
Nucleus Capital
Description
Nucleus Capital is a Berlin-based venture capital firm dedicated to supporting purpose-driven founders who are developing solutions for systemic challenges to planetary health. Established with a clear mission, the firm focuses its investments across critical sectors including Food & Agriculture, Energy & Resources, Built Environment, and Industrial Decarbonization. Their investment thesis is centered on identifying and nurturing innovative companies that can deliver both significant environmental impact and strong financial returns.
The firm primarily targets Seed and Series A stage companies across Europe, reflecting their commitment to early-stage growth. Nucleus Capital is known for its hands-on approach, providing not only capital but also strategic guidance and operational support to its portfolio companies. They seek to partner with entrepreneurs who are building scalable technologies and business models designed to address pressing environmental issues.
Nucleus Capital successfully closed its inaugural fund, Nucleus Capital Fund I, at an impressive €100 million (approximately $108 million USD) in September 2023. This substantial fund size underscores the confidence of their limited partners in the firm's strategy and the growing importance of the planetary health sector. Their typical initial investment ranges from €500,000 to €3 million (approximately $540,000 to $3.24 million USD), enabling them to provide crucial early-stage capital. They also reserve significant capital for follow-on investments, with the capacity to invest up to €10 million as their portfolio companies mature and scale.
With a focused investment mandate and a robust capital base, Nucleus Capital is well-positioned as a key player in the European climate tech and sustainability venture ecosystem. Their commitment to fostering innovation for a healthier planet highlights their dual objective of generating financial returns while driving positive environmental change.
Investor Profile
Nucleus Capital has backed more than 32 startups, with 6 new investments in the last 12 months alone. The firm has led 8 rounds, about 25% of its total and boasts 0 exits across its portfolio.
Investment Focus Highlights
- Concentrates on Pre Seed, Seed, Series A rounds (top funding stages).
- Majority of deals are located in Germany, United States, United Kingdom.
- Strong thematic focus on Food and Beverage, Biotechnology, Manufacturing.
- Led 4 rounds in the past year.
- Typical check size: $540K – $3.2M.
Stage Focus
- Pre Seed (59%)
- Seed (38%)
- Series A (3%)
Country Focus
- Germany (44%)
- United States (22%)
- United Kingdom (16%)
- The Netherlands (6%)
- Slovenia (3%)
- Denmark (3%)
- Switzerland (3%)
- Belgium (3%)
Industry Focus
- Food And Beverage
- Biotechnology
- Manufacturing
- Sustainability
- Life Science
- Information Technology
- Software
- Food Processing
- Clean Energy
- Energy
Frequently Asked Questions
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