Curiosity VC

What Curiosity VC does

Curiosity VC is a community-powered venture capital firm headquartered in Amsterdam, Netherlands, founded in 2021 by Herman Kienhuis and Maurice Beckand Verwee. The firm invests in early-stage B2B software companies applying machine learning and AI technologies, with a geographic focus on the Benelux, Nordics, and Baltics regions. Investments are organized around four socio-economic themes: Sustainable Living (PropTech, Energy, ClimateTech), Trusted Society (LegalTech, Privacy, Cybersecurity), Future of Work (Enterprise SaaS, HRTech, DevOps), and Future of Commerce (Fintech, Marketing & Sales Automation, Logistics). Fund I deployed across 23 AI startups with tickets ranging from €500K to €2M at pre-seed and seed stages, and Fund II (first close €17M, targeting €30-40M) is actively investing in vertical AI companies across Europe.

The firm operates a distinctive community-driven co-ownership model in which portfolio founders, advisors, and investors become co-owners of the fund, creating alignment between capital providers and operating support. The team of approximately six people includes two Managing Partners with prior venture investing experience (KPN Ventures and Crosspring respectively), plus Principal, Investment Manager/CFO, Investment Analyst, and AI Analyst roles. Deal flow is sourced through direct pitch submissions, LP/advisor referrals, and ecosystem events; the firm has also secured Dutch government matching capital through the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO). The firm is registered with the Dutch Financial Authority (AFM) as an alternative investment fund manager and complies with the EU Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation (SFDR).

Revenue is generated through conventional VC mechanisms: annual management fees on committed/invested capital plus carried interest on realized exits. Fund projections target 23-35% IRR over an 8-10 year horizon based on a planned portfolio of 30 companies, anchored by the GPs' collective prior track record of 60-90+ software investments including exits to DELL ($100M for Cloudify), Forescout ($113M for SecurityMatters), Darktrace ($54M for Cybersprint), Twitter (Revue), and Zapier (Utopian Labs, 2025).

Name

Curiosity VC

Legal name

Curiosity Venture Capital B.V.

Website

https://curiosityvc.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2022

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Curiosity VC is an Amsterdam-based venture capital firm investing in early-stage AI software startups across Benelux, Nordics, and Baltics. Founded in 2021, it operates a community-driven co-ownership model serving European B2B founders and family-office LPs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Venture Capital

NAICS

Other Investment Pools and Funds (5259)

SIC

Investors, Nec (6799)

akta.pro primary industry

Micro-VC & Angel Funds (FSANAAAI)

akta.pro secondary industry

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

Keywords

• Venture capital
• AI software investing
• Pre-seed funding
• Seed-stage investment
• Early-stage startups

Headquarters

HQ city

Amsterdam

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Management Fees: Annual management fee related to investor's committed capital during the investment period and related to invested capital during the management period. The Manager receives a one-time subscription fee.
2. Carried Interest: Positive realised investment results lead to variable remuneration through carried interest distribution to GP upon successful exits.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Curiosity VC is a community-powered venture capital firm that invests pre-seed and seed capital (typically €500K–€2M initially) in early-stage B2B AI software companies headquartered in Benelux, Nordics, and Baltics, organised around four socio-economic themes: Sustainable Living, Trusted Society, Future of Work, and Future of Commerce. The firm manages venture funds (Curiosity Fund I maiden fund and the in-progress Fund II) and supplies portfolio founders with hands-on operational support, fundraising assistance, strategic guidance, and access to a community network of advisors and fellow entrepreneurs under a co-ownership model in which entrepreneurs and advisors become co-owners of the fund.

Product overview

Curiosity VC is a community-powered venture capital firm, not a product/technology company. It provides early-stage investment services to AI-driven software startups in the Benelux, Nordics, and Baltics regions. The firm does not offer a software product, platform, or technology solution—it deploys capital, expertise, and a community network to support portfolio companies. Investment services are delivered through fund management (Curiosity Fund II), with returns projected at 23%-35% IRR annually over an 8-10 year horizon based on a portfolio of 30 companies.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Curiosity Fund II Second venture fund of Curiosity VC investing pre-seed and seed capital in early-stage vertical AI software companies across Europe, with initial cheques of €500K–€6M and an expected 30-company portfolio.
• Curiosity Fund I (maiden fund) Maiden venture fund of Curiosity VC backing 23 AI software startups across Benelux, Nordics, and Baltics, with limited partners including family offices, entrepreneurs, and Investment Fund Groningen.
• Pre-seed and seed investment with portfolio support Pre-seed and seed equity capital deployed into early-stage B2B AI software companies in Benelux, Nordics, and Baltics, combined with hands-on operational support, fundraising assistance, strategic guidance, and access to a community of advisors and fellow portfolio founders.

Quantifiable outcome

• 23%-35% projected IRR per year
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

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

Three partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• FundrbirdminorOthersFund administration software provider used for LP management, invoicing, and investor relations. Provides cloud-based platform for fund operations.
• Invest EuropeminorOthersEuropean private equity and venture capital association. Curiosity adheres to Invest Europe Code of Conduct principles.
• Diversity VC / Techleap.nlminorOthersInitiative to drive more equity towards female and mixed-gender founding teams, supported by Techleap.nl.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Atomico: European-focused VC investing in tech companies from seed to growth stage. Comparable regional focus on European talent with broader stage coverage than Curiosity.
• Speedinvest: Larger European early- and growth-stage VC with specific focus verticals including AI/ML, DeepTech, and FinTech. Comparable fund size and stage focus, with broader fund vehicles (multiple sector funds).
• Earlybird Venture Capital: Long-established European early-stage VC with tech and AI exposure from seed onward. Compares on early-stage European tech focus with broader portfolio across stages.
• Index Ventures: Major European VC with early-stage focus on software and AI (including seed program Index Seed). Comparable AI software thesis but at a much larger AUM and stage breadth.

Direct peers

• LocalGlobe: UK- and Europe-focused seed VC investing at pre-seed and seed in software companies. Similar fund size, stage focus, and community-driven ethos to Curiosity.
• Tiny VC: European micro-VC investing pre-seed in technical, often AI-adjacent, B2B SaaS founders. Closely comparable on fund size, stage, and AI software thesis across Europe.
• Connect Ventures: European seed-stage VC backing early-stage B2B software companies. Comparable ticket size and stage focus, with similar 'founder-first' support model.
• Seedcamp: European seed-stage VC investing in pre-seed and seed software companies across Europe with community-driven support. Direct peer in early-stage European software thesis.
• Antler: Global early-stage VC with strong European and Nordics presence, pre-seed/seed focus, and a community/operator-support model. Directly comparable as a founder-first micro-VC targeting early-stage B2B and AI software.
• Galion.exe: European seed VC investing in B2B SaaS and AI startups with a community of operators; co-led rounds alongside Curiosity in deals such as Orq.ai. Direct stage-and-thesis peer.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/curiosityvc
• Xx.com/curiosityvc

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments34 records

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

Frequently asked questions about Curiosity VC