A $108 Million Bet on Europe's Hidden DeepTech Giants

Jan de Vries · 2026-09-02

Let's talk about a major shift happening in European tech funding. It's not just another venture capital announcement—it's a targeted move to solve a specific, stubborn problem. Uplift Ventures, a venture platform operating out of Hamburg and Berlin, just launched its first fund. We're talking about a substantial $108 million (€100 million) pot of money dedicated entirely to backing the next wave of DeepTech founders across Europe and the US. ### The Backing and The Big Picture What makes this fund different? Its anchor investor isn't a traditional financial institution. It's Jungheinrich, a major German intralogistics powerhouse that actually founded Uplift Ventures. This isn't just passive capital. It's strategic, patient money from a company that lives and breathes industrial challenges every single day. Dr. Lars Brzoska, CEO of Jungheinrich, put it perfectly: "DeepTech requires patient capital and partners who understand both industrial challenges and entrepreneurial ambition." He sees Uplift as a critical partner, not just for financial returns, but for shaping the company's long-term future. ### Plugging a Critical Gap Here's the core issue Uplift is tackling. Europe has a rich history of industrial titans—think Siemens, ABB, Schneider Electric. But there's a notorious financing gap for ambitious DeepTech companies trying to bridge the tricky phase between late Seed and Series A rounds. That's where big ideas often stall. This $108 million fund is designed specifically to be that bridge. It plans to spread that capital across up to 20 startups and selected DeepTech funds. The goal is to build a global support network, offering more than just a check. They want to be a resource long after the initial investment wire hits the bank. ### The Sectors and The Strategy The fund has a clear focus on four key sectors: - Physical AI (robotics, autonomous systems) - Energy (new generation tech) - Enterprise AI - Logistics Their approach is intentionally flexible. They'll act as a lead investor, a co-lead, or simply a participant—whatever structure best serves the founders and helps the round get done. It's a founder-first mentality. ### The Team Behind The Capital To lead this charge, Uplift brought on Christian Noske as Founding General Partner. He's not new to this game. With over a decade of DeepTech investing experience at firms like NGP Capital, BMW i Ventures, and Alliance Ventures, he's seen what works and what doesn't. His track record includes backing companies like The Exploration Company and ANYbotics. He also hosts the "DeepTech Unleashed" podcast, so he's deeply embedded in the conversation. "We've spent years investing in Deep Tech and have seen both the many ways these companies can fail and what it takes to build exceptional outcomes," Noske said. "Europe needs dedicated Deep Tech investors who are in it for the long run." He's joined by a seasoned investment team including Katharina Schild, Lukas Böttcher, Susan Suzart, and Helge Jelinski. This group brings experience from Cathay Innovation, Speedinvest, and others, with a collective history of backing over 30 startups. They're planning to grow the team further as they gear up to make their first investments in 2026. The big idea here is connection. It's about linking Europe's industrial legacy with a new generation of problem-solving technology companies. It's about providing more than money—it's about offering a global perspective, real-world experience, and a network that can help founders scale. For any entrepreneur building in physical AI, energy, enterprise AI, or logistics, this represents a significant new source of smart, understanding capital.