New fundSep 2, 2026, 10:39 UTC

Uplift Ventures launches €100M fund for European Deep Tech founders

What's the deal? Uplift Ventures has launched its inaugural €100 million venture capital fund to back Europe's next generation of Deep Tech founders. The Hamburg-based firm plans to invest in up to 20 startups and selected Deep Tech funds across Physical AI, Energy, Enterprise AI, and Logistics, primarily in Europe and the US.

Why now? The fund targets the late Seed and Series A stage, where many Deep Tech companies struggle to raise conviction capital despite growing investor interest. Uplift positions this as one of the biggest financing gaps in the European ecosystem.

The new hire: Christian Noske joins as founding general partner, complementing a leadership team that includes Kerk Wichmann, Christina Hammes, and Maike Steding. He previously led European investments at NGP Capital and was a founding partner at BMW i Ventures and Alliance Ventures, backing companies such as The Exploration Company, ANYbotics, and WeRide.

Who's backing it? The fund is supported by Jungheinrich as a long-term partner sharing Uplift's strategy to back European Deep Tech innovation. The investment team — Katharina Schild, Lukas Böttcher, Susan Suzart, and Helge Jelinski — has previously worked with firms including Cathay Innovation and Speedinvest, and has collectively backed more than 30 startups.

What's the endgame? Uplift will act as lead investor, co-lead, or participating investor depending on the round. Beyond capital, it offers strategic guidance, international market access, customer introductions, and access to a global investor network.

The signal: Deep Tech has become one of venture capital's fastest-growing sectors, but much activity remains concentrated in late-stage mega rounds and a few visible names. "Europe needs dedicated Deep Tech investors who are in it for the long run," said Noske — a bet that early conviction, not just later capital, builds category leaders.