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Nucleus Capital

Europe, Berlin, Germany, Berlin

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
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FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Learn who this investor regularly partners with—both firms and angels—and explore their latest activity.

Who does Nucleus Capital frequently co-invest with?

Pale blue dot
Europe, Skane Lan, Sweden, Malmö
Co-Investments: 4
Possible Ventures
Europe, Bayern, Germany, Munich
Co-Investments: 3
Y Combinator
North America, California, United States, Mountain View
Co-Investments: 2
Mudcake
Europe, Stockholms Lan, Sweden, Stockholm
Co-Investments: 4
First Momentum Ventures
Europe, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany, Karlsruhe
Co-Investments: 3
Pioneer Fund
North America, California, United States, San Francisco
Co-Investments: 2
Presight Capital
North America, California, United States, West Hollywood
Co-Investments: 2
Tet Ventures
Europe, Berlin, Germany, Berlin
Co-Investments: 4
World Fund
Europe, Berlin, Germany, Berlin
Co-Investments: 3
Climate Capital Bio
North America, California, United States, San Francisco
Co-Investments: 2

Which angels does Nucleus Capital often collaborate with?

CM
Europe, Stockholms Lan, Sweden, Stockholm
Shared Deals: 1
NL
North America, California, United States, Menlo Park
Shared Deals: 1
JZ
North America, California, United States, San Francisco
Shared Deals: 1
LT
North America, New York, United States, Manhattan
Shared Deals: 1
MW
Europe, Hamburg, Germany, Hamburg
Shared Deals: 1
AN
North America, Massachusetts, United States, Cambridge
Shared Deals: 1
SI
North America, California, United States, Burlingame
Shared Deals: 1
SA
North America, California, United States, San Francisco
Shared Deals: 1
JK
Europe, Berlin, Germany, Berlin
Shared Deals: 1
AF
Europe, England, United Kingdom, London
Shared Deals: 1

What are some of recent deals done by Nucleus Capital?

ScienceMachine

London, England, United Kingdom

ScienceMachine is an AI startup accelerating biotech data analysis with a fully autonomous agent,

Artificial Intelligence (AI)BiotechnologyMedical
Pre SeedJul 9, 2025
Amount Raised: $3,500,000
Koppie

Gent, Oost-Vlaanderen, Belgium

Koppie is a company has developed a patent-pending fermentation and roasting technology that transforms locally sourced pulses

Food and BeverageManufacturing
Pre SeedJun 26, 2025
AtmoCooling

Seattle, Washington, United States

AtmoCooling is a climate tech company that offers cooling solutions for coastal deserts.

AgricultureClean EnergyCleanTechEnergy
Pre SeedMar 11, 2025
Amount Raised: $2,600,000
Spark e-Fuels

Berlin, Berlin, Germany

Spark e-Fuels is a supplier of co2-neutral aviation fuel that is designed to be carbon-neutral.

ManufacturingRenewable EnergySemiconductor
Pre SeedJan 23, 2025
Amount Raised: $2,395,484
AtmoCooling

Seattle, Washington, United States

AtmoCooling is a climate tech company that offers cooling solutions for coastal deserts.

AgricultureClean EnergyCleanTechEnergy
Pre SeedDec 20, 2024
Amount Raised: $2,626,654
Ucaneo

Berlin, Berlin, Germany

Ucaneo is an environmental services company that develops carbon removal technology designed to capture carbon dioxide from the air.

ConsultingEnvironmental ConsultingService Industry
SeedSep 10, 2024
Amount Raised: $7,438,721
Endolith

Westminster, Colorado, United States

Harnessing Microbes to Fuel Sustainable Mining

Industrial ManufacturingMiningMining Technology
SeedSep 5, 2024
Amount Raised: $5,130,000
Planet A Foods

Munich, Bayern, Germany

Planet A Foods is a B2B sustainable ingredients company that specializes in the production of cocoa-free chocolate.

Food and BeverageManufacturingSustainability
Series AFeb 1, 2024
Amount Raised: $15,400,000
Izote Biosciences

Berkeley, California, United States

Biomanufacturing Scale-Up Solution

BiotechnologyGeneticsLife Science
Pre SeedFeb 1, 2024
Amount Raised: $2,600,000
Trilobio

San Francisco, California, United States

Robotics & Synthetic Biology

BiotechnologyLife ScienceRobotics
SeedNov 29, 2023
Amount Raised: $3,000,000