Creator Fund, a London-based pre-seed venture capital group, has secured a close of $41m (£30.3m) for its first European institutional fund.
Based in Kensington, Creator Fund works with scientists to turn academic research into deep tech startups, with notable examples including Glasgow spinout Chemify and Imperial College London spinout Recycleye.
Its latest fund has already raised double the amount from its previous fund from 2022 and aims to hold its final close in early 2026.
“We should treat our universities less like museums and more like foundries. People across the world dream of coming to study in Europe,” said chief executive Jamie Macfarlane.
“It’s where roboticists, computer scientists, and geneticists converge at the forefront of science. When we ask: how does Europe remain competitive on the world stage? The answer lies in our universities. Creator Fund helps turn scientific discovery into world-defining businesses.”
The fund has been supported by German asset management firm Equation Capital as well as the Export and Investment Fund of Denmark. Investors from a base of more than 60 limited partners also contributed.
“Creator Fund has built one of the most powerful networks across leading European universities,” commented Mark Schmitz, co-founder and managing partner of Equation Capital.
Our fragmented innovation landscape requires professional, pan-European funding providers that can unlock and commercialise groundbreaking research. We are excited to anchor the Fund and support the team in their journey.”