Nauta secures €60 million first close for sixth fund to back European software and DeepTech startups

Nauta, a London-based pan-European VC investing in B2B software and DeepTech startups from pre-Seed to Series A, today announced the first close of its sixth fund at €60 million.

The British Business Bank, the UK’s economic development bank, acted as an anchor investor, committing €30 million. This marks the fourth consecutive Nauta fund in which the bank has participated. Other limited partners include SETT, Merifin Capital, and Institut Català de Finances, alongside a range of institutional investors and family offices across the UK, Continental Europe, LatAm and the Middle East. The firm said three-quarters of investors in the first close are returning LPs from previous Nauta funds.

“Our long-standing partnership with Nauta Capital demonstrates the role the British Business Bank can play in attracting international investors to the UK. Since our first commitment, Nauta Capital has built a substantial presence in London and established the UK as a core investment market for them. This is helping to bring more capital, expertise and international connections into the UK venture ecosystem, helping innovative businesses to grow and strengthening the UK venture market over the long term,” said Michael Laycock, Investment Director, Funds, British Business Bank.

Founded in 2004, Nauta is one of Europe’s oldest early-stage investors, having backed over 200 founders across 100 companies. It writes first tickets between €250k and €4 million from pre-Seed to Series A, and has generated nearly €3 billion in exit value to date through more than 25 exits, including Brandwatch, Holded, and Connectbase.

The firm’s strategy centres on backing capital-efficient B2B software companies targeting verticals such as travel, finance, retail, and HR. Like its previous funds, Nauta says Fund VI will also continue the Nauta Capital Labs Initiative, a dedicated vehicle with the same fund structure to back pre-Seed DeepTech companies. The areas of focus will include high-performance computing, AI infrastructure, cybersecurity, industrial automation, digital health infrastructure, and energy frontier technology.

Its portfolio companies that showcase the breadth across these sectors include Universal Quantum, which is building the world’s first million-qubit quantum computer and raised €89 million ($100 million) Series A funding earlier this month, and NetBird, a Berlin-based open-source cybersecurity company backed by Nauta at pre-Seed, which went on to raise €8.5 million ($10 million) Series A.

Other portfolio companies include Unravel, an AI-powered travel discovery and booking platform; Acai Travel, which deploys AI agents for customer support in the travel sector; and Lodgify, a short-term rental management platform.

Carles Ferrer Roqueta, General Partner, Nauta, said, “Having invested through every major technology shift since the early 2000s, we’ve learned that enduring venture firms are built on discipline, adaptability and long-term conviction. This philosophy has enabled us to reach the rare milestone of a sixth fund, but more importantly it has strengthened our belief that every generation of technology brings with it a new wave of exceptional companies. We’re incredibly excited about what lies ahead and the role we can play in shaping the next era of European innovation.”

The new vehicle targets a total fund size of between €150 million and €200 million, with a final close expected in the second half of 2027. Once this target is met, the fund would push Nauta’s total assets under management close to €750 million. The first close of the firm’s sixth fund comes as European DeepTech commands a record share of venture capital on the continent.

According to the 2026 European Deep Tech Report, DeepTech now accounts for nearly a third of all European VC, more than double its share a decade ago. While there is growth in DeepTech funding, the majority of late-stage capital continues to come from outside Europe, making firms focused on early-stage investment like Nauta crucial for the success of the next generation of tech founders.