Fundraising Fox
Essen · Pre-Seed–Late Stage · 20 people tracked
Also known as TEV Ventures
Find your way into Cusp Capital
3,705 people in our graph share verified history with the Cusp Capital team — schools, employers, funds. One of them is your warm intro.
Investment thesis
Cusp Capital invests in technology companies 'on the cusp' of significant growth, backing entrepreneurs across a set of core theses. These include the belief that industry-specific software will transform business for SMEs, that digitization combined with sustainability (ESG) will reshape mindsets and markets, that digital products tailored to lower-income consumers and workers will grow, and that European innovations and principles will define the future's digital infrastructure. Beyond capital, the firm provides portfolio companies with hands-on support from in-house experts spanning finance, HR, marketing, and ESG.
Source: firm website, verified Sep 27, 2026.
Team · 20 people
from the firm's website & curated & public directories
What they invest in
from 25 of 29 portfolio companiesSaaS ×18AI & Machine Learning ×15Enterprise Software ×9Cloud Computing ×5Developer Tools ×4Fintech ×3Advanced Manufacturing ×2Circular Economy ×2
HQs:Germany×8Spain×3United States×2Switzerland×1France×1
Who they back
founder profiles across 14 portfolio companiesFounding team size:solo founder×52 founders×63 founders×24+ founders×1
Where their founders studiedfrom 20 founders with education data
Leibniz Universität Hannover ×2Massachusetts Institute of Technology ×2Technical University of Munich ×2Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya ×2
What their founders studiedfrom 19 founders with field-of-study data
Engineering ×7Computer Science ×6Business & Management ×5Finance & Accounting ×2Mathematics & Statistics ×2
Where their founders worked beforefrom 19 founders with career history
Energieheld GmbH ×2Futury ×2LinkedIn ×2McKinsey & Company ×2
4 founders hold a PhD · 2 hold an MBA (of 20 with degree data)
Investments · 29 tracked
founders shown can be your intro pathBy year:2026 · 12025 · 42024 · 42023 · 32022 · 22021 · 12017 · 116 dated
2501 builds an AIOps platform with autonomous agents that monitor, predict, and remediate infrastructure issues without human intervention, aimed at enterprise, government, and financial services operations teams.
AI & Machine LearningCloud ComputingDeveloper ToolsEnterprise SoftwareParis, FR
Alex Zhuk(Founder)in
Co-investorsKfundKima VenturesGalion.exeAxeleo Capital
Cusp Capital is a European venture capital firm that invests across enterprise software, infrastructure, deeptech, and sustainable businesses, supporting portfolio companies through operational expertise and strategic guidance.
AI & Machine LearningDeep TechEnterprise SoftwareSaaSBerlin, DE
Cindy Candrian(Co-founder)Anne Scherer(Co-founder)
BoardCarolin(Investment Team Member)Jan(Investment Team Member)Christian(Investment Team Member)Maximilian(Investment Team Member)
Co-investorsKfW CapitalPeak
Acto is an AI sales tool for wholesale distributors that analyzes ERP and CRM data to give field sales teams weekly recommendations on which customers need attention, churn risks, and cross-sell/upsell opportunities.
AI & Machine LearningSaaSSales Tech
Co-investors468 Capital
CarbonCloud calculates product carbon footprints for food companies using an AI engine that derives emissions from a company's bill of materials.
AI & Machine LearningCleantechClimate TechFoodTechSaaS
David Bryngelsson(Founder)in
Co-investorsPeakMaki.vcTS Ventures
CertHub provides software for medical device manufacturers to streamline compliance documentation and regulatory submissions under MDR, IVDR, and other EU regulations.
Medical DevicesSaaSMunich, DE
Leon Kobinger(Founder)in
Co-investorsCalm/Storm VCD11Z
Confluent provides a cloud-native platform for real-time data streaming and movement, enabling organizations to connect applications and respond to business events as they occur.
AI & Machine LearningCloud ComputingData & InfrastructureDeveloper ToolsEnterprise SoftwareMountain View, US
Neha Narkhede(Co-founder; former Chief Technology Officer and board member)inJay Kreps(Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer)inJun Rao(Co-founder)inEdward (Jay) Kreps(Executive Officer, Director, Promoter)
BoardMatthew Miller(Director)Eric Vishria(Director)in
Co-investorsAlkeon InnovationAltimeter CapitalArtisanal VenturesAxevil CapitalBattery VenturesCoatue Management+14 more
Delta Labs develops custom AI solutions, with its main product Elaiia being an "Artificial Customer Intelligence" platform that builds synthetic populations from behavioral and attitudinal data to simulate how customer segments respond to product, pricing, messaging and creative decisions.
