SmartFin
SmartFin is a Brussels-based venture and growth capital firm investing up to €50 million tickets in growing B2B technology companies across Europe and the United Kingdom. Founded in 2014, it manages over €600 million across its fund series and supports approximately 25 portfolio companies.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2014
- HeadquartersBrussels, Belgium
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What SmartFin does
SmartFin is a Brussels-headquartered venture and growth capital firm founded in 2014 by Jürgen Ingels, the entrepreneur who previously built Clear2Pay into a global fintech leader. The firm targets growing B2B technology companies headquartered in Europe and the United Kingdom, with investment tickets of up to €50 million. As of January 2025, SmartFin manages over €600 million in total investment commitments across its funds, with its third growth fund (SmartFin Capital III) closed at its €250 million target with first-time backing from the European Investment Fund through its ESCALAR program.
The firm's core product is growth capital combined with operational guidance to ambitious B2B technology founders, supported by a 22-person team led by Founding Partner & Chairman Jürgen Ingels, Founding Partner Bart Luyten, Managing Partner Thomas Depuydt, and Partner/CFO Sébastien Thiel. SmartFin's portfolio spans approximately 25 companies across fintech (Fimple, Incard, Cumul.io), cybersecurity (Hex-Rays, acquired via consortium in 2022), cloud infrastructure (Emma), HR tech (Payflip), mental health (OpenUp), and AI-driven scheduling and audit (Timefold, Auditstage, SEQUESTO), with operations in Belgium, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, and Luxembourg. The firm also operates a portfolio job board (jobs.smartfinvc.com) and an investor portal for limited partners.
SmartFin's revenue model is standard venture fund management: management fees on committed/deployed capital plus carried interest on successful portfolio exits. The firm's value proposition rests on the operator background of its partners, third-party-validated performance (ranked 9th in the HEC Paris-DowJones Venture Capital Performance Ranking, the only European fund in the top 10), and a growing European B2B technology ecosystem built through portfolio support services.
SmartFin firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- SmartFin
- Legal name
- SmartFin Management BV
- Website
- https://smartfinvc.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2014
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- SmartFin is a Brussels-based venture and growth capital firm investing up to €50 million tickets in growing B2B technology companies across Europe and the United Kingdom. Founded in 2014, it manages over €600 million across its fund series and supports approximately 25 portfolio companies.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
SmartFin industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Venture Capital and Growth Equity
- NAICS
- Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (523940), Other Financial Vehicles (52599)
- SIC
- Finance Services (6199), Investment Advice (6282)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Large-Cap / Sponsor Finance Direct Lending (FSANADAJ)
Keywords
Where SmartFin is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Brussels
- HQ country
- Belgium
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
SmartFin business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Fund Management: SmartFin generates revenue through venture capital and growth equity fund management, including management fees and carried interest from successful portfolio company exits.
- Growth Fund Management: Third growth fund (SmartFin Capital III) closed at €250 million with backing from EIF, bringing total investment commitments to over €600 million.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Investment tickets up to €50 million |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels4 records
SmartFin product offering
Product offeringCore offering
SmartFin is a European venture and growth capital investor providing financial support, clear feedback, and relevant guidance to growing B2B technology companies headquartered in Europe and the United Kingdom. The firm manages over €600 million in assets through multiple funds, including SmartFin Capital III, and invests with tickets up to €50 million across early and growth stages in approximately 25 portfolio companies.
Product overview
SmartFin operates as a European venture and growth capital investor rather than a product company. The firm manages over €600 million in assets across its investment funds, targeting early and growth-stage B2B technology companies headquartered in Europe and the United Kingdom. The firm offers investment services with tickets up to €50 million, supporting approximately 25 portfolio companies. Additionally, SmartFin provides a portfolio job board (jobs.smartfinvc.com) connecting candidates with opportunities across its portfolio companies, and an investor portal for fund limited partners.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- SmartFin Capital III: The third growth fund of SmartFin, closed at €250 million in January 2025.
Products and services
- SmartFin Growth Capital Investment Services
Companies that use SmartFin
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments1 record
Ideal customer profiles1 record
SmartFin technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
SmartFin partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators5 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
SmartFin competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Newion: Amsterdam-based venture capital firm investing in European B2B software and tech. Direct competitor with overlapping geography and stage; has co-invested with SmartFin in SEQUESTO.
- Notion Capital: London-based growth VC focused on B2B SaaS in Europe. Closely comparable in stage (Series A/B), geography, and B2B tech specialization, serving as a direct head-to-head competitor for European growth deals.
- Earlybird: Pan-European early- and growth-stage VC with multiple sector funds. Directly comparable on European B2B tech mandate and fund-size profile, and an active co-investor in the same deals SmartFin targets.
- Speedinvest: Vienna-based European early/growth VC with deep B2B SaaS and fintech specialization. Comparable mandate, stage, and European footprint, making it one of SmartFin's closest direct competitors.
- Highland Europe: London-based growth fund focused on European B2B software and consumer internet. Directly comparable on stage, sector focus, and European geography, with similar ticket sizes.
- Lakestar: European tech VC with growth-stage focus. Has co-led rounds alongside SmartFin (Timefold), making it a recurring co-investor and a directly comparable peer on European tech growth deals.
- DN Capital: Pan-European growth VC with B2B SaaS and fintech focus. Has co-invested with SmartFin in Fimple and competes for the same European growth-stage B2B tech opportunities.
Broad incumbents
- Atomico: London-based late-stage European tech investor founded by Skype's Niklas Zennström. Larger and broader incumbent competing for the same Series B+ European B2B tech deals SmartFin targets.
- Index Ventures: Pan-European/US venture firm with multi-stage B2B tech focus. Significantly larger incumbent that competes for the same founder relationships and growth rounds across Europe.
- Balderton Capital: London-based early/growth VC exclusively focused on European tech. Broader incumbent with similar European B2B tech mandate and a longer track record.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
SmartFin social profiles
Digital presenceSmartFin financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
SmartFin leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles12 records
SmartFin funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
SmartFin M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A1 record
Investments51 records
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about SmartFin
What does SmartFin do?
SmartFin is a European venture and growth capital investor providing financial support, clear feedback, and relevant guidance to growing B2B technology companies headquartered in Europe and the United Kingdom. The firm manages over €600 million in assets through multiple funds, including SmartFin Capital III, and invests with tickets up to €50 million across early and growth stages in approximately 25 portfolio companies.
Is SmartFin a public or private company?
SmartFin is a private company. It is classified as management employee owned and is currently operating.
When was SmartFin founded?
SmartFin was founded in 2014. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is SmartFin based?
SmartFin is headquartered in Brussels, Belgium, in the Europe region.
How does SmartFin make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Fund Management is the primary driver. The others are growth Fund Management.
Who are SmartFin's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Newion, Notion Capital, Earlybird, Speedinvest, Highland Europe, Lakestar and DN Capital. Broad incumbents are Atomico, Index Ventures and Balderton Capital.
Does SmartFin have an API?
No public API is recorded for SmartFin.
What industry is SmartFin in?
SmartFin's product category is Venture Capital and Growth Equity. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSANADAJ, Large-Cap / Sponsor Finance Direct Lending. Its NAICS code is 523940 and its SIC code is 6199.