can Learn
To help female founders reading this, here are three insights drawn from Jolt Capital’s strategy and success:
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Focus on Europe's blind spots: Jolt Capital positions itself in sectors where Europe lacks significant players. Identify areas of need, and carve your niche. This could be energy-efficient solutions, innovative hardware, or AI that solves real industrial problems.
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Specialize: Building companies with intellectual property strengths can set you apart. The lessons from Jolt’s investments lie in technologies that possess lasting competitive advantages, not the fleeting hype of consumer apps.
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Pitch like a pro: Sovereign wealth funds and institutional investors love resilience. Their "rhino" strategy emphasizes substance over style. When presenting your startup, emphasize how your solution is built to last, both financially and socially.
Common Mistakes Female Entrepreneurs Should Avoid
Here’s a list of critical missteps often overlooked:
- Chasing trends without proper validation. Remember that sovereign wealth is rarely allocated to trendy consumer technologies.
- Scaling too early: Growth-stage funding like Jolt’s isn’t designed for companies still fiddling with prototypes. Nail your market positioning and build customer trust first.
- Neglecting deeper partnerships: Venture capitalists love to see founders who can leverage strong networks. Collaborations add points when fundraising, particularly with European investors who value relationship-building.
How to Position Your Business for Success
If you’re bootstrapping like I did with Fe/male Switch, focus your financial strategy on early validation and experimenting with smaller grants or pilot projects. Claim space in the deeptech sector with measurable models that predict ROI accurately. Here’s a small guide:
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Identify industries with consistent demand: Renewable energy and AI are attracting capital not only for their innovation but because they address pressing global issues.
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Use proprietary tools to spot gaps: Investor-ready pitch decks should emphasize future revenue plans tied directly to sector trends. Tools like Jolt Capital’s AI-powered sourcing platform, Jolt.Ninja, identify high-potential companies by scanning millions of datasets. Mimic this mentality; know your market deeply.
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Engage institutional players: Venture capital conversations aren’t just about raising funds, they’re about forming relationships for the next decade. Approach meetings as cooperative dialogues, showcasing your vision while listening to investor priorities.
Lessons for Aspiring Women in Tech
Women-founded startups are notoriously underfunded, and as someone working in STEM myself, I see this firsthand. Deeptech offers an advantage we can’t overlook: credibility built through expertise. Mastering multidisciplinary approaches is key. For instance, I combine AI research with blockchain to create secure environments for intellectual property management, and that alone has opened doors for grants and global accelerator programs.
The founding myth that only loud pitches secure funds is outdated. Institutions are looking for trust and long-term sustainability. Partner with mentors, incubators, and even peers who can amplify your expertise in male-dominated sectors like energy or software.
Conclusion: Start Small, Think Big
Jolt Capital’s success with Fund V is a glowing reminder that Europe’s deeptech ecosystem is accelerating and there is space for entrepreneurs who lean into challenges. Female founders should take inspiration from their tailored approach of balancing innovation with sustainability. Whether you're bootstrapping your first startup or scaling your fifth, aim to build resilience into your business model.
Scaling deeptech takes patience, partnerships, and positioning. If you’re serious about making a mark, follow what investors like Jolt Capital are funding. Let’s drive the narrative, not just inhabit it. Want to know more about who’s moving the needle in European funding? Check out Tech Funding News’ in-depth look at Jolt Capital's latest updates here.
FAQ
1. What is Jolt Capital’s latest fund about, and how much has been raised so far?
Jolt Capital's Fund V is focused on deeptech, including sectors like semiconductors, medtech, AI, and energy. It has completed its first close at €600 million, aiming for a €1.1 billion target. Read the full announcement about Jolt Capital Fund V
2. Who is the anchor investor for Jolt Capital's Fund V and how much did they invest?
The anchor investor, the European Investment Fund (EIF), has invested €260 million via its ETCI program to support the fund. Learn more about EIF's investment in Jolt Capital Fund V
3. What types of companies will Fund V support?
Fund V will focus on approximately 20 European growth-stage deeptech companies, prioritizing intellectual property, sustainability, and resilience in industrial sectors. Understand Jolt Capital's investment strategy
4. How does Jolt Capital differentiate its strategy from competitors?
Jolt Capital focuses on building "rhinos", resilient industrial scale-ups, unlike the usual VC emphasis on "unicorns." They also use their AI sourcing platform, Jolt.Ninja, for precision deal selection. Learn about the "rhino" strategy at Jolt Capital
5. What is Jolt.Ninja, and how does it help in investment decisions?
Jolt.Ninja is Jolt Capital's proprietary AI platform that scans data from 5 million companies to identify under-the-radar opportunities in deeptech. Read about Jolt.Ninja and its role in deal sourcing
6. Which sectors does Jolt Capital’s Fund V plan to emphasize?
The fund will emphasize deeptech segments like semiconductors, energy management, medtech, applied AI, and advanced materials. Explore the sectors targeted by Fund V
7. Why is European deeptech funding becoming a priority?
Europe is focusing on deeptech to address global issues like chip shortages and energy needs, aiming to achieve tech sovereignty amidst geopolitical tensions. Find insights on Europe’s deeptech focus
8. How does sustainability factor into Jolt Capital’s investment approach?
Sustainability is a critical focus for Jolt Capital, and Fund V backs technologies with impactful, long-term solutions tied to sustainability goals. Understand how Jolt Capital integrates sustainability
9. What kinds of returns and risks does Jolt Capital Fund V aim to manage?
Fund V seeks to build resilient companies with strong IP foundations, designed to endure global challenges like supply chain disruptions and geopolitical issues. Learn about Jolt Capital’s resilience strategy
10. How can female entrepreneurs draw inspiration from Jolt Capital’s strategy?
Lessons for women include focusing on high-IP-value niches, emphasizing sustainable models, and building networks to succeed in the male-dominated deeptech sector. See advice for female founders in deeptech
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.
