ZOHO.VC completes first closing at 70% of target fund

ZOHO.VC, the venture
capital arm of ZOLLHOF – Tech Incubator, has completed the first closing of its
inaugural fund, securing 70 per cent of its target volume ten months ahead of
the final closing. The fund’s limited partners include entrepreneurial families
and startup founders.

The fund focuses on
pre-seed and seed investments in technology-driven startups and combines
capital with technical expertise and access to ZOLLHOF’s network of corporate
partners, technology experts, and co-investors. Its investment strategy targets
early-stage companies connected to the ZOLLHOF ecosystem, including startups
emerging from its incubation programme, designated a “Startup Factory” by the
German Federal Government, as well as selected co-investment opportunities.

ZOHO.VC places a
particular focus on deeptech companies and university spin-offs across both
software and hardware. Alongside the fundraising process, the team has already
completed five investments, including Merge Labs.

The fund’s current
volume of approximately €7 million represents an initial milestone. In response
to ongoing demand and a growing pipeline, partners Benjamin Bauer and Dennis
Kirpensteijn, together with Principal Nicolas Sievers, plan to expand the fund
beyond its original target in 2026, with the objective of supporting teams
addressing significant technological and societal challenges.