What eCAPITAL ENTREPRENEURIAL PARTNERS does

eCAPITAL ENTREPRENEURIAL PARTNERS AG is a Germany-based venture capital firm founded in 1999 in Münster that provides early- to growth-stage equity funding to deep-technology companies. The firm invests across four explicit verticals: Cybersecurity + Defense Tech, AI Tech + Infrastructure Software, Climate Tech, and New Materials + Semiconductors. It is structured as a German Aktiengesellschaft (AG), is registered with BaFin as an Alternative Investment Fund Manager (AIF-KVG, ID 10139282), and currently manages five funds — eCAPITAL III Cleantech, eCAPITAL IV (2017), eCAPITAL Cybersecurity (2018), and eCAPITAL V (2022) — totaling over €400 million in assets under management. The portfolio comprises 30+ companies with realized exits including sonnen, Novaled, and Jedox, and an active unicorn position in 1KOMMA5° (over €1 billion valuation), which is publicly reported to be preparing for a potential IPO.

The firm's business model follows standard European closed-end VC economics: recurring management fees charged on committed or invested capital from institutional LPs (pension funds, insurance companies, family offices, private investors), supplemented by performance-based carried interest on successful exits. eCAPITAL V introduces a differentiated product feature — 20% of potential carry is contingent on achieving impact/ESG goals — which signals intent to attract sustainability-mandated institutional capital. The firm is entrepreneur-led, with Managing Partners Hannes Schill, Willi Mannheims, and Dirk Seewald overseeing the investment team, supplemented by Partners Paul-Josef Patt, Katharina Frie, and Lucas Merle, Venture Partner Dr. Tim Pohlmann, and Investment Managers. It operates two offices (Münster HQ and Berlin regional office) and maintains institutional relationships with the European Investment Fund, KfW, NRW.BANK, and BMWi.

Distribution and deal flow are sourced through a combination of an extensive entrepreneur-investor-advisor network, co-investment syndicates with peer VCs (DTCF, OTB Ventures, United Ventures, Elevator Ventures, AUMOVIO, Kibo Ventures, Partech, and others), recurring VC-Stammtisch networking events co-hosted with PwC and Tigges Rechtsanwälte, and conference presence at Slush, Bits & Pretzels, and HTVD. eCAPITAL is a member of BVK, Invest Europe, and Leaders for Climate Action, and uses Atlas Metrics for ESG data aggregation across the portfolio. Active investment pace in 2025-2026 — leading or co-leading rounds in Dawnguard, QuoIntelligence, VisioLab, Cleafy, FLEXOO, Zepo Intelligence, node.energy, and Apheris — is consistent with mid-life Fund V deployment.

Name

eCAPITAL ENTREPRENEURIAL PARTNERS

Legal name

eCAPITAL ENTREPRENEURIAL PARTNERS AG

Website

https://ecapital.vc

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

eCAPITAL is a German venture capital firm founded in 1999 that provides early- to growth-stage funding to deep-tech companies across Cybersecurity + Defense Tech, AI Tech, Climate Tech, and New Materials + Semiconductors, managing over €400 million across five funds.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Münster

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Management Fees: Annual management fees charged on assets under management from closed-end VC funds
2. Carried Interest: Performance-based carried interest (carry) from successful fund exits; 20% of potential carry subject to achievement of impact goals for Fund V

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

eCAPITAL is an entrepreneur-led venture capital firm that invests in early to growth-stage technology companies across four deep-tech verticals: Cybersecurity + Defense Tech, AI Tech + Infrastructure Software, Climate Tech, and New Materials + Semiconductors. The firm manages multiple closed-end funds (eCAPITAL IV, eCAPITAL Cybersecurity, eCAPITAL V) totaling over €400 million in assets under management, providing portfolio companies with capital, strategic support, coaching/mentoring, and access to an international network of entrepreneurs, scientists, investors and founders. Capital is raised from institutional investors, family offices, and private investors, with revenue generated through management fees and performance-based carried interest.

