Karlsruhe · Pre-Seed–Series B · 11 people tracked
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Investment thesis
First Momentum Ventures invests at the earliest stage in highly ambitious technical teams tackling hard problems with complex technology. Operating as a pre-seed specialist since 2015, the firm positions itself as a companion to founders 'at hour zero', staffed by engineers and scientists who understand highly technical products, markets and commercialization paths. It offers tangible support through connections to talent, partners, customers and investors, and follows a 'From Founders to Founders' mindset rooted in its origins launching the incubator of Germany's largest campus entrepreneurship association. The firm emphasizes intellectual honesty and open communication with the teams it backs.
Source: firm website, verified Aug 3, 2026.
Team · 11 people
from the firm's website & curated & public directories
What they invest in
from 46 of 52 portfolio companiesAI & Machine Learning ×17Deep Tech ×15SaaS ×14Developer Tools ×10Enterprise Software ×10Cleantech ×8Advanced Manufacturing ×7Energy ×7
HQs:Germany×25United States×3Switzerland×1Denmark×1Finland×1France×1
Who they back
founder profiles across 9 portfolio companiesFounding team size:solo founder×52 founders×23 founders×2
What their founders studiedfrom 11 founders with field-of-study data
Computer Science ×3Physics ×3Engineering ×2
Where their founders worked beforefrom 12 founders with career history
BMW Group ×2
Accelerator rootsportfolio companies that came through a program
Investments · 52 tracked
founders shown can be your intro pathBy year:2025 · 22022 · 22021 · 26 dated
Atlas builds a foundational model of human biology used to predict patient outcomes and run virtual clinical trials.
AI & Machine LearningBiotechHealthtech
Co-investorsLEA PartnersAccel
Brineworks develops an electrochemical Direct Air Capture system that uses electrolyzer technology and renewably powered intermittent operation to capture CO₂ at low cost.
CleantechClimate TechDeep Tech
Joseph Perryman(Founder)in
Co-investorsSeaX VenturesAiiM PartnersNucleus CapitalSatganaHOF CapitalKatapult+1 more
Cello provides a platform that lets SaaS companies add referral and affiliate programs to their products with a few lines of code via an SDK.
Marketing TechSaaSSales Tech
Co-investorsbyFoundersHeartcore Capital
ContextPush is an iOS SDK that uses on-device sensor signals to detect a user's real-world context and delivers non-transactional push notifications when users are most likely to engage.
AI & Machine LearningData & InfrastructureDeveloper ToolsMarketing TechNew York City, US
Felix Krause(Founder)inDieter Rappold(CEO & Co-founder)in
Co-investorssandstorm.vcSpeedinvest
Daedalus provides cloud infrastructure and tools for precision manufacturing operations, offering manufacturing-specific functionality similar to AWS's broader cloud services.
Advanced ManufacturingRoboticsSan Francisco, US
Jonas Schneider(Founder)in
Co-investorsLEA PartnersNGP CapitalY CombinatorAdditionKhosla VenturesTarget Global+1 more
Dive Solutions provides cloud-based computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation software using the SPH (Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics) method for engineering teams.
Advanced ManufacturingAI & Machine LearningCloud ComputingDeep TechDeveloper ToolsSaaSBerlin, DE
Maik(Co-founder)Pierre(Co-founder)Johannes(Co-founder)Felix(Co-founder)Ivo Simonsmeier(Platform Tech Lead)
Co-investorsSenovo
edyoucated provides a skills management platform that helps companies map employee competencies in a unified skill matrix, speed up onboarding, plan staff deployment, and make data-based training decisions.
EdTechFuture of WorkHR Tech
encosa plans, installs, and operates battery storage systems for businesses, optimizing electricity use behind the meter (peak shaving, self-consumption, reduced grid fees) while also trading available storage capacity on energy, capacity, and intraday markets.
CleantechClimate TechEnergy
Sascha KoberstaedtSebastian Becker
Co-investorsBitStone Capital
enneo provides AI and software solutions for customer service in the energy sector, drawing on the founders' experience scaling a digital energy provider and modernizing operations for utilities.
AI & Machine LearningEnergyEnterprise SoftwareSaaSBerlin, DE
Kyung(Founder & Commercial Lead)Richard(Founder & Technology/Product Lead)
EXIST is a startup-funding program of Germany's Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy that helps students, researchers, and founding teams turn scientific ideas, research results, and deep-tech innovations into startups.
