"Universities and research labs have long been Europe's deep tech treasure trove. Now, academic spinouts have consolidated into a solid startup funnel worth $398 billion - and VC money is following. According to Dealroom's European Spinout Report 2025, 76 of these deep tech and life sciences companies have either reached $1 billion valuations, $100 million in revenue, or both. These include unicorns like Iceye, IQM, Isar Aerospace, Synthesia, and Tekever, which are now inspiring more funds to back university spinouts."
"Just this month, two new funds emerged that will bring more funding to talent emerging out of European tech universities, while adding breadth to a pipeline currently topped by Cambridge, Oxford, and ETH Zurich. PSV Hafnium, out of Denmark, recently closed its inaugural fund at an oversubscribed €60 million (approximately $71 million), with a focus on Nordic deep tech. With offices in Berlin and London, but also in Aachen, U2V (University2Ventures) is targeting the same amount for its first fund, of which it recently completed the first closing."
European academic spinouts have consolidated into a $398 billion deep-tech and life sciences startup funnel that is drawing increasing VC investment. Dealroom's European Spinout Report 2025 shows 76 spinouts have reached $1 billion valuations, $100 million in revenue, or both, including Iceye, IQM, Isar Aerospace, Synthesia, and Tekever. Two new funds, PSV Hafnium and U2V (University2Ventures), have launched targeting roughly €60 million each to support university-derived talent across Europe. PSV Hafnium emphasizes Nordic deep tech. U2V operates from Berlin, London, and Aachen. Significant exits and near-record fundraising (about $9.1 billion in 2025) are accelerating investor interest.
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