AI & Machine LearningMarketing TechSaaSZurich, CH
Cindy Candrian(Founder)inAnne Scherer(Founder)in
Co-investorsAuxxo
deutsche-startups.de is a German-language online news publication covering the startup ecosystem, reporting on companies, founders, and market developments.
Media & Entertainment
Co-investorsPando Ventures
Fixably provides a SaaS aftersales platform for repair businesses to manage device repair, refurbishment, and resale more efficiently.
Circular EconomyLogistics & Supply ChainRetail TechSaaS
Joel Mansnerus(Founder)in
Co-investorsIcebreaker468 Capital
HERO is business management software for tradesman and craft businesses (Handwerk), offering tools such as invoicing, calculation, inventory management, time tracking, construction site planning, CRM, and document management.
AI & Machine LearningConstruction TechEnergyEnterprise SoftwareSaaS
Michael Kessler(Founder & CEO)inPhilipp Lyding(Founder & CRO)in
Co-investorsEight Roads Ventures
Hivebuy offers an AI-agent platform that automates indirect procurement for mid-sized and enterprise companies, handling ordering, price comparison, approvals, and invoice processing directly through chat tools like Teams and Slack.
AI & Machine LearningEnterprise SoftwareSaaSBerlin, DE
Stream processing cloud that lets developers turn data into real-time action at scale.
Co-investors468 CapitalCortical VenturesESSENCE VCEssence Venture Capital
Laborai combines AI and tax experts to optimize personal income tax returns, reviewing past filings for missed deductions and preparing and filing them with the Spanish tax authority.
AI & Machine LearningFintech
Said Abouali Sánchez(Founder)inEduardo Suarez(Founder)inPau Comas Ollé(Founder)in
Libeen offers a rent-to-own housing model in Spain: it buys a home the customer selects from any real estate portal, rents it to them while they save 30% of the monthly rent toward a down payment, and lets them become the owner in 3 to 7 years.
FintechPropTech
Co-investorsPlus PartnersActyus
Mainteny provides a cloud-based ERP and maintenance-management software for lift/elevator maintenance companies, aimed at reducing administrative workload and paperwork so engineers spend more time on installations.
Cloud ComputingEnterprise SoftwareFuture of WorkSaaS
Tom Chenna(CEO)in
Payflow is a financial wellness platform for employers that enables employees to access earned wages on demand instantly and provides flexible compensation benefits through a mobile app and card.
Enterprise SoftwareFintechHR TechSaaSMadrid, ES
Avinash Sukhwai(Founder)inBenoit Menardo(Founder)inBenoist Menardo(Executive Officer, Director)
BoardCedric Asselman(Director)Elisabet Faus Morros(Director)
Co-investorsCarolus InvestCathay InnovationCats.vcExtension FundRocket Internet SESprint Vc+6 more
Recyda provides a software platform that helps companies manage Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) compliance by consolidating packaging data, calculating EPR obligations according to country-specific regulations, and generating compliant declarations.
Circular EconomyEnterprise SoftwareSaaS
Anna Zießow(Co-Founder & Managing Director)inVivian Loftin(Co-Founder & Managing Director)inChristian Knobloch(Co-Founder & Managing Director)in
Co-investorsAuxxoFutury CapitalSpeedinvest
Restate is a lightweight runtime that turns AI agents, workflows, and backend services into durable processes with durable execution, consistent state, and reliable communication.
AI & Machine LearningCloud ComputingDeveloper ToolsSanta Clara, US
Igal Shilman(Co-founder)inTill Rohrmann(Co-founder)inStephan Ewen(Co-Founder)inAhmed Farghal(Co-founder)in
Co-investorsfirstminute capitalRedpoint VenturesESSENCE VCEssence Venture CapitalExceptional CapitalHetz Ventures+1 more
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SIDES is an all-in-one cloud-based restaurant management software offering modular tools such as a POS system, webshop and app, self-order terminals, kitchen management, delivery routing, inventory, staff management, payments and loyalty programs.
FoodTechRetail TechSaaS
Co-investorsStage 2 Capital
Turbalance develops hardware and software systems for data centers and telecommunications providers, with a focus on AI infrastructure system engineering.
AI & Machine LearningCloud ComputingData & InfrastructureHardware
Hans-Juergen Schmidtke(Founder)inPatrick Jahnke(Founder)
VIDA helps governments, donors, and investors identify gaps in infrastructure such as energy, water, and roads across underserved communities in sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East using geospatial data and AI.
AI & Machine LearningGovTechImpact & Social GoodSaaS
VIDA
Co-investorsConcentricTrammell Venture Partners (TVP)
Other
Tracked investments with no reachable website or further public details — typically companies that wound down, renamed, or were absorbed.