Deep TechGovTech
Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (FAZ) is a German news publisher providing current coverage of politics, business, sports, and culture.
Media & Entertainment
Co-investorsAviv Venture Capital
Gauss Fusion is a German fusion energy company developing high-field magnetic confinement fusion technology, with the goal of building an industrialized gigawatt-class fusion power plant by 2045.
CleantechDeep TechEnergy
Frank Laukien(Founder & Executive Chair)inKlaus Schlenga(Former Managing Director)in
BoardMichael Peiniger(Vice Chair)
Handelsblatt Invest is a weekly podcast for professional investors and ambitious private investors, hosted by Handelsblatt reporter Astrid Dörner, featuring interviews with international experts on capital-market trends.
Media & Entertainment
Co-investorsb2ventureEnBW New Ventures GmbH
HeyCharge provides hardware and software for companies to manage employee charging of company vehicles at home, with tax-compliant tracking and reimbursement capabilities across any OCPP-compatible wallbox.
Advanced ManufacturingCleantechClimate TechEnergyEnterprise SoftwareHardwareIoTMobility & TransportationMunich, DE
Chris Cardé(Founder)inRobert Lasowski(Founder)inChris Carde(Founder)in
Co-investorsBMW i VenturesVireo VenturesY CombinatorStatkraft Ventures
Immobilien Zeitung publishes an eMagazine featuring a directory of German real estate law firms with their specializations, fees and contact details, plus articles, videos and graphics on topics like anti-money-laundering and land registry.
Media & EntertainmentPropTech
Co-investorsb2venture
Hyperdrives develops electric motors and inverters for automotive and aviation applications, offering integrated SiC inverter power units or stand-alone motors.
CleantechHardwareMobility & Transportation
Michael Numberger(Founder)in
Co-investors2100 VenturesAcequia Capital (AceCap)Rethink Ventures
IMD is an executive education institution that provides leadership development programs and management education for executives, business leaders, and organizations.
EdTech
A space propulsion company developing non-toxic green propellant technology, including its HIP_11 hypergolic propellant combination.
CleantechDeep TechHardwareSpace TechLampoldshausen, DE
Lukas Werling(Co-founder)inFelix(Co-founder)
Co-investorsFaberFaber Capital SCR SAFinal Frontier (Space & Defence VC)Join Capital
Karavela builds a foundation model of the human brain using magnetic resonance imaging and develops AI tools to enhance clinical trials in psychiatry and neurology.
AI & Machine LearningHealthtechMedical Devices
Alexis Thual(CEO)inBertrand Thirion(CSO)in
Kipu Quantum provides enterprise-ready quantum computing solutions and platforms that enable organizations with limited quantum expertise to access quantum computing capabilities.
AI & Machine LearningDeep TechEnterprise SoftwareQuantum Computing
Co-investorsDeepTech & Climate FondsEntrada VenturesLBBW Venture Capital GmbHOnsight VenturesQAI VenturesQuantonation+1 more
Lightly provides tools for AI teams to manage and curate training data more efficiently.
AI & Machine LearningData & InfrastructureDeveloper ToolsEnterprise SoftwareZürich, CH
Igor Susmelj(Founder)in
Co-investorsSICTICY CombinatorFounderfulSoma Capital
Magentic builds an AI agent platform for procurement and supply chain, offering AI "teammates" (called Mages) that use a company's existing software and ERP systems to handle manual workflows such as supplier follow-up, invoice updates, and price negotiation prep.
Advanced ManufacturingAI & Machine LearningEnterprise Software
Robin Van Aeken(Founder)in
Co-investorsSequoia CapitalThe Westly Group
Manufacturing Digital is a B2B digital media platform for manufacturing and "factory of the future" executives, offering media, events, research, and data services.
AdTechAdvanced ManufacturingMedia & Entertainment
Glen White(CEO, BizClik & Manufacturing Digital)
Ninetailed offers a personalization platform that enables web teams to create and deliver tailored content experiences without developer support.
