Observed Signal · Sep 23, 2026 · Funding · Source: Tech.eu (European Tech & Deals) · Impact: 1/5 · Sentiment: Positive
Connect Ventures hits first close of $80M Fund V
Connect Ventures, a European early-stage VC firm, announced the first close of its fifth fund at $55 million, targeting a total of $80 million. The fund will focus on investing in technical founders building the next generation of European technology companies. The British Business Bank serves as the anchor investor, with returning limited partners including Aldea Ventures, Sella Venture Partners, and Molten Ventures. New investors include European family offices and founders of previously backed companies. Connect Ventures leads pre-seed rounds with cheques ranging from $500,000 to $5 million. The fund emphasizes founding teams with deep technical expertise at their core. Connect's GP-only team, including Pietro Bezza, Sitar Teli, and Rory Stirling, maintains a low-volume, high-support investment approach.
News about a VC firm's fund close; relevant to the startup ecosystem but not directly impacting AdTech/MarTech operations.
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Key Takeaways & Evidence Grounding
- Connect Ventures announced the first close of its fifth fund at $55 million, targeting a total of $80 million.
- The fund is anchored by the British Business Bank.
- Returning limited partners include Aldea Ventures, Sella Venture Partners, and Molten Ventures.
- Connect Ventures invests in pre-seed rounds with cheques of $500,000 to $5 million.
- Since 2012, Connect Ventures has invested in over 120 companies, including Aikido Security and TrueLayer.
Connected Companies & Entities
2 Entities mapped“The fund is anchored by British Business Bank, with participation from returning limited partners including Aldea Ventures, Sella Venture Pa...”
“The fund is anchored by British Business Bank, with participation from returning limited partners including Aldea Ventures, Sella Venture Pa...”
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