Earlybird-X spin-off U2V launches €60 million fund to back DeepTech startups from European tech universities
European venture capital firm U2V (University2Ventures) has announced the first closing of its €60 million Fund I. With this fund, the spin-off from Earlybird-X aims to back early-stage DeepTech startups from European tech universities.
It will invest in pre-Seed and Seed-stage startups across Europe, focusing on AI novel computing, IndustrialTech and CleanTech, with up to 25 investments planned.
The first closing was backed by professional investors, including anchor-LP Jungheinrich via Uplift Ventures, family offices, serial founders and industry managers. The VC firm aims to establish Europe’s most effective DeepTech spin-off platform, scaling university-born technologies into global industrial solutions.
“Europe is world-class at creating scientific breakthroughs, but still struggles to turn them into global companies. With U2V, we’re fostering a substantial change here: we help scientists become entrepreneurs, linking research, capital, and corporate partners to build Europe’s next generation of category-defining Deep Tech startups,” said Dr Philipp Semmer, founding partner at U2V.
Founded in 2025 by Philipp Semmer, Michael Schmitt, and Johannes Triebs, the U2V’s model is built upon its team’s experience leading Earlybird-X, one of Europe’s first DeepTech spin-off funds. According to the firm, its partners bring more than 30 years of combined venture experience with over 50 investments and more than 10 exits across previous funds, including Earlybird-X and Motu Ventures. Their earlier portfolio includes Quantum Diamonds, Greenlyte, Ncodin, Certivity, Twaice and LiveEO.
Beyond capital, U2V provides strategic support, industry connections and hands-on operational guidance to the startups it backs.
The firm operates from offices in Berlin, Aachen and London. Its modus operandi includes combining proprietary access to leading European tech universities, including TU Munich, ETH Zurich, RWTH Aachen, École Polytechnique, the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge, Imperial College London, DTU Denmark and Politecnico di Milano, with an industrial network of more than 500 corporate partners.
This approach enables portfolio companies to secure early pilot customers and benefit from structured go-to-market pathways.
“Our industrial network gives founders what most early Deep Tech startups lack: direct access to customers and real-world validation. Whether it’s an AI application, a quantum-sensing chip, or a carbon-capture process – we connect technology to traction,” commented Dr Johannes Triebs, founding partner at U2V
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