AdTechCloud ComputingDeveloper ToolsEnterprise SoftwareMarketing TechSaaSBerlin, DE
Sascha Konietzke(Executive Officer, Director, Promoter)Paolo Negri(Executive Officer, Director, Promoter)Andy Kaiser(Co-founder and CEO; later VP Product at Contentful)Alexander Braunreuther(Co-founder)Steve Sloan(Executive Officer, Director)Margo M Smith(Executive Officer)
Co-investorsBalderton CapitalCherry VenturesGaia VenturesGrand VenturesHeavybitMosaic Ventures+11 more
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One-Five provides data-driven packaging solutions through Quartermaster, a platform that uses predictive analytics to match materials to customer opportunities and optimize packaging design performance.
Advanced ManufacturingAI & Machine LearningCircular EconomyData & InfrastructureNew MaterialsSaaSHamburg, DE
Martin Weber(Founder and CEO)inClaire Hae-Min Gusko(Co-Founder)in
Co-investorsAuxxoBlue Horizon CorporationBtomorrow VenturesGGFGreen Generation FundPlanet A Ventures+1 more
Pliant offers payment infrastructure enabling businesses to issue physical and virtual credit cards, monitor expenditures, and integrate payment data with their existing finance systems.
Enterprise SoftwareFintechSaaSBerlin, DE
Malte Rau(Co-founder, Chief Executive Officer)inFabian Terner(Co-founder, Chief Product Officer)in
Co-investorsAlstin CapitalFin CapitalMolten VenturesMotive PartnersMS&AD VenturesNina Capital+5 more
Project B is a German payroll processing company that offers both managed payroll services for businesses and a software platform for payroll offices and tax consultants to streamline payroll administration.
Enterprise SoftwareHR TechSaaSMunich, DE
Co-investorsEpisode1
QuantPi develops testing and verification technology for artificial intelligence systems to assess their reliability, explainability, and safety before deployment.
AI & Machine LearningDeep TechDeveloper ToolsEnterprise SoftwareSaaSSaarbrücken, DE
Co-investorsCapnamicPreston-Werner VenturesNew Forge
Quantum Diamonds develops quantum sensing systems for semiconductor failure analysis and metrology, with the QDm.1 microscope enabling non-destructive imaging of electrical activity in circuits to isolate defects.
Deep TechQuantum ComputingSemiconductorsMunich, DE
Fleming Bruckmaier(CTO & Co-Founder)inKevin Berghoff(CEO & Co-Founder)in
Co-investorsEarlybird Venture CapitalIQ CapitalOnsight VenturesWorld Fund
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Roofline develops an SDK for edge AI applications that enables developers to import and deploy models across diverse hardware using a Python interface and proprietary AI compiler technology.
AI & Machine LearningDeep TechDeveloper Tools
Skycore Semiconductors designs switched-capacitor power converter technology, with the Skycore 300 W evaluation kit demonstrating high-efficiency DC-DC conversion for applications requiring compact design and power density.
AI & Machine LearningDeep TechEnergyHardwareSemiconductorsCopenhagen, DK
Co-investorsBalnord Sp. z o.o.Morph CapitalMätch VC
Software Defined Automation provides a platform for industrial operations that manages factory automation and control systems with AI-driven insights and built-in OT (operational technology) security.
Advanced ManufacturingCloud ComputingCybersecurityDeveloper ToolsIoTBoston, US
Josef Waltl(Executive Officer, Director)inJon Rosenbaum(Director)Axel Scheurer(Executive Officer, Director)
BoardAxel Bichara(Director)in
Co-investorsBaukunstFly VenturesTechFounders
The European Spinoff Summit is an event for researchers, scientist-founders, TTOs, VCs, and ecosystem players covering the journey from research to marketable products through workshops, panels, keynotes, and networking.
Deep TechMunich, DE
Telura develops a next-generation drilling technology that breaks rock using electrical/lightning-based methods to make deep geothermal energy cheaper and faster to access.
CleantechDeep TechEnergyMunich, DE
Andrew Welling(Founder)
Tilores provides entity resolution infrastructure for developers that ingests customer data from any source, resolves duplicates in real time, and serves unified entity profiles via GraphQL.
AI & Machine LearningData & InfrastructureDeveloper ToolsEnterprise SoftwareFintechSaaS
Steven Renwick(CEO & Co-Founder)inHendrik Nehnes(Co-Founder)inStefan Berkner(Co-Founder)in
Co-investorsCOREangels
TURN2X produces certifiable renewable natural gas (RNG) by combining green hydrogen with biogenic CO2 through methanation at plants co-located with renewable power sources, then delivers it via existing pipeline infrastructure.
