ZOHO.VC is a newly independent venture capital firm spun out of ZOLLHOF Tech Incubator in Nuremberg. The firm focuses on backing early stage, technology driven startups emerging from Germany’s university and research ecosystem. With strong ties to ZOLLHOF’s incubation programs and corporate network, ZOHO.VC positions itself as an operator embedded in the startup environment rather than a traditional institutional investor.
ZOHO.VC held the first close of its debut fund at about 7 million euros in January 2026, representing roughly 70 percent of its 10 million euro target and arriving nearly ten months ahead of schedule. The fund is backed by entrepreneurial families and startup founders who also contribute networks and operational expertise.
The vehicle focuses on pre seed and seed investments in startups closely connected to the ZOLLHOF ecosystem, including graduates of its incubation programs and selected co investment opportunities. The fund targets deeptech, research based technologies, and early hardware and software ventures that benefit from hands on access to ZOLLHOF’s corporate partners, engineering expertise, and ecosystem infrastructure. ZOHO.VC has already completed five investments, including Merge Labs, and expects continued demand to potentially expand the fund beyond its original size during 2026.
Leadership
The firm is led by partners Dennis Kirpensteijn and Benjamin Bauer, with Nicolas Sievers serving as principal.
Investment Strategy
ZOHO.VC pairs capital with operational support through its connection to ZOLLHOF’s extended community. The strategy emphasizes early validation, technical durability, and the ability to leverage regional research strengths. The firm looks for startups at the frontier of deeptech and university driven innovation and helps them secure commercial pilots, build networks, and raise follow on capital. ZOHO.VC aims to serve as the first institutional believer in founders who benefit from tight integration with incubators, corporates, and local R&D partners.
Notable Investments
The fund has completed five early investments including Merge Labs, with additional unannounced companies emerging from ZOLLHOF’s pipeline and wider European university research networks.
Notable Exits
Not publicly disclosed.
Other
Founders benefit from ZOHO.VC’s access to ZOLLHOF’s corporate partners, domain experts, and engineering resources, which can accelerate technical validation and early product development. The LP base includes experienced entrepreneurs who contribute talent, networks, and practical insight into early company building.
Germany
