Hamburg Fund Invests €100M in Europe's DeepTech Startups

European tech founders are about to get a powerful new ally in their corner, and it comes with deep pockets and industrial know-how.

Uplift Ventures just launched a €100 million fund dedicated entirely to DeepTech startups, those ambitious companies working on everything from physical AI to clean energy solutions. Based in Hamburg and Berlin, the fund specifically targets late Seed and Series A companies, the exact stage where promising European startups often struggle to find support.

The backing comes from Jungheinrich, a major German logistics company that sees this as more than just smart investing. "DeepTech requires patient capital and partners who understand both industrial challenges and entrepreneurial ambition," said CEO Dr. Lars Brzoska.

Christian Noske joined as Founding General Partner, bringing over a decade of DeepTech investing experience from firms like BMW i Ventures. He's previously backed successful companies including The Exploration Company and ANYbotics, and he knows what separates winners from failures in this demanding sector.

The fund plans to invest in up to 20 startups across four key areas: physical AI, energy, enterprise AI, and logistics. Rather than forcing a one-size-fits-all approach, the team will adapt their role to what each founder needs, whether that's leading rounds or participating alongside other investors.

The Ripple Effect

Europe has always excelled at groundbreaking research, home to industrial powerhouses like Siemens, ABB, and Rolls-Royce. What's been missing is the patient, experienced capital that can help new companies scale without rushing them or forcing premature exits. This fund aims to change that pattern.

Uplift Ventures already started building momentum in 2025, creating compliance automation startup turnus.ai in-house and investing in several European DeepTech funds. Now with €100 million and a seasoned investment team including Katharina Schild, Lukas Böttcher, Susan Suzart, and Helge Jelinski, they're positioned to make real impact.

The team brings collective experience from top firms like Cathay Innovation and Speedinvest, having backed over 30 startups across various technology sectors. They plan to keep growing as they deploy their first investments throughout 2026.

For European founders tackling humanity's toughest challenges, this fund represents something crucial: partners who understand that breakthrough innovation takes time, and who have both the capital and the industrial connections to help them succeed.