Sofia-based venture capital firm LAUNCHub Ventures has announced the first close of its third fund at €65 million, targeting a final size of more than €75 million to back pre-seed and seed-stage startups across CEE/SEE and the region’s diaspora, as Vestbee was informed.
- Founded in 2012, LAUNCHub Ventures has backed nearly 100 companies through its first two funds, with more than €100 million under management. Its portfolio companies have raised more than €700 million in follow-on funding, while 75% of portfolio companies have gone on to raise a subsequent round and around 40% have reached Series A.
- The firm's portfolio includes Ampeco, FintechOS, Colossyan, Giraffe360, Veridion, Ferryhopper, and Lace.
- LAUNCHub Ventures has recorded 18 exits to date, including SPLX, which was acquired by Zscaler in 2025, FITE, which was acquired by Triller, and OfficeRnD, which was acquired by Blue Star.
- The firm invests primarily across Bulgaria, Romania, Croatia, Greece, Hungary, Slovenia, Serbia, and the wider Western Balkans, as well as the broader CEE region.
- The fund is backed by the European Investment Fund (EIF), the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), international financial institutions, regional entrepreneurs, family offices, and more than 10 LAUNCHub portfolio founders who have exited their companies. The International Finance Corporation (IFC), an existing investor in Fund II, is considering participation in the second close.
- With the new fund, LAUNCHub Ventures plans to make around 25 investments over a five-year investment period. The firm will write initial checks ranging from €300,000 to €3 million, lead or co-lead rounds of up to €7 million, and reserve capital for follow-on investments at Series A.
- The fund is already active and has led three rounds in AI social gaming platform Nanogram, AI content verification company Lenz, and sports and activities software provider 1Club.
