Faber, a Portuguese venture capital firm with a specialized focus on deep tech, has announced the launch of its latest fund, Faber Tech III, with an initial closing of €31 million. The fund, anchored by the European Investment Fund (EIF) and backed by major entities like the NATO Innovation Fund and Caixa Capital, is positioned to fuel early-stage innovation in Southern Europe. With a target size of €60 million, Faber aims to close the remaining investment rounds over the coming months.
Faber Tech III’s focus reflects the firm’s dedication to bridging the gap in specialized seed capital in Southern Europe, targeting transformative startups across sectors like AI and AI governance, robotics, computational bio and chemistry, data infrastructure, and next-gen computing. With a core focus on the Iberian Peninsula, the fund also selectively invests in the rest of Europe, aiming to scale promising innovations emerging from Portugal, Spain, and beyond.
Driving innovation through targeted support
Faber’s focus on seed-stage deep tech has seen it become a partner of choice for mission-driven entrepreneurs in Southern Europe. The firm has backed high-potential companies, including Sword Health, Smartex, Mitiga, Luminate Medical, Unbabel, and Microharvest, among others. The new fund, Faber Tech III, seeks to carry forward this legacy by supporting founders in the initial stages of groundbreaking ventures.
The first investments from the new fund include companies in Portugal, Spain, and the Netherlands focused on advanced technologies such as photonic chips, analog chip design, and synthetic biology—fields critical for future scientific and industrial advancement. These investments will be formally announced in the coming weeks.
Comments from key partners
Alexandre Barbosa, Managing Partner at Faber, stated: “The launch of Faber Tech III represents an ongoing commitment to seeding the future by supporting the next generation of science-driven and resilient founders in Europe. Faber’s unique specialist and entrepreneurial approach together with our thesis-driven group of LPs positions us as the partner of choice for seed deep tech in Southern Europe.”
Marjut Falkstedt, Chief Executive of the EIF, added: “As our economies and societies navigate the digital transition, it’s important that bright entrepreneurs working on the next generation of digital tools have the backing they need. This is why we are very glad to be partnering with Faber again, confident in their ability to seek out and support tomorrow’s deep tech champions at the earliest stages.”
From the NATO Innovation Fund, Managing Partner Chris O’Connor shared: “Maintaining Europe’s technological edge is critical to ensuring the region’s security and resilience. We are proud to support Faber, which has a legacy of connecting entrepreneurs in Iberia with the opportunities they need to unlock the scaling potential of their technologies.”
Pedro Rangel, CEO of Caixa Capital, reinforced the role of Faber Tech III in the venture ecosystem and noted: “Caixa Capital’s investment in Faber Tech III strengthens our commitment to the Portuguese venture capital ecosystem. Faber has built a strong network of international partners, positioning it well to foster growth and value creation.”
Fostering a culture of deep tech innovation
Faber’s position in the Southern European venture capital landscape is strengthened by its robust entrepreneurial and scientific expertise, supported by a network of Venture Partners and expert advisors who guide founders through the earliest phases of their ventures. In addition, the firm runs the Faber Entrepreneurship Program, a 12-week initiative designed to equip MSc, PhD, and post-doc STEM students with entrepreneurial skills.
The firm actively collaborates with universities and Technology Transfer Offices (TTOs) to drive knowledge transfer and capacity building, further embedding its role in cultivating a vibrant ecosystem in Iberia.
Faber Tech III stands as a beacon for Southern Europe’s deep tech potential, aiming to unlock powerful combinations of science, purpose, and capital to help foster a sustainable, innovation-driven future across Europe.
