May Ventures is a newly formed venture capital firm based in Münster, Germany, focused on backing early-stage startups that harness artificial intelligence and business innovation. Established to strengthen the DACH region’s AI ecosystem, the firm positions itself as a first-check investor helping founders turn cutting-edge research and early concepts into scalable companies.
May Ventures invests primarily in startups applying artificial intelligence to solve business problems or enable new enterprise capabilities. Its geographic focus is the DACH region, where it seeks to accelerate the commercialization of AI-driven innovation and support the next generation of European tech founders.
In October 2025, May Ventures announced the first close of its debut fund, raising over €30 million toward a target size of €50 million.
The fund is dedicated to AI-focused early-stage investments and is backed by a strong base of regional institutional investors, including NRW.BANK, banks from the Sparkassen and Volksbanken group, and Helaba.
The fund’s mandate targets pre-seed and seed-stage companies developing transformative technologies across artificial intelligence and digital business solutions.
May Ventures positions itself as a first institutional investor, providing initial checks between €250,000 and €1 million, with the capacity to follow on in subsequent rounds.
The fund has already begun deploying capital, including an investment in Droidrun, an Osnabrück-based startup building a platform that enables AI agents to operate mobile applications through natural language commands.
Leadership
The firm is led by Managing Partners Maximilian Derpa and Dominik Lohle, both experienced in venture building and early-stage financing. They are supported by a network of venture partners including Nils Engelking and others, who bring sector expertise and operational experience to support portfolio founders.
Investment Strategy
May Ventures aims to bridge the gap between AI research and commercial implementation. Its strategy centers on identifying high-potential founders at the earliest stages and helping them establish strong technical and business foundations. The firm provides hands-on guidance, network access, and financial support through follow-up rounds, seeking to build long-term partnerships with founders. Its localized approach within the DACH region allows it to capture early innovation while maintaining proximity to research hubs and corporate partners.
Notable Investments
May Ventures has already completed its first investment in Droidrun, an AI automation platform that allows agents to interact with mobile applications using natural language. Additional portfolio companies are expected to be announced as the fund continues deployment toward its €50 million target.
Notable Exits
As a newly launched fund, May Ventures has not yet reported any exits.
Other
May Ventures plays an important role in the growing European AI ecosystem, combining local capital with specialized expertise in artificial intelligence and digital innovation. The firm’s focus on pre-seed and seed stages provides early technical founders with the capital and mentorship typically missing in the region.
