Polish Montis VC has announced the €50 million first close of its first venture capital fund, targeting early-stage startups building technologies at the intersection of energy, industry and artificial intelligence across Europe.
The fund has attracted backing from a mix of institutional and private investors, including the European Investment Fund (EIF) via the REPowerEU programme, Poland’s development fund (PFR), as well as family offices and private investors from Central and Eastern Europe. The firm plans to invest in 20 to 25 startups at pre-seed and seed stage.
Betting on Europe’s industrial and energy transition
Montis VC focuses on startups developing solutions tied to the energy and industrial transition, while also leveraging AI to scale products and improve efficiency.
“We invest in founders who want to build the future of the European economy through technology and energy efficiency,” said Michał Gawęda, Partner at Montis VC. “We are particularly focused on areas such as the energy and industrial transition, where artificial intelligence can become a powerful driver of innovation and global scale.”
The fund will target highly scalable companies with global ambitions, particularly those contributing to productivity gains and environmental performance.
From Montis Capital to a larger, pan-European play
Montis VC builds on the track record of Montis Capital, the team’s previous investment vehicle. Since 2019, the firm has deployed around €30 million across nine companies operating at the intersection of technology and industry.
Its portfolio includes Micromobility Port, Fresh Inset and Autofixer — the latter reaching over €30 million in annual revenue within three years and expanding across multiple European markets.
With the new fund, Montis is scaling both its operational scope and investment strategy. Initial ticket sizes will range from €0.5 million to €2 million, with approximately half of the fund reserved for follow-on investments.
“We are building Montis VC as a new-generation fund that is fast, flexible and works closely with founders,” said Michał Baś, Principal at Montis VC. “There is still a shortage of investors who actively help startups scale faster and prepare for the next stages of growth. That is the gap we want to fill.”
Experienced team with international reach
The fund is led by Managing Partners Łukasz Dziekoński, Wojciech Szwankowski and Michał Gawęda, alongside Michał Baś, who recently joined from pan-European VC firm Venture Friends.
Montis VC is also supported by a network of venture partners, including Taavi Rõivas, former Prime Minister of Estonia; entrepreneur Tomasz Misiak; and renewable energy expert Bart Dujczyński. The group will help portfolio companies expand internationally and build connections across global tech ecosystems.
“Europe has exceptional technological potential and a deep pool of talent,” said Wojciech Szwankowski. “At Montis VC, we want to help startups unlock that potential globally by supporting projects that have the ambition to transform entire sectors of the economy.”
The €50 million first close marks the beginning of a wider fundraising effort. Montis VC says it is already in advanced discussions with additional investors and plans to increase the fund’s total size in the coming months.
