VORNvc is a Dortmund-based venture capital firm co-founded by Managing Directors Nico Hemmann and Lars Hane, building on a team that previously ran three prior fund generations through SeedCapital Dortmund. The firm invests in sector-agnostic technology startups across North Rhine-Westphalia, positioning itself as a bridge between early-stage founders and the region's established Mittelstand companies.
VORNvc invests in sector-agnostic technology startups, with stated interest spanning deep tech, edtech, agtech, life sciences and climate tech.
The firm invests from pre-seed through Series A, writing checks of up to $7 million as lead or co-investor.
VORNvc's geographic focus is North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, concentrated around the Ruhr area, South Westphalia and Ostwestfalen-Lippe, with reach into the Dortmund, Hamm and Paderborn-Detmold-Höxter savings bank regions.
VORNvc reached a first close of $36.7 million in mid-2025 and a second close of $47.4 million in September 2026, against a $57.4 million target.
The fund is backed by a consortium of regional Sparkassen, including Sparkasse Paderborn-Detmold-Höxter, which joined at the second close, along with the Wortmann Stiftung family foundation and regional entrepreneurs. NRW.BANK, the state development bank, also contributed at first close.
Leadership
Nico Hemmann and Lars Hane are Managing Directors of VORNvc.
The team previously ran three fund generations together through SeedCapital Dortmund.
Investment Strategy
VORNvc invests up to $7 million per company as lead or co-investor across pre-seed, seed and Series A rounds, drawing on its network within NRW's Mittelstand economy to support portfolio companies' growth.
The fund targets roughly 30 portfolio companies in total.
Notable Investments
Nico Hemmann — Managing Director and Partner
nico.hemmann@vorn.vc
Lars Hane — Managing Director and Partner
lars.hane@vorn.vc
Daniel Harder — Partner
daniel.harder@vorn.vc
Germany
