Concept Ventures, a European venture capital firm, has successfully closed its second fund, Concept Fund II, with $88 million in commitments. This new fund is entirely focused on supporting pre-seed stage founders across the United Kingdom and Europe, positioning Concept Ventures as the largest dedicated pre-seed investor in the region. The firm sees this milestone as a strong validation of pre-seed investing as a distinct and increasingly vital part of the venture capital landscape.
Over 70% of the founders previously backed by the firm have now become Limited Partners in Fund II. This level of founder participation reflects the trust and strong relationships Concept Ventures has cultivated.
Among the high-profile founder LPs are Mati Staniszewski of ElevenLabs, Amar Shah of Wayve, and Michele Attisani of FACEIT. The institutional investor base is also diverse and global, with significant commitments from firms like TopTier Capital Partners, Marktlink Capital, Dominus, and Granite Capital Management. And 80% of the institutional capital comes from the United States, signaling strong transatlantic confidence in the future of early-stage European tech.
Concept Ventures has already built an impressive track record with its first institutional fund, launched in 2022. That fund backed 44 companies and has been ranked in the top 1% globally for its vintage. Collectively, those portfolio companies have raised over $450 million in follow-on funding, with every company that sought additional capital successfully closing its next round of funding. This performance highlights Concept’s ability to identify and support promising startups at the earliest stages.
Among the standout companies in its portfolio is ElevenLabs, which reached a $6.6 billion valuation just three years after Concept’s initial investment. Other notable investments include Treefera, which provides data tools for decarbonization; VSim, which is redefining physics simulation using AI; Anam, which is building next-generation tech interfaces with AI personas; and Arondite, a developer of advanced defense software.
In addition to its investment success, Concept Ventures is also known for its founder-first approach. The firm has published its fundraising process to promote transparency and help founders understand what to expect. For 90% of the startups it backs, Concept is their first venture capital partner, underscoring the firm’s role as a trusted early supporter.
With Fund II now closed, Concept Ventures plans to invest in up to 50 new companies across the UK and Europe, writing initial checks of up to $1.5 million. While the firm remains sector-agnostic, its focus is on backing exceptional founders with bold, global ambitions.
