Blab Tech
EIF and Polands BGK Invest 30 Million in Inovo.vc Venture Fund to Boost Central and Eastern European Startups
In a bid to inject fresh capital into the region’s tech scene, the European Investment Fund (EIF) and Poland’s state development bank, Bank Gospodarstwa Krajowego (BGK), have pledged €30 million—roughly PLN 129 million—to a new venture‑capital vehicle run by Warsaw‑based Inovo.vc.
The pledge comes under the Future Tech Poland (FTP) programme, a joint effort designed to deepen Poland’s venture‑capital ecosystem and boost the flow of institutional money into high‑growth technology companies across Poland and the wider Central and Eastern European (CEE) region.
It marks the fourth tranche of funding that EIF and BGK have supplied through the FTP umbrella. To date, the programme has allocated roughly PLN 580 million to a range of funds and projects, a figure that represents about 39 % of the programme’s total planned commitment of PLN 1.5 billion.
Under the FTP framework, BGK has earmarked PLN 1 billion while EIF has contributed PLN 500 million, operating the initiative as a fund‑of‑funds managed by EIF.
Founded in 2011 and headquartered in Warsaw, Inovo.vc has backed more than 70 early‑stage technology teams since 2014. The firm targets seed, pre‑seed, and early‑stage deals in deep‑tech, fintech, security, and other high‑growth sectors. Seven of its portfolio companies have crossed the €100 million valuation threshold, and the firm is known for pairing capital with strategic guidance, mentorship, and network access.
EIF Chief Executive Marjut Falkstedt said the new commitment supports a proven team that helps ambitious technology companies grow from an early stage and develop solutions capable of competing across Europe and globally.
BGK has indicated that it plans to allocate more than 40 % of Future Tech Poland’s total funds by the end of 2026, positioning the Inovo transaction as part of a broader effort to strengthen Poland’s domestic innovation and financing infrastructure.
The €30 million tranche opens another institutional avenue for Polish technology start‑ups seeking to scale internationally. It follows EIF’s broader investment activity in Poland, where the fund has invested €8 billion to date and helped mobilise approximately €25.8 billion in financing for more than 119,000 small and medium‑sized enterprises, underscoring the scale of its impact.
The FTP programme aligns with EU policy goals to nurture advanced technologies in the region. By focusing on sectors such as artificial intelligence, fintech, security, and defence technologies, the initiative supports technologies that are central to EU digital strategy and the region’s economic competitiveness.
The new fund will operate under Inovo.vc’s management, a firm known for pairing capital with operational support. Inovo’s investment philosophy blends source, select, support, and sell activities, and the firm has earned a reputation for nurturing founders from seed to exit, with a focus on operational excellence and market fit.
While the €30 million tranche is a significant addition to the FTP’s capital base, the programme’s total allocation of PLN 1 billion from BGK and PLN 500 million from EIF represents a substantial commitment to the regional venture‑capital ecosystem. This partnership exemplifies a coordinated effort, marrying national development objectives with European investment expertise to cultivate a thriving ecosystem.
In short, the EIF and BGK investment in Inovo.vc marks a concrete step toward expanding the flow of capital to early‑stage technology companies in Poland and the broader CEE region. With the new €30 million injection, the programme is poised to deepen its influence, providing a critical bridge between innovators and the capital required to scale, and supporting the development of a more robust venture‑capital market in the region.
The pledge comes under the Future Tech Poland (FTP) programme, a joint effort designed to deepen Poland’s venture‑capital ecosystem and boost the flow of institutional money into high‑growth technology companies across Poland and the wider Central and Eastern European (CEE) region.
It marks the fourth tranche of funding that EIF and BGK have supplied through the FTP umbrella. To date, the programme has allocated roughly PLN 580 million to a range of funds and projects, a figure that represents about 39 % of the programme’s total planned commitment of PLN 1.5 billion.
Under the FTP framework, BGK has earmarked PLN 1 billion while EIF has contributed PLN 500 million, operating the initiative as a fund‑of‑funds managed by EIF.
Founded in 2011 and headquartered in Warsaw, Inovo.vc has backed more than 70 early‑stage technology teams since 2014. The firm targets seed, pre‑seed, and early‑stage deals in deep‑tech, fintech, security, and other high‑growth sectors. Seven of its portfolio companies have crossed the €100 million valuation threshold, and the firm is known for pairing capital with strategic guidance, mentorship, and network access.
EIF Chief Executive Marjut Falkstedt said the new commitment supports a proven team that helps ambitious technology companies grow from an early stage and develop solutions capable of competing across Europe and globally.
BGK has indicated that it plans to allocate more than 40 % of Future Tech Poland’s total funds by the end of 2026, positioning the Inovo transaction as part of a broader effort to strengthen Poland’s domestic innovation and financing infrastructure.
The €30 million tranche opens another institutional avenue for Polish technology start‑ups seeking to scale internationally. It follows EIF’s broader investment activity in Poland, where the fund has invested €8 billion to date and helped mobilise approximately €25.8 billion in financing for more than 119,000 small and medium‑sized enterprises, underscoring the scale of its impact.
The FTP programme aligns with EU policy goals to nurture advanced technologies in the region. By focusing on sectors such as artificial intelligence, fintech, security, and defence technologies, the initiative supports technologies that are central to EU digital strategy and the region’s economic competitiveness.
The new fund will operate under Inovo.vc’s management, a firm known for pairing capital with operational support. Inovo’s investment philosophy blends source, select, support, and sell activities, and the firm has earned a reputation for nurturing founders from seed to exit, with a focus on operational excellence and market fit.
While the €30 million tranche is a significant addition to the FTP’s capital base, the programme’s total allocation of PLN 1 billion from BGK and PLN 500 million from EIF represents a substantial commitment to the regional venture‑capital ecosystem. This partnership exemplifies a coordinated effort, marrying national development objectives with European investment expertise to cultivate a thriving ecosystem.
In short, the EIF and BGK investment in Inovo.vc marks a concrete step toward expanding the flow of capital to early‑stage technology companies in Poland and the broader CEE region. With the new €30 million injection, the programme is poised to deepen its influence, providing a critical bridge between innovators and the capital required to scale, and supporting the development of a more robust venture‑capital market in the region.
