Nucleo Ventures Launches €34 Million Fund: Key Details on Romania's New VC Powerhouse

A significant new player has entered the Central and Eastern European early-stage investment landscape. Nucleo Ventures, the rebranded successor to Fortech Ventures, officially launched a €34 million fund on June 24, 2026, with a mission to back startups and innovative SMEs across Romania and the broader CEE region .

Managed from Cluj-Napoca, Romania, by Managing Partner Valentin Filip, the fund represents a transition to full institutional independence for the investment arm of Fortech, one of Romania's largest software development companies .

Partnership with ADR Nord-Vest: A Public-Private Model

The fund was developed in close partnership with the North-West Regional Development Agency (ADR Nord-Vest) . This collaboration provides a strong institutional backbone through a cornerstone public commitment:

• €23.5 million cornerstone commitment from ADR Nord-Vest, anchoring the fund and supplemented by private capital and team contributions .
• €1.7 million grant facility — a dedicated grant mechanism for early-stage startups, described as a first for Romania, designed to support founders even before they are ready to launch a minimum viable product .

This structure, combining grants with equity financing, aims to help founders move into entrepreneurship earlier by providing non-dilutive support alongside traditional venture investment .

Investment Targets and Regional Focus

Nucleo Ventures has set clear, ambitious targets:

• Target portfolio: The fund aims to finance 46 companies over the next four years . Some reports mention a target of up to 50 companies .
• Geographic priority: While the fund will invest across Romania and CEE, there is a strong emphasis on developing Romania's North-West Region (counties including Cluj, Bihor, Maramureș, Satu Mare, Bistrița-Năsăud, and Sălaj) as a regional innovation and entrepreneurship hub .
• Sector scope: The fund has a broad early-stage technology focus, with several reports noting an expanded interest into hardware and defence sectors .

Beyond Capital: A Full-Service Partner for Founders

Nucleo Ventures positions itself as a "full-service partner" for portfolio companies, offering a structured support platform that includes :

• Mentoring and advisory — hands-on guidance from experienced operators and industry experts .
• Recruitment support — helping portfolio companies attract and hire critical talent .
• Commercial strategy — go-to-market planning and business development assistance .
• International expansion — support for scaling into new geographies .
• Strategic partnerships — connecting portfolio companies with corporate and ecosystem partners .

Through its predecessor vehicle, Fortech Ventures, the team had already backed 18 tech startups with $6.6 million invested, achieving a reported 29% IRR and a current portfolio fair value of $9.5 million .

The fund aims to fill the early-stage capital gap in a region known for exceptional technical talent but often lacking sufficient venture funding, with the goal of creating companies capable of competing globally .