European DeepTech Spin-off Platform: U2V Launches €60 Million Fund for University Startups

The European innovation scene is entering a new, significant chapter: U2V, a venture spin-off born from the experience of Earlybird-X, has announced the first close of a €60 million fund aimed at supporting DeepTech startups originating from European technological universities.

The fund aims to invest in pre-seed and seed stages across Europe, focusing on AI and advanced computing, IndustrialTech and CleanTech, with the goal of completing up to 25 investments.

The first close was supported by professional investors, including the anchor LP Jungheinrich via Uplift Ventures, family offices, serial founders, and industry executives. The objective is to create in Europe the most effective DeepTech platform by linking research, capital and industrial partners to translate university technologies into global industrial solutions.

“Europe is strong at generating scientific discoveries, but often struggles to turn them into global companies. With U2V we are driving substantial change: we help scientists become entrepreneurs by connecting research, capital and corporate partners to build the next generation of category-leading Deep Tech startups,” said Dr. Philipp Semmer, co-founding partner of U2V.

Founded in 2025 by Philipp Semmer, Michael Schmitt and Johannes Triebs, U2V's model is anchored in the team's experience leading Earlybird-X, one of the first DeepTech spin-off funds in Europe. According to the company, the partners bring over 30 years of venture experience, with more than 50 investments and more than 10 exits across previous funds. Portfolio companies include Quantum Diamonds, Greenlyte, Ncodin, Certivity, Twaice and LiveEO.

In addition to capital, U2V provides strategic support, industrial connections, and hands-on operational guidance to the startups it backs.

The company operates with offices in Berlin, Aachen and London. The operating model includes exclusive access to the leading European technical universities, including TU München, ETH Zürich, RWTH Aachen, École Polytechnique, the universities of Oxford and Cambridge, Imperial College London, DTU Denmark and Politecnico di Milano, coupled with a network of over 500 corporate partners. This approach enables portfolio companies to secure initial pilots and structured go-to-market pathways.

“The industrial network provides founders with what many early-stage Deep Tech startups lack: direct access to customers and field validation. Whether it's an AI application, a quantum sensing chip, or a carbon capture process, we connect the technology with traction,” said Dr. Johannes Triebs, co-founding partner of U2V.

In addition to capital, the platform aims to serve as a bridge between academic research and mature companies, facilitating pilot partnerships that accelerate market validation. The goal is not simply to fund projects, but to guide them along a development path that enables rapid transition from the lab stage to commercially deployable solutions.

The U2V team notes that the European ecosystem could benefit from a dynamic similar to other advanced tech markets: a blend of capital, hands-on mentorship, and access to industrial networks capable of scaling university-driven innovations into globally successful companies.

Beyond the fund’s numbers and aims, the initiative underscores the importance of an ecosystem that integrates academic institutions, businesses, and investors to create lasting value. If this strategy can sustain a growth trajectory aligned with stated objectives, it could foster new European DeepTech companies capable of competing internationally in high-tech sectors.

In conclusion, the creation of a European DeepTech spin-off platform backed by a dedicated fund represents a concrete response to the needs of integrating university research with the industrial market. For founders and researchers, it means a clearer path to turn academic innovations into commercial solutions, with operational support, a network of partners, and a clear growth trajectory.

Fonte eu-startups.com