Keen Venture Partners has announced the first close of its European defence and security technology fund, securing over €150 million, marking it as the largest defence-tech venture capital fund in Europe.
Backed by the European Investment Fund and the Dutch pension fund PME, Keen targets technologies that traditional defence players might overlook or develop slowly, positioning it uniquely in Europe’s growing defence-tech ecosystem. The firm plans to invest between €1 and €10 million in over 25 companies, focusing on NATO member states in Europe.
Keen Venture Partners was founded in 2016 by Giuseppe Lacerenza, Alexander Ribbink, and Ties Klinkhamer, with a shared belief: Europe must build its own defence and deep-tech capabilities to ensure strategic autonomy in an increasingly unpredictable world.
The founders were driven by the realisation that traditional defence procurement processes are often too slow to keep pace with emerging threats. They saw an opportunity to accelerate innovation by supporting startups developing scalable, user-centric, and commercially ambitious defence technologies.
Their vision is rooted in a pan-European network of policymakers, military leaders, and industry partners, which has already helped nurture companies like Intelic AI and Perciv AI.
What sets Keen apart is its thesis-driven, hands-on investment strategy. The firm focuses on early-stage companies that blend deep tech defence capabilities with commercial scalability. From seed to Series B, Keen provides not just capital but also strategic guidance, leveraging its extensive network to help startups navigate the complex defence landscape.
Looking ahead, Keen Venture Partners plans to deploy capital into over 25 companies, aiming to catalyse a new wave of defence innovation that spans cybersecurity to space technologies.
