DFF Ventures Closes Oversubscribed €70M Fund III Amid Pre-seed Boom

Launched in September 2025 with €50 million already committed, the fund reached final close on April 21, 2026, backed by strong support from its network of entrepreneurs and family offices.

Fund III marks a new phase for one of Europe’s most active pre-seed investors. While earlier funds focused mainly on marketplace models in Europe, this latest fund expands into Vertical AI and recommerce, with a broader global investment scope.

DFF Ventures will continue investing from the earliest stages, with cheque sizes between €250,000 and €2.5 million. Its core belief remains that the biggest challenges in building companies lie in real-world operations, not just technology.

The firm focuses on startups using software and AI to transform physical industries, where long-term advantages come from expertise, networks, and data.

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Since launch, Fund III has already backed seven companies. Its portfolio includes startups working across sectors like transport, resale, electronics, recycling, and insurance claims areas that have traditionally been slow to digitise.

Founded by entrepreneurs behind WeTransfer, fonQ, Just Eat, and Treatwell, DFF Ventures continues to operate with a founder-first approach. Its investor base is made up primarily of entrepreneurs and family offices, allowing for a fast, hands-on investment style.

Across its three funds, DFF Ventures has built a portfolio of 40 startups in 14 countries, all focused on bringing digital innovation to traditionally offline industries.

About DFF Ventures

DFF Ventures, formerly Dutch Founders Fund, is an Amsterdam-based pre-seed VC founded by entrepreneurs behind WeTransfer, fonQ, Just Eat, and Treatwell. It invests early in software and AI startups transforming physical industries, focusing on vertical AI, marketplaces, and recommerce, with a preference for B2B and acting as a first-check investor.