Amsterdam-based DFF Ventures (formerly Dutch Founders Fund) has raised €50 million for Fund III, with a hard close of €60 million expected in Q1 next year.
- Launched in 2019, DFF Ventures (formerly Dutch Founders Fund) is an early-stage venture capital fund focused on digital solutions for traditionally underdigitized industries, such as Vertical AI, recommerce platforms, marketplaces, niche SaaS, and tech-enabled services.
- DFF Ventures has built a portfolio of 40 startups across 14 countries, including Shypple, Nostics, Alleo, Metycle, Cofrai, Getmobil, and Northladder.
- The firm will use the fresh DFF Ventures III fund to invest in early-stage startups worldwide, focusing on Vertical AI, recommerce, and marketplaces. They follow a founder-first, hands-on approach, often investing before a product exists, with ticket sizes between €250,000 and €2.5 million.
- With the fresh fund, the firm has already made three investments, including Fleequid, an Italian digital marketplace for used buses, and two additional unannounced startups.
"Pre-seed investing has changed significantly in recent years. AI has lowered the barrier to building prototypes but has also raised the bar on reaching customers and scaling distribution. For DFF, speed and distribution remain key: the goal is to back founders who can move fast, find their wedge into the market and build enduring companies in industries that matter. We love software for the backbone," claims Bas Rieter from DFF Ventures.
