# IBB Ventures

> Berlin's most experienced venture capital firm. We back ambitious founders building Berlin-headquartered companies, from Pre-Seed to Series A, with a public mandate to generate returns that benefit Berlin and its taxpayers. Active since 1997 — part of the IBB Group.

IBB Ventures is the venture capital arm of the IBB Group (Investitionsbank Berlin). We invest exclusively in companies headquartered in Berlin, deploying patient, mission-aligned capital with a public mandate: founders we back help shape Berlin's economy, while our returns flow back to the public funders that enable our work. We've operated continuously since 1997 and have invested in 310+ startups, with €300M deployed across our specialized funds and 80+ successful exits (as of April 2026).

## What we invest in

- **Stages:** Pre-Seed, Seed, Series A — plus follow-on investments in our portfolio
- **Ticket sizes:**
  - Pre-Seed: €100K–€400K
  - Seed / Series A: €200K–€1M
  - Follow-ons available for portfolio companies
- **Sectors:**
  - Healthcare
  - Industrial Technologies
  - Consumer & Digital
  - Software & IT
- **Geographic requirement:** The company must be headquartered in Berlin. Founders themselves do not need to be Berlin-based — only the company HQ.

## What we don't invest in

- Companies headquartered outside Berlin
- Investments that don't align with our public mandate (i.e. not in the interest of the city of Berlin or its taxpayers)
- Late-stage growth rounds beyond Series A (except follow-ons in our portfolio)

## How we work

**Stability** — We provide a crisis-proof foundation in volatile markets. As part of the IBB Group with a public mandate, we operate on longer time horizons than most private VCs.

**Partnership** — We act as a true partner, especially when things get tough. Founders see us as patient capital that stays in difficult quarters.

**Network** — Our Berlin roots run deep. We don't need intros — we make them. Three decades in the local ecosystem mean we connect founders to the right people directly.

**Experience** — We've been here since 1997. With 310+ investments and €140M across our specialized funds, our team combines deep sector expertise with a strong local network.

## How our investment process works

We make fast, independent investment decisions in-house. While each process is tailored to the opportunity, it typically follows this path:

1. **Initial meeting** — first conversation to understand the company and team
2. **Deeper discussion** — follow-up with one or two members of our investment team
3. **Follow-ups & due diligence** — additional meetings and DD as needed
4. **Investment Committee** — selected founders are invited to present to our IC, where we make the final decision

If both sides come well prepared and do their homework, the process can move very quickly.

## Selected portfolio companies

- **Aignostics** — AI-powered pathology diagnostics
- **Babbel** — language learning platform
- **Kugu Home** — smart metering and energy management for buildings
- **Qdrant** — open-source vector database for AI applications
- **Bling** — family finance app
- **Deutsche Sanierungsberatung** — energy-efficient building renovation services

For the full portfolio, see [/portfolio](https://ibbventures.de/portfolio).

## Track record (as of April 2026)

- **€300M+** in funding deployed across our funds
- **310+** startups funded since 1997
- **80+** successful exits
- **€140M** across specialized active funds
- **Continuous operation since 1997** — Berlin's longest-running VC

## Key pages

- [Home](https://ibbventures.de/) — overview and positioning
- [Approach](https://ibbventures.de/approach) — how we work with founders
- [Portfolio](https://ibbventures.de/portfolio) — companies we've invested in
- [Team](https://ibbventures.de/team) — our investors and operators
- [News & Insights](https://ibbventures.de/news) — investments, exits, milestones
- [Apply for Funding](https://ibbventures.de/apply) — submit a funding application
- [Jobs](https://ibbventures.de/jobs) — open roles
- [Contact](https://ibbventures.de/contact) — general inquiries, press, partnerships

## Languages

The site is available in English (primary) and German (secondary, at `/de/` paths).

## About the IBB Group

IBB Ventures is part of the IBB Group, the investment and business development bank for the federal state of Berlin (Investitionsbank Berlin). This structure gives us a unique position: institutional backing combined with a startup-native, fast-moving investment approach. Our public mandate means we invest with the long-term interest of Berlin and its taxpayers in mind — not short-term LP returns.

## Contact

- **General inquiries & press:** [https://ibbventures.de/en/contact](https://ibbventures.de/en/contact)
- **Funding pitches:** [https://ibbventures.de/apply](https://ibbventures.de/apply)
- **LinkedIn:** [IBB Beteiligungsgesellschaft mbH](https://www.linkedin.com/company/ibb-beteiligungsgesellschaft-mbh)
- **Location:** Berlin, Germany

## Operating principles

- We invest only in Berlin-headquartered companies
- We make decisions in-house and move fast when both sides are prepared
- We follow on in our portfolio when companies show traction
- Our public mandate means we screen for fit with Berlin's economic interests, not just financial return
- We are a long-term partner, especially through difficult periods