What Matterwave Ventures does

Matterwave Ventures Management GmbH is a Munich-based European venture capital partnership founded in 2018 (operating since 2021 under its current institutional brand) by Benedikt Kronberger, Dr. Christian Reitberger, and Robert Gallenberger, all previously partners in the btov Industrial Technologies team. The firm invests €1–4M initial tickets at seed and Series A stages in early-stage hardware and software companies across three themes — Industrial Tech (digital transformation of industry), Deep Tech (frontier and sovereign technologies including quantum, photonics, and AI), and Climate Tech (industrial decarbonization) — operating in 12 European countries with selective US exposure.

The firm operates a multi-fund structure (Fund 0, Fund I, Fund II) with approximately €250 million in assets under management and a portfolio of roughly 35–40 active companies out of 70+ investments made over 25 years. Differentiated capabilities include 65+ years of combined sector expertise on a 12-person team, board-level operational support (Matterwave sits on 25+ boards), and an industrial network spanning European corporates (Michelin, Safran, BMW Group), academic institutions (Fraunhofer, Max Planck, ETH, LMU), and institutional co-investors (European Investment Fund via InvestEU, Bayern Kapital, BVK). Recent investment activity emphasizes quantum computing platforms (NVision, Equal1, Akhetonics), advanced materials and biotech (Amplifold, Xampla), space and satellite infrastructure (Infinite Orbits, OKAPI:Orbits, LiveEO), and industrial AI (Optimuse, AVES Reality, Ask for the Moon).

The firm's revenue model follows standard European VC economics: recurring management fees on committed/invested capital (typically ~2% of AUM) plus performance-based carried interest on successful exits. Distribution combines direct outreach and referrals for deal sourcing, a dedicated LP portal (investors.matterwave.vc) for institutional investors, and content marketing (website, newsletter, LinkedIn, industry events) for top-of-funnel deal flow and brand building. Notable liquidity events include the October 2025 sale of Ikerian (RetinAI) to EssilorLuxottica and the earlier acquisition of Nanda Technologies by Nanometrics.

Name

Matterwave Ventures

Legal name

Matterwave Ventures Management GmbH

Website

https://matterwave.vc

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Matterwave Ventures is a Munich-based European venture capital firm that invests €1–4M at seed and Series A in early-stage Industrial Tech, Deep Tech, and Climate Tech companies across 12 European countries, managing approximately €250 million in assets under management.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Venture Capital Investment Management

NAICS

Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (523940), Other Investment Pools and Funds (5259), All Other Financial Investment Activities (52399)

SIC

Investment Advice (6282)

akta.pro primary industry

Sector-Focused Venture Capital (Vertical Specialists) (FSANAAAD)

Keywords

• Venture capital investing
• Industrial technology investment
• Seed stage equity funding
• Deep tech venture capital
• Climate tech investment

Headquarters

HQ city

Munich

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Management Fees: VC firms typically charge annual management fees (usually 2% of AUM) on committed capital during the investment period.
2. Carried Interest: Performance-based returns (typically 20% of profits) earned when portfolio companies achieve successful exits through acquisitions or IPOs.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Matterwave Ventures is a European venture capital firm that invests seed and Series A equity capital (initial tickets of €1-4M) into early-stage hardware and software companies in Industrial Tech, Deep Tech, and Climate Tech across Europe. Across approximately €250 million of assets under management, the firm provides portfolio companies with board representation, operational guidance, and access to its industrial customer and partner network. Its offering consists of fund-based investment products raised from institutional limited partners.

Product overview

Matterwave Ventures is a European venture capital firm that provides seed and Series A funding to hardware and software companies in the Industrial Technologies, Deep Tech, and Climate Tech sectors. The firm manages approximately €250 million in assets under management and focuses on investments that advance sustainable, sovereign, and digitalized European industry. As a VC firm, Matterwave Ventures does not offer products or services in the traditional sense; its offering consists of investment capital, expertise, and support for early-stage portfolio companies.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Seed-stage Equity Investments (Fund II) Equity seed investments of typically €1-4M into early-stage European hardware and software companies operating in industrial value chains, including quantum, photonics, AI, robotics, climate solutions, and industrial biotech. Offered to founder-led seed-stage startups.
• Series A Equity Investments Equity Series A investments of €1-4M initial tickets (with potential for follow-on) into growth-stage European industrial technology, deep tech, and climate tech companies. Offered to Series A startups scaling industrial commercialization.
• Portfolio Board Representation and Operational Support Ongoing services provided to portfolio companies including board or observer seats held by Matterwave partners, operational guidance, and introductions to industrial customers and corporate partners across Europe. Offered to investee companies.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 70 companies invested in over the last 25 years
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• btov Partners: Pan-European venture firm focused on industrial, deep tech, and digital investments; Matterwave's founding partners led the btov Industrial Technologies team prior to spinning out, making it the closest direct peer by thesis, geography, and team lineage.
• Speedinvest: Large pan-European early-stage VC with a dedicated deep tech vertical, investing at seed and Series A in industrial and frontier technologies, closely matching Matterwave's stage and breadth.
• Atlantic Bridge: Deep tech growth investor with European and US presence; comparable in deep tech and semiconductor focus and in co-investor overlap (e.g., Equal1 round alongside Matterwave).
• Earlybird Venture Capital: One of Europe's longest-standing early-stage VCs with deep tech and industrial technology exposure, including a dedicated Industrial Tech fund; comparable in stage, vertical specialization, and pan-European deal flow.
• Vsquared Ventures: Munich-based European deep tech and industrial tech VC investing at seed and Series A with pan-European coverage, directly comparable to Matterwave on stage, vertical focus, and geographic footprint.
• Emerald Technology Ventures: Global venture firm focused on industrial and climate tech, leading early-stage rounds in Europe and beyond; highly comparable in climate tech and industrial tech themes where Matterwave invests.

Emerging players

• 2150: European VC investing in technologies that reshape the built environment and sustainable industry, with overlap to Matterwave's industrial and climate tech mandates.
• World Fund: European climate tech VC backing early-stage startups decarbonizing major industries; directly comparable on the climate tech vertical where Matterwave invests.

Broad incumbents

• Creandum: Leading European early-stage VC with a broader sector mandate; useful comparison for stage, ticket size, and pan-European sourcing, though less concentrated in industrial/deep tech.
• HV Capital: Long-established German/European VC with broader tech coverage including deep tech exposure; relevant peer as a more diversified incumbent that occasionally competes in the same rounds as Matterwave.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/78987413

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments61 records

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Matterwave Ventures