AudviceRealport
Portfolio news
latest coverage across their companiesRestate · restate.dev · Jul 10, 2026
2501 · meshedsociety.com · Sep 25, 2025
Frequently asked questions
- How many investments has Cusp Capital made?
- Cusp Capital has 29 tracked investments, 1 of which have exited, including 7 dated in the last 24 months.
- What stage does Cusp Capital invest at?
- Cusp Capital invests at the Pre-Seed, Seed, Series A, Series B, Series C, Growth, Late Stage stages.
- What is Cusp Capital's typical check size?
- Cusp Capital typically writes checks of $7.6M.
- What sectors does Cusp Capital focus on?
- Cusp Capital focuses on Advanced Manufacturing, AI & Machine Learning, Climate Tech, Cloud Computing, Consumer, Data & Infrastructure, Energy, Enterprise Software, Fintech, FoodTech, Hardware, Impact & Social Good, Media & Entertainment, Mobility & Transportation, SaaS.
- Where is Cusp Capital located?
- Cusp Capital is headquartered in Essen, DE.
- Does Cusp Capital lead rounds?
- Yes, Cusp Capital leads investment rounds.
- Who does Cusp Capital co-invest with?
- Cusp Capital most often shares deals with Auxxo, Kfund, Battery Ventures, among 37 tracked co-investors.
- What size deals does Cusp Capital back?
- Across 11 deals with disclosed amounts, Cusp Capital has joined rounds of $3M – $22M (median $7M).
Media · Podcasts & interviews
featuring the teamJan Sessenhausen, Partner Cusp Capital – Der VC hinter „Die Höhle der Löwen“ (#8)
DEALMACHER mit Iskender Dirik · Jan Sessenhausen
Currywurst-Talk mit Christian Winter (Cusp Capital)
ruhrHUB · Christian Winter
Co-investors · 32
468 Capital is a technology investment firm with offices in Berlin and San Francisco that invests across multiple stages in software, AI, and internet companies. The firm focuses on thesis-driven investments in businesses with experienced founding teams.
Peak is an early-stage venture fund founded and run by entrepreneurs, backing extraordinary teams across Europe. It focuses on SaaS, marketplaces, and platforms.
Essence VC is a rare "engineer-first, solo GP" fund led by Timothy Chen, who was initially rejected as "too technical/too nerdy" for traditional VC but built Essence into what's considered "one of the hottest startup funds in tech," backed by top-tier LPs like Marc Andreessen and Martin Casado. The fund explicitly positions itself as investing in infrastructure companies before they exist, backing founders at the repo/demo stage with comfort writing checks when there's only GitHub traction and an alpha—much earlier and more technically driven than most infra-focused VCs.
Index Ventures is a venture capital firm that backs founders across industries and geographies, emphasizing the people behind ideas as much as the businesses themselves.
Since 1999, Redpoint Ventures has partnered with visionary founders to create new markets and redefine existing ones. The firm invests early in startups building category-defining companies, from AI and infrastructure to security. Redpoint has backed hundreds of companies, including Netflix, Snowflake, Stripe, Ramp, Twilio, Ramp, and Hims, and today backs the next generation of AI leaders like OpenAI, Legora, Modal, Abridge and Physical Intelligence. Redpoint is based in San Francisco and has offices in New York City and Woodside. For more information visit: http://www.redpoint.com/
Northzone is a technology-focused venture capital firm investing across AI and deep tech on both sides of the Atlantic, backing companies from early stage through growth.
firstminute capital is an early-stage venture fund providing the first institutional cheque to European founders building global technology companies across AI and deep tech.
Eight Roads Ventures is a venture capital firm that backs and partners with technology and healthcare companies.
Artisanal Ventures is a venture capital firm that supports founders through its network, limited partner base, and a partnership with Artisanal Talent to help portfolio companies access top executive talent.
Andreessen Horowitz (a16z) is a venture capital firm founded in 2009 by Marc Andreessen and Ben Horowitz, known for pioneering the platform model with a large team of operators supporting founders across stages.
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General Catalyst is a venture capital firm operating as a partnership focused on company building and accelerating the growth of the businesses it backs.
Lightspeed Venture Partners is a global venture capital firm that backs founders from Seed through Series F and beyond, emphasizing deep, immersive partnerships with the companies it invests in.
▶20 more co-investors
AccelUnknown VenturesAccel-KKRPICUS CAPITALMeritech Capital PartnersPoint NineAntlerHV CapitalNotion CapitalEarlybird Venture CapitalLa FamigliaGreenoaksPiton Capital LLPNauta CapitalTeam GlobalIris CapitalCelonisLEA PartnersAlascoSTS Ventures GmbH
Firms observed investing alongside Cusp Capital, from public investor directories. Shared companies are the overlap with Cusp Capital's recorded portfolio.
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