# LP

UK defence prime BAE Systems invests €50m in VCs Lakestar, Expeditions

It comes as the defence prime is more actively investing in defence startups via an incubator programme

Exclusive: NIF hires ex-EIB investor to run fund of funds programme

The role was previously left unfilled after founding partner Thorsten Claus departed in 2024

Newton Venture Program CEO Anu Adebajo on Europe’s ‘zombie funds’

The pair discuss the state of Europe's VC ecosystem in this week's episode of the Sifted Podcast

Inside EQT’s plan for the EU’s €5bn superfund: ‘We have over 100 companies in the pipeline’

The Swedish firm beat out British VC Atomico to run the EU’s new €5bn Scaleup Europe Fund

Arāya Sie Fund raises £7.5m first close for women-led startups amid tech ‘bro renaissance’

The fund is a rare joint venture between Arāya Ventures and female founder-focused accelerator Sie Ventures, aiming to back up to 40 startups

Nearly €80bn of public money is flooding into European VCs and startups. Is it what the market needs?

Some investors are cautious about the influx of public money, arguing other systemic changes are needed instead

Eka Ventures raises £80m to invest in startups ‘leaning into regulation’

The firm is focused on less popular areas like health, wellness and decarbonisation

Inside Earlybird’s succession plan to pass on the management company in 10 years

The firm will pass shares of the management company down to the younger generation of general partners for free — with a caveat

UK’s flagship fund of funds backing female investors and founders announces first close at £130m

The 'Women Backing Women' fund hopes to reach a final close of £250m

EQT and Atomico go head-to-head to manage €5bn EU fund

A decision regarding the winner of the fund is “imminent”, a source with direct knowledge told Sifted

UK's flagship female founder fund loses two founding partners

The Women Backing Women fund of funds, which is yet to announce a first close, is down two partners

Europe’s growth fund push

A number of recent growth fund announcements aim to fill the homegrown late stage funding gap

Middle East investors will remain ‘important’ source of capital, says top European LP

'Chaotic and second-class’: UK's flagship female founder fund faces criticism

Two years after the launch of the UK’s Invest in Women Taskforce, its flagship fund of funds is yet to deploy any capital

EU faces scrutiny as €5bn Scaleup fund shortlist nears

Much of the speculation around who will steer the fund has centred around Swedish investment firm EQT

Defence ‘top of the agenda’ for Denmark’s sovereign LP fund

Denmark’s sovereign fund EIFO is one of Europe’s most active LPs

The VCs that could run the EU’s €5bn Scaleup Europe Fund

The European Innovation Council is looking for investors who’ve managed at least €500m and two funds

UK defence prime BAE Systems launches incubator, ‘actively looking’ into VC fund investing

The company says it welcomes competition with Europe’s new defence startups and is eyeing VC fund investing

Succession planning is a ‘critical’ topic for LPs — and they’re asking more questions

Some VCs report succession planning has become a bigger question in conversations with LPs

DeepL backer B2venture raises €150m for fifth fund

The new fund will back up to 35 startups and includes investment from a Swiss pension fund for the first time

The VCs due to fundraise in 2026

From Project A and Partech to Plural and Hoxton Ventures, Sifted lists the VCs that may be fundraising in 2026

Europe’s most active LPs since 2020

Sifted found out which LPs have been the most active cheque writers amid the highs and lows of 2020 through 2025

The EU wants you! …to manage €5bn

The European Innovation Council published its criteria in a callout for VC firms to manage the new deeptech fund

Exclusive: British air force vet raises £5m for solo GP defence and dual use fund

Twin Track Ventures only backs startups with both commercial and military use cases