Backing those who dare to dream big. think Outside The Box.

OTB Ventures is a leading European VC focused on DeepTech with an unfair advantage in accessing Central and Eastern European (CEE) deal flow, investing in early growth, real tech startups (late Seed, Series A and B) that develop unique technologies in 4 verticals: SpaceTech, AI & Automation, FinTech and Cybersecurity

OTB Ventures was established in 2017 and is currently the largest VC originating from the CEE, managing over $300M. OTB team is working from two offices: Amsterdam (Netherlands) and Warsaw (Poland).

We believe that maintaining dialogue with founders is essential for us to effectively support them. We work hard to earn their trust and to be the first ones they call with good and bad news. We provide guidance, mentorship and advice, as well as strategic support and in-depth market knowledge. We utilize our industry, financial and personal networks - backed by our strong market reputation as a fair and founder-friendly investor.

OTB Manifesto

01. Where others see $$$, we see people making a difference

It starts and ends with people, nothing else matters, that’s what makes or breaks businesses. Best people attract other best people and together we distort the reality to build iconic companies.

02. Where others confine, we look Outside The Box

Incremental changes are good for corporations, we seek paradigm shift - entrepreneurs with truly game changing ideas and ability to execute them. No dream is too big if appropriate people stand behind it (see point 1))

03. Where others doubt, we encourage

Building something legendary takes courage, passion, resilience and a lot of self-belief, where the world tries to bring you down. We are there for You, during ups and downs. We stick together, we win together.

04. Where others see the horizon, we see beyond

Long-term is difficult, it’s not tangible, it’s mostly blurry and hectic. No fundamental market shift happened over-night and we are fully aware of that. As Bill Gates said: “Most people overestimate what they can do in one year and underestimate what they can do in ten years

05. Where others scratch the surface, we look deep(tech)

We do not shy away from complexity, we embrace it. We challenge each other on a definition of Deep Tech, but we can’t find a mutual one, so we coined a new term: Real Tech. Real Tech cannot be defined precisely, but when you see it, you know it’s real. And with Real Tech comes real value and real change. Real Tech is sophisticated, it is multi-facet, it is paradigm-shifting, it is overwhelmingly beneficial.

06. Where others green wash, we green-light

No nonsense, no BS, no acting. Only honesty, truth and facts.

Investment criteria

Scope
Scope

We invest in B2B tech start-ups and early growth stage companies with unique IP. We're focused on a set of specific technology segments, but we look for disruptive ideas across all technology domains.

Target stage
Target stage

We look at companies in the post-product stage that have a track record of increasing revenue. The key factors we consider are the company's potential for high growth and their willingness to scale internationally.

Geographic focus
Geographic focus

Our prime requirement for investment is a link with the CEE region. We look for businesses either based in the region or with a strong regional footprint.

Target funding
Target funding

Our goal is to invest between $1m - $15m in our portfolio companies, for which we seek to obtain a meaningful minority stake. The investment is ordinarily split across several rounds and our level of commitment is determined by performance over time.

Key focus areas
Key focus areas

We focus on four specific technology pillars. Our experience in these sectors allows us to provide founders with the highest level of support and guidance in order to help their companies grow.

AI & Automation, FinTech, SpaceTech & IOT, CyberSecurity