Product overview

eCAPITAL ENTREPRENEURIAL PARTNERS AG is a Germany-based venture capital firm founded in 1999 that provides early to growth-stage funding to technology companies. The firm invests in deep-tech companies across four vertical areas: Cybersecurity + Defense Tech, AI Tech + Infrastructure Software, Climate Tech, and New Materials + Semiconductors. With assets under management totaling over €400 million, eCAPITAL offers portfolio companies not only financial resources but also strategic support and access to an international network of entrepreneurs, scientists, investors, and founders. The firm's current funds include eCAPITAL IV (2017), eCAPITAL Cybersecurity (2018), and eCAPITAL V (2022).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• eCAPITAL IV Fund Closed-end venture capital fund established in 2017 for technology investments across eCAPITAL's deep-tech focus areas. Raised from institutional investors, family offices, and private investors.
• eCAPITAL Cybersecurity Fund Dedicated closed-end venture capital fund established in 2018 for cybersecurity investments, targeting early and growth-stage cybersecurity companies.
• eCAPITAL V Fund Current flagship closed-end venture capital fund established in 2022 and currently in investment phase, with 20% of carried interest tied to achievement of impact/sustainability goals. Invests across Cybersecurity + Defense Tech, AI Tech + Infrastructure Software, Climate Tech, and New Materials + Semiconductors.
• Portfolio Company Strategic Support Program Hands-on strategic support offering for portfolio companies, including coaching/mentoring, board-level involvement, network access, and guidance from business idea through successful exit.

Quantifiable outcome

• Successful exits including sonnen, Novaled, Jedox sold to international strategists/investors
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered supporting and core.

• Atlas MetricssupportingTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2022ESG data collection software used to request and aggregate Principal Adverse Impact data from portfolio companies.
• Bundesverband der Kapitalbeteiligungsgesellschaften (BVK)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1999eCAPITAL is a member of BVK, the German private equity and venture capital association, providing networking and industry representation.
• Invest EuropecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1999Membership in pan-European venture capital association for industry networking and best practices.
• BAND/BAAR NetworkssupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1999Close cooperation with business angel and venture capital networks for deal flow generation.
• Tigges RechtsanwältesupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1999Co-host of monthly VC-Stammtisch events in Düsseldorf alongside eCAPITAL and PwC.
• PwC DeutschlandsupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 1999Co-host of monthly VC-Stammtisch events in Düsseldorf alongside eCAPITAL and Tigges.
• Leaders for Climate Action (LFCA)supportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1999eCAPITAL is a member of non-profit initiative for climate action; includes provisions in portfolio company contracts.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Earlybird Venture Capital: Berlin-based European venture capital firm investing across early- and growth-stage technology companies. Directly comparable to eCAPITAL in mandate, German/European footprint, and stage focus, with broader sector coverage but similar deep-tech tilt.
• HV Capital: German venture capital firm historically affiliated with Holtzbrinck, investing in early- to growth-stage technology companies. Comparable to eCAPITAL in stage, geography (DACH), and consumer/SaaS/enterprise tech focus.
• Speedinvest: Vienna-based European early-stage VC with sector-focused funds including deep tech, cybersecurity, and industrial tech. Closely comparable to eCAPITAL on stage, vertical specialization, and European deep-tech mandate.
• UVC Partners: Munich-based early-stage VC investing in deep-tech, enterprise software, and industrial tech across Europe. Directly comparable on geography (Southern Germany), deep-tech focus, and early-stage ticket sizes.
• OTB Ventures: Pan-European deep-tech VC specializing in Series A and late seed, with a focus on enterprise software, cybersecurity, and space tech. Co-led Apheris Series A alongside eCAPITAL (2025), making it a direct syndicate peer.
• High-Tech Gründerfonds (HTGF): Germany's largest early-stage tech investor, funded with public capital, focused on deep-tech and high-tech startups. Comparable on DACH focus, early-stage tickets, and deep-tech vertical alignment; also a co-investor alongside eCAPITAL.
• 33N: European cybersecurity-focused venture capital firm investing from early to growth stage. Led Exein Series B (2025) alongside eCAPITAL, making it a direct co-investment peer in the cybersecurity vertical.
• Target Partners: Munich-based early-stage German technology VC with deep-tech and enterprise software focus. Comparable to eCAPITAL on DACH geography, stage, and sector orientation.
• Capnamic Ventures: Cologne-based early-stage VC with deep-tech and B2B SaaS focus across Germany. Comparable on DACH geography, early-stage ticket sizes, and enterprise software/security investing.

Broad incumbents

• Index Ventures: Global venture capital firm with a pan-European footprint covering enterprise, fintech, and consumer tech. Comparable as a broad incumbent active in the same deal universe, though significantly larger and stage-mixed.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ecapital-entrepreneurial-partners

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

Investments123 records

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

Frequently asked questions about eCAPITAL ENTREPRENEURIAL PARTNERS