Heartfelt_

What Heartfelt_ does

Heartfelt_ is an early-stage venture capital firm operating as a 'first cheque fund' for exceptional founders building transformative companies across Europe and the United States. The firm writes initial investments in the €100-400k range, either solo or alongside other early backers, and reserves capacity for follow-on participation in subsequent rounds. Its stated focus is the 0-to-1 phase, helping founders progress from concept toward product-market fit, with deal flow sourced through founder networks, mentor and investor referrals, and a dedicated online pitch portal at pitch.heartfelt.vc.

The firm is staffed by 9 full-time investment professionals drawn from international backgrounds, sitting within an overall headcount band of 11-50. Operating geographies are explicitly Europe and the US. Anchor limited partners include Axel Springer and Porsche, which the firm uses for corporate access and strategic credibility. The firm does not develop proprietary technology products, software platforms, or APIs; its core deliverable is capital plus network support, and its competitive advantages derive from brand positioning, network depth, and the quality of follow-on investors that portfolio companies subsequently attract.

Heartfelt_ has been an initial investor in over 300 startups across diverse industries, including N26 (digital banking), DeepL (language AI), Colossyan (AI video generation), Charles (fintech), Greenlyte (climate tech), getquin (financial services), and Qualifyze (pharma compliance). Portfolio companies have subsequently raised from tier-one investors including Insight Partners, Index, Benchmark, Bessemer, Left Lane, IVP, Lightspeed, General Catalyst, Balderton, and Google Ventures. Revenue mechanics are not publicly disclosed and consist primarily of management fees on committed capital, with optional carried interest realized through exits or later rounds; no AUM, fund vintage, or financial performance data is in the source material.

Name

Heartfelt_

Legal name

Heartfelt

Website

https://heartfelt.capital

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Heartfelt_ is an early-stage venture capital fund that writes first cheques of €100-400k in pre-seed startups across Europe and the US, backed by anchor investors Axel Springer and Porsche.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Venture Capital (Early-Stage / Pre-Seed Investment)

NAICS

Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (523940)

SIC

Investment Advice (6282)

akta.pro primary industry

Early-Stage Venture Capital (Pre-Seed/Seed) (FSANAAAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Early-Stage Venture Capital (Series A/B) (FSANAAAB)

Keywords

• Venture capital funding
• Pre-seed investments
• Startup equity financing
• Early-stage capital
• Seed round funding

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Equity Investment Returns: Heartfelt_ generates returns through equity stakes in portfolio companies. As a cheque fund and early-stage investor, they provide initial capital (€100-400k) in exchange for equity, with returns realized through exits (acquisitions, IPOs) or subsequent funding rounds where their stake retains or increases in value.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels1 record

Core offering

Heartfelt_ provides initial pre-seed venture capital cheques in the range of €100,000 to €400,000 to early-stage startups across Europe and the United States. The firm positions itself as the first institutional investor in founders' journeys, having deployed capital into more than 300 startups over the past decade. The service combines capital deployment with portfolio support, leveraging anchor-investor relationships with Axel Springer and Porsche to add corporate value beyond the cheque.

Product overview

Heartfelt_ is a venture capital firm operating as a cheque fund, providing early-stage investment to exceptional founders building transformative companies across Europe and the US. The firm does not offer distinct product modules or named technology offerings; its core service is initial investments ranging from €100-400k to help founders achieve product-market fit, with follow-on investments as portfolio companies raise subsequent funding rounds.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Pre-Seed Venture Capital Cheque Initial pre-seed equity investment in the range of €100,000 to €400,000 for early-stage startups in Europe and the United States. Provided to founders as their first institutional capital, with portfolio support and access to the firm's network, including anchor investors Axel Springer and Porsche.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 300 startups funded as initial investors over the past decade

Named customers7 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Speedinvest: European early-stage VC with sector-focused funds, investing at pre-seed and seed across the continent. Comparable to Heartfelt in stage, geography, and the breadth of the portfolio approach.
• Seedcamp: One of Europe's most prominent seed-stage venture funds, investing first cheques in European tech founders. Directly comparable to Heartfelt in stage, geography (Europe-first), and cheque size range.
• Cherry Ventures: European early-stage fund that writes first cheques into European tech founders, with a strong network-effect-driven thesis. Directly competes with Heartfelt for the same pre-seed to seed deal flow across Europe.
• Antler: Global early-stage VC and founder platform that provides initial capital and support to founders at the earliest stages. Comparable to Heartfelt in 'first cheque' positioning and global footprint.
• Point Nine Capital: Berlin-based early-stage VC focused on B2B SaaS and marketplaces across Europe. Comparable to Heartfelt in European early-stage focus and pre-seed/seed entry.
• HV Capital: One of Europe's most active early-stage investors, writing initial cheques and follow-ons in European tech companies. Comparable stage and geography to Heartfelt with a longer track record.
• Atomico: European-founded venture firm that invests from seed through growth, with strong founder network effects and a globally recognized European brand. Comparable in European VC positioning and founder-first orientation.
• LocalGlobe: London-based seed-stage investor writing first cheques into European and emerging-market founders. Closely comparable to Heartfelt's 'first cheque fund' positioning and stage focus.
• Cavalry Ventures: Berlin-based pre-seed and seed investor in European tech founders. Closely comparable to Heartfelt in pre-seed-first positioning and European founder network.

Broad incumbents

• Index Ventures: Pan-European and US venture firm investing from seed to growth. Comparable to Heartfelt at the seed end of its strategy and as a frequent follow-on investor in Heartfelt's portfolio.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/heartfeltcapital

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments1 record

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

Frequently asked questions about Heartfelt_