Belgian Early-stage Investor Biotope Secures €5 Million To Back Biotech Startups

The fund aims to reach a total of €9 million in the next 18 months. With this, biotope plans to invest €250,000 each in up to 30 early-stage international BioTech startups.

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Key backers of the fund include BNP Paribas Fortis, Agri Investment Fund (AIF), SFPIM Relaunch, Anacura, VIB (biotope's founding institution), and family offices The Nest and Edaphon.

Annick Verween, Head of biotope by VIB, said: “This first close is an amazing milestone for us. It means we can keep saying ‘yes’ to early, brave and diverse BioTech Founders creating positive impact. The funding we provide is about more than just runway – it’s about freedom. With €250k cash investment founders can focus on unlocking the potential of their technology without being distracted by short-term fundraising pressure.”

biotope takes a founder-first approach, backing diverse and mission-driven entrepreneurs with both funding and strategic support to help them reach their next funding stage.

Now, biotope is building its second fund – Biotope Ventures Fund 2 – to strengthen its position as a leading global impact investor in BioTech.

VIB’s Managing Director, Jérôme Van Biervliet, added: “We’re incredibly grateful to announce the launch of Biotope Ventures 2. Thanks to the investors, we can continue to tackle the sustainability crisis through technology and entrepreneurship. At VIB, we witness firsthand the significant impact and leverage biotope creates.”

Startups backed by biotope receive a €250,000 investment along with tailored support to help them prepare for future funding rounds. Every six months, three high-potential startups are selected through a careful screening process.

They participate in a 3-week basecamp that sharpens their value proposition—especially from scientific and technological perspectives—and prepares them for a final pitch to biotope’s Investment Committee.

During the program, startups get hands-on support to reduce biotech risks, strengthen their intellectual property and regulatory strategies, build a strong business foundation, and become fully ready for their next round of investment.

Céline Vaessen, CEO of SFPIM Relaunch, added: “SFPIM Relaunch recognises the outstanding track record that biotope has established over the past three years. The team has not only attracted top international talent to Ghent but has also played a key role in accelerating the go-to-market strategies of the incubated start-ups. We are particularly impressed by their commitment to supporting diverse founding teams. We are therefore excited to join Biotope Ventures 2 as an investor and to contribute to the continued growth of the Belgian biotech ecosystem.”

biotope’s first fund invested in 16 European startups over three years, focusing on sectors like food, agriculture, and materials. Four of these—Zymofix, AmphiStar, B’Zeos, and PFx Biotech—have already successfully closed their Seed rounds. Collectively, the portfolio companies have raised around €30 million in follow-on funding, with nearly half of that coming from grants. This reflects a capital leverage of over 10x.

“We are proud to invest in Biotope Ventures 2 as it offers a rare combination of deep scientific expertise, hands-on entrepreneurship support, and access to a powerful ecosystem of experts, investors, and facilities. For Edaphon, backing biotope means helping to provide the conditions that early-stage BioTech ventures need to grow into companies with tangible, lasting impact on agriculture, food, and materials,” said Vincent Vliebergh, Managing Partner at Edaphon.

biotope firmly believes that biotechnology is essential to tackling major planetary health challenges and that supporting passionate, mission-driven founders is key to making real progress.

With a founder-first approach and strong focus on inclusion, biotope has achieved meaningful results: 75% of its supported startups have mixed-gender founding teams—standing out in an industry where 80% are male-only. Additionally, 58% of employees in these startups are women. So far, biotope-backed companies have created 48 high-quality full-time jobs, with more expected in the near future.

“Our investment in Biotope Ventures 2 underscores our strong commitment to innovation for the benefit of the agricultural sector” said Barbara Berckmans, Investment Manager at AIF. “We are particularly proud to support a fund that is deeply rooted in our local ecosystem, successfully attracting entrepreneurs from around the globe to catalyse their transformative solutions.”

Felix Van Camp, Managing Director at Anacura, added: “Anacura is a committed backer of Biotope Ventures. Their work in supporting young BioTech startups and entrepreneurs has been invaluable for our ecosystem. A thriving biotope is essential for an ecosystem to flourish, and the ecosystem is paramount for Anacura’s growth.”

About biotope

biotope is an early-stage investor launched in 2022 by VIB, a top life sciences research institute in Belgium. It supports international BioTech startups that aim to create a positive impact on planetary health.