Amid a sluggish start to 2025 for European venture capital fundraising, KOMPAS VC has announced a major win. The early-stage investor focused on industrial tech has closed its second fund at €150 million. This milestone doubles down on its mission to support startups solving critical challenges in decarbonisation, productivity, and resilience.
While many sectors feel the pinch from rising interest rates and tough economic conditions, KOMPAS VC is looking forward. Its new fund targets up to 25 startups with solutions that make global industries cleaner, smarter, and more resilient. The firm is doubling its commitment to early-stage founders transforming manufacturing and the built environment — two of the highest-emitting and least digitized sectors worldwide.
Industrial sectors today face pressing challenges: rising cyber threats, outdated infrastructure, and the urgent need to cut emissions. KOMPAS VC was founded in 2021 to help fix these problems at the root. Now with Fund II, it plans to accelerate breakthroughs that can reshape entire industries.
The firm’s leadership team — Sebastian Peck, Talia Rafaeli, and Andreas Winter-Extra — brings unique expertise from leading innovation at major European OEMs. Their on-the-ground experience in industrial transformation gives them an edge in spotting scalable, real-world solutions.
Backed by loyal Limited Partners, many of whom also supported Fund I, KOMPAS VC is more than just capital. It offers deep technical insight, strategic guidance, and global industry access — helping startups reach product-market fit faster and scale with confidence.
A Portfolio Built on Purpose
The fund builds on a solid foundation. KOMPAS VC has already backed a range of high-impact ventures, including:
- Prewave: A supply chain risk platform that raised $67M to help companies manage supplier disruptions.
- Makersite: A €18M AI-powered tool helping businesses design better products and optimize supply chains.
- Again: A €43M green chemistry company turning captured CO2 into industrial-grade acetate and chemicals.
- Ecoworks: A €40M retrofitting solution enabling net-zero building renovations at scale.
- Findable: A €2M AI tool for automating real estate documentation and management.
Each reflects KOMPAS’s core thesis: enable industries to evolve while protecting the planet. The fund targets the application layer of industrial technology — not abstract ideas but practical tools that deliver immediate value.
Peck, who previously backed battery recycler Ascend Elements and supply chain transparency startup Circulor, emphasized the firm’s strategic edge. “We work closely with industry partners to find solutions that are ready to scale. The insights we gain from that network guide our investments and increase our hit rate.”
Partner Talia Rafaeli stressed the importance of bold thinking. “To build resilience, industry leaders must embrace today’s advances in AI, robotics, and synthetic biology. Our role is to back founders developing these breakthroughs — and help them scale.”
Andreas Winter-Extra added, “Sustainability is no longer just a talking point. Innovation is essential to balancing economic growth with environmental protection. We’re investing in real solutions to reduce emissions and waste.”
Scaling for Impact
KOMPAS VC is expanding its internal team to match the size of its new fund. The firm is adding talent across investment, operations, and technical support to help portfolio companies grow faster and smarter.
With a geographic footprint in Amsterdam, Berlin, Copenhagen, and Barcelona, and a global outlook that spans the US and Israel, KOMPAS is well-positioned to find and fund Europe’s next industrial champions.
Despite a cautious VC climate, the firm sees opportunity. Global industries are under pressure to modernize. KOMPAS VC is ready to lead that charge — with capital, credibility, and a clear focus on sustainability.