CleantechClimate TechEnergyMunich, DE
Benedikt Stolz(Co-Founder & COO)inPhilip Kessler(Co-Founder & CEO)inDr. Dominik Schollenberger(Co-Founder & CTO)
Co-investorsLEA PartnersTechFoundersVerve Ventures
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Unikraft provides a cloud infrastructure platform that runs workloads in lightweight, fast-booting virtual machines with VM-grade isolation and sub-10ms cold start times.
Cloud ComputingCybersecurityDeveloper ToolsSaaS
Co-investorsFly VenturesMango Capital
UnternehmerTUM is a Munich-based center for entrepreneurship and innovation, described as Europe's largest startup and founding center, supporting founders and companies in areas such as deep tech.
Deep TechFuture of Work
Co-investorsPRIMEPULSE SE
Jam builds AI-based tools that help revenue and sales teams improve performance by analyzing customer conversations.
AI & Machine LearningSaaSSales TechMunich, DE
Clemens Lechner(Co-Founder & CPO)inSebastian Klein(Co-Founder & CEO)inTobias Hölzer(Co-Founder & CTO)in
Co-investorsPICUS CAPITAL10x Founders
Zenline is a SaaS AI phone assistant that answers calls 24/7 for landlines and mobile numbers, handling frequently asked questions, booking appointments, taking orders and messages, qualifying callers, and transferring calls to a human when needed.
AI & Machine LearningSaaSSales Tech
Zenline AI provides assortment intelligence software for retail category teams to optimize product selection and margin decisions.
AI & Machine LearningRetail TechSaaS
Arber Sejdiji(Co-Founder)inGerrit Merz(Co-Founder)in
ZuriQ develops quantum computing hardware based on a three-dimensional trapped-ion architecture designed for scalable qubit systems while preserving connectivity and operation fidelity.
Deep TechHardwareQuantum Computing
Pavel Hrmoin
Co-investorsOnsight VenturesQAI VenturesQuantonationSquareOneFORWARD.one
Other
Tracked investments with no reachable website or further public details — typically companies that wound down, renamed, or were absorbed.
40 out of roughly 1,300BusinessofappsETH Zurich and EPFL now leadEuropean Women Innovator PrizeOctomindSkyflow
Exits · 1
1 acquisitionsNinetailedacq. by Contentful
Portfolio news
latest coverage across their companies
Handelsblatt · handelsblatt.com · Aug 19, 2026
Atlas · trysignalbase.com · Aug 7, 2026
ZuriQ · entrepreneur.economictimes.indiatimes.com · Jul 29, 2026
Quantum Diamonds · lattispec.com · Jul 15, 2026
Karavela · eu-startups.com · Jul 2, 2026
Ninetailed · tech.eu · Jun 1, 2026
ISPTech · spacenews.com · Mar 17, 2026
HeyCharge · chargedevs.com · Feb 19, 2026
Frequently asked questions
- How many investments has First Momentum made?
- First Momentum has 52 tracked investments, 1 of which have exited, including 2 dated in the last 24 months.
- What stage does First Momentum invest at?
- First Momentum invests at the Pre-Seed, Seed, Series A, Series B stages.
- What is First Momentum's typical check size?
- First Momentum typically writes checks of $216K – $1.1M.
- What sectors does First Momentum focus on?
- First Momentum focuses on AI & Machine Learning, Biotech, Cloud Computing, Deep Tech, Energy, Hardware, Robotics, SaaS, Sector Agnostic, Space Tech.
- Where is First Momentum located?
- First Momentum is headquartered in Karlsruhe, DE.
- Does First Momentum lead rounds?
- Yes, First Momentum leads investment rounds.
- Who does First Momentum co-invest with?
- First Momentum most often shares deals with b2venture, LEA Partners, Y Combinator, among 25 tracked co-investors.
From the blog
visit blog ↗First Momentum has written about quantum computing hardware innovation through trapped-ion startups and structural challenges facing European deep tech scaling, including capital gaps and corporate procurement barriers. AI summary
Media · Podcasts & interviews
featuring the teamHow to Raise a VC Fund with Andreas Fischer & Sebastian Böhmer | First Momentum Ventures webinar
First Momentum · Sebastian Böhmer
#8 Investing in university talent - Andreas Fischer, First Momentum Ventures
The European VC · Andreas Fischer
Images
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