Keen Venture Partners is an Amsterdam and London based venture capital firm supporting European technology companies from seed to Series B. With long standing expertise in defense, cybersecurity and deeptech, the firm backs founders building technologies that strengthen European resilience, security and strategic capabilities. Keen works closely with military leaders, research institutions and policymakers to support the development of next generation defense technologies across the continent.
Keen Venture Partners has completed the first close of its dedicated European defence and security fund at more than €150 million. The vehicle provides capital to startups and scale ups developing defence and security technologies across NATO countries in Europe.
The fund is backed by private and institutional investors, including €40 million commitments from both the European Investment Fund (EIF) and PME, marking Keen as the first VC firm in Europe to receive EIF backing under the new €175 million Defence Investment Programme. Additional investors include TNO, ABN AMRO and LIOF, demonstrating broad support from research institutions, financial organizations and regional innovation agencies.
Fund I will invest across seed to Series B, with a particular emphasis on Series A, and targets cheque sizes between €1 million and €10 million. The fund aims to close Europe’s defence funding gap by providing what founders often lack: early customers, capital aligned with national defence priorities and strategic network access.
Keen plans to invest in more than 25 companies and will work closely with other European funds on joint investments.
Leadership
The fund is led by Partners Alexander Ribbink and Giuseppe Lacerenza, supported by Ties Klinkhamer and an advisory board composed of European military leaders, defense policy experts and industry figures with extensive operational experience.
Investment Strategy
Keen follows a thesis driven approach focused on long term defense and security needs in Europe. The firm invests in dual use technologies with clear defense applicability as well as defense first companies building core capabilities for NATO aligned missions.
The strategy emphasizes early validation, deep technical diligence and close collaboration with defense customers and policymakers. Keen supports founders with operational expertise, market access, co investment networks and strategic advisory support across the defense innovation landscape.
Notable Investments
Earlier defense and security investments from the firm include:
These companies reflect Keen’s established expertise in cybersecurity, intelligence platforms and autonomous defense systems.
Notable Exits
Public exits for the new fund have not yet been disclosed.
Other
Keen is actively expanding its investment team to support the new fund and aims to accelerate the development of a stronger European defense technology ecosystem.
Netherlands
