Calm/Storm Ventures is a Vienna-based venture capital firm founded in 2019 by Lucanus Polagnoli and Michael Ströck, both former tech entrepreneurs and investors with deep roots in Europe’s startup ecosystem. The firm was created with the belief that healthcare innovation must move from reactive treatment to proactive prevention. Calm/Storm positions itself as one of Europe’s most active early-stage funds focused on health, wellbeing, and the intersection between technology and human potential.
The firm invests in early-stage startups across healthtech, wellness, and digital health, with a growing interest in adjacent verticals such as climate tech and nutrition tech.
Calm/Storm is especially known for backing founders who address underserved or taboo areas of healthcare, including infertility, sexual wellness, mental health, and chronic conditions.
Diversity and inclusion are central to its philosophy: nearly half of its portfolio companies have diverse founding teams, and about one-third are led by CEOs who do not identify as male.
In October 2025, Calm/Storm Ventures launched a €30 million fund dedicated to early-stage healthtech innovation across Europe.
This new fund expands the firm’s mission to bridge the gap between preventive care and digital technology. The fund aims to make 30 to 40 investments, deploying initial checks of €50,000 to €300,000 into pre-seed and seed startups.
Calm/Storm maintains a “founder-first” model, providing close mentorship and operational guidance through its tight-knit network of investors and entrepreneurs.
The fund’s LP base includes successful startup founders from Qunomedical and Runtastic, ensuring portfolio companies gain access to a community of peers who understand the founder journey.
Over the next few years, the firm plans to expand its physical presence to Berlin and Copenhagen, strengthening partnerships with hospitals, universities, and research institutions to build innovation pipelines.
Leadership
The firm is led by Lucanus Polagnoli, Managing Partner and former Speedinvest investor, alongside Michael Ströck, a serial entrepreneur with experience in tech-enabled consumer platforms. Together, they blend venture expertise with entrepreneurial empathy, fostering a collaborative culture “by founders, for founders.” Their shared background in building startups informs Calm/Storm’s practical and human-centered investment approach.
Investment Strategy
Calm/Storm’s strategy centers on early conviction and hands-on partnership. The firm invests at the idea or prototype stage, prioritizing alignment between founder and market rather than product maturity. Its approach is lean, personal, and network-driven—delivering not just capital but operational, brand, and clinical access support. By focusing on scalable solutions for preventive health, Calm/Storm aims to catalyze systemic change in how healthcare is delivered and experienced.
Notable Investments
With a portfolio exceeding 75 companies, Calm/Storm has backed emerging leaders in digital health, wellness, and human performance. The firm’s investments span categories such as fertility tech, mental health platforms, women’s health, and personalized wellness.
Though many remain private, the fund’s influence has helped several startups become recognized voices in Europe’s health innovation ecosystem.
Notable Exits
As a relatively young firm founded in 2019, Calm/Storm has not yet reported significant exits but continues to see strong growth across its first portfolio.
Other
Calm/Storm Ventures operates as a community-centric investor, emphasizing purpose, diversity, and connection. The firm’s ecosystem approach means founders gain access to mentorship, industry partners, and peer support well beyond funding. Its model of investing “by founders for founders” sets it apart from traditional VC structures.
Austria
