Iris launches 150 million euro early-stage fund

Iris has already invested in German unicorns such as Forto and Staffbase. The new fund is aimed at tech start-ups in German-speaking countries and France.

The venture capital company Iris has launched a new fund: 150 million euros were raised in the first closing. It is intended for seed and Series A investments in technology companies in Germany, Austria, Switzerland and France. Iris would like to invest a maximum of eight million euros per start-up. Iris has already invested in the French start-up Spinergie and Helu from Austria with funds from the new fund.

The capital comes from companies such as Orange, Publicis and Bpifrance, which have already invested in previous Iris funds. A number of European family offices and founders from Iris' portfolio companies also participated. Iris expects the final closing of the fund next year.

"We are looking forward to the next generation of entrepreneurs in the fields of software, fintech, AI, logistics and robotics as well as future tech innovations," says Curt Gunsenheimer, Managing Partner at Iris. This is already the fourth early-stage fund for the venture capital company. The Iris portfolio includes the German unicorns Staffbase and Forto.