Digital Leaders Ventures

Name

Digital Leaders Ventures

Legal name

Digital Leaders Ventures Management S.A.R.L.

Website

https://dlv.vc

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Digital Leaders Ventures is a Luxembourg-based European venture capital fund that invests $100,000 lead tickets in post-seed and post-accelerator technology startups, and runs the FIA Smart Cities global startup contest in partnership with Formula E.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Venture Capital

NAICS

Funds, Trusts, and Other Financial Vehicles (525), Other Financial Vehicles (52599)

akta.pro primary industry

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

Keywords

• Venture capital funding
• Early-stage investments
• Tech startup funding
• Seed capital
• Venture capital management

Headquarters

HQ city

Luxembourg

HQ country

Luxembourg

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Venture Capital Fund Management: DLV generates returns through equity investments in early-stage tech startups. The fund practices efficiency through latest technology for analysis and monitoring, quick decision making, and transparency by opening deals to co-investors on crowd-investing platforms.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Digital Leaders Ventures (DLV) is a European venture capital fund headquartered in Luxembourg that invests equity capital in post-seed and post-accelerator technology startups with working products, early revenues, and global scalability. The firm operates two investment vehicles — the main DLV fund and the Ignition Fund — focused on sectors including Smart Cities, Communication, Education, Healthcare, Finance, and Mobility. DLV also organizes the FIA Global Startup Contest in partnership with the FIA and Formula E.

Product overview

Digital Leaders Ventures (DLV) operates as a European Venture Capital Fund headquartered in Luxembourg, offering two primary investment vehicles: the main DLV fund investing in post-seed and post-accelerator tech companies, and the Ignition Fund focused on early-stage ventures with working products and early revenues. The company also organizes the FIA Global Startup Contest, a $1 million international entrepreneurship competition held quarterly across four continents in partnership with the FIA and Formula E. The funds focus on technology disruption in Communication, Education, Healthcare, Finance, Mobility, and Smart Cities sectors.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Ignition Fund: DLV's Early Stage Venture Capital Fund that invests in fast-growth tech companies, scalable business models and strong management teams. Focus areas include Smart Cities, Education, Healthcare, Finance and Communication.

Products and services

• DLV Main Fund
• Ignition Fund
• FIA Smart Cities Startup Contest

Quantifiable outcome

• One investment closed per month since September 2015
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• MichelincoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 5 June 2017Michelin is a supporting partner of the FIA Smart Cities Startup Contest, providing jury members and supporting the global startup competition alongside DLV and FIA.
• ENEL GroupcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 5 June 2017ENEL Group supports the FIA Smart Cities Startup Contest as a corporate partner, providing startup initiatives and business incubator representatives for the jury.
• Julius BaercoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 5 June 2017Julius Baer Swiss Private Banking supports the FIA Smart Cities Startup Contest, providing directors and marketing representatives for the jury at European events.
• FIA (Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 March 2017DLV partners with FIA to run the FIA Smart Cities Startup - a global startup contest for innovative technology companies. The partnership includes support from Michelin, ENEL Group, and Julius Baer, with events held at Formula E races worldwide. Minimum ten pitch events over three years across four continents.
• Formula EcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 March 2017Formula E provides the platform for the Global Startup Contest with events held at city-center race venues. DLV and FIA utilize Formula E hospitality areas for jury workshops and finalist presentations, offering winners special race day invitations.
• Digital LeaderscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSeparate company managing DLV's global network of influential leaders in internet, mobile and tech industry. Hosts leadership events and tech tours to technology centers including Silicon Valley, Tel Aviv, Beijing, Bangalore, Tokyo. Katarina Metzger serves as Chairwoman.
• World Economic ForumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDanil Kerimi, Head of Technology Industries at World Economic Forum, serves on the FIA Smart Cities Startup Contest jury, providing strategic oversight and network access.
• Centre of Technical Entrepreneurship (Centech)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerMontreal-based startup hub supporting FIA Smart Cities Startup Contest North America 2017.
• Tandem LaunchminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMontreal-based technology incubator supporting DLV's North American startup contest.
• Startupbootcamp Smart City ProgramminorGTM or Marketing PartnerGlobal accelerator program supporting smart city startups at DLV contest in Montreal.
• McGill Faculty of Engineering Innovation and EntrepreneurshipminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAcademic partner supporting DLV's Montreal startup contest.
• Centre d'excellence en efficacité énergétiqueminorGTM or Marketing PartnerQuebec energy efficiency center supporting DLV smart cities initiative.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Point Nine Capital: Berlin-based seed-stage venture firm focused on B2B SaaS and fintech across Europe. Operates at similar pre-seed/seed check sizes and competes for the same European founder pool as DLV.
• Balderton Capital: London-based early- and growth-stage European venture firm. Already a co-investor in DLV's Ignition Fund portfolio and competes for the same post-seed European tech founders; directly comparable stage and geography.
• Earlybird Venture Capital: One of Europe's oldest early-stage venture firms with offices across the continent. Targets similar post-seed European tech founders and has overlapping sector coverage in fintech, health, and digital infrastructure.
• Seedcamp: European seed-stage venture firm originating from the UK with extensive pan-European deal flow. Operates at the pre-seed/seed boundary, competing for the same early European founders DLV targets post-seed.
• Speedinvest: Vienna-based early-stage venture fund with sector-focused teams across fintech, deep tech, and digital health. Comparable stage, European geography, and sector specialization to DLV's Ignition Fund.
• LocalGlobe: UK-based seed-stage venture firm investing very small initial checks with extensive follow-on. Competes for the same European pre-seed/post-seed talent and uses a similar network-driven sourcing model.
• Creandum: Nordic-anchored early-stage venture firm backing European tech founders from seed to Series A. Comparable post-seed stage and pan-European scope with sector specialization in consumer, fintech, and enterprise software.
• Notion Capital: London-based venture firm exclusively focused on European B2B SaaS. Competes with DLV for post-seed enterprise software founders, with overlapping exposure to portfolio-company examples like Aircall-adjacent SaaS bets.

Broad incumbents

• Index Ventures: Major pan-European venture firm investing from seed through growth. A broader incumbent that overlaps with DLV at the post-seed stage but at much larger check sizes and broader sector coverage.
• Atomico: European venture firm founded by Skype's Niklas Zennström, operating across stages from seed to growth. Comparable thematic focus on European tech founders with global ambitions, but at materially larger fund and check sizes.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/DLV
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/digital-leaders-ventures

Compliance2 records

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

Investments9 records

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

Frequently asked questions about Digital Leaders Ventures