Europe’s industrial and energy systems are being reshaped by new technologies, rising infrastructure needs, and the push for greater economic resilience. Montis VC wants to be part of that shift.
The venture capital firm has launched a new fund with a €50 million first close, targeting early-stage startups building technologies for the energy and industrial transition while also supporting wider adoption of artificial intelligence across the economy. The fund is backed by the European Investment Fund through the REPowerEU programme, the Polish Development Fund, and a mix of family offices and private investors from across Central and Eastern Europe.
Montis VC plans to invest in 20 to 25 startups at the pre-seed and seed stages. Initial cheques will range from €0.5 million to €2 million, while half of the total investment budget has been reserved for follow-on rounds. Its focus is on scalable companies that can improve productivity, strengthen Europe’s competitiveness, and support more sustainable economic systems.
Investing where industry meets transformation
The timing of the launch reflects a wider shift in the European market. As AI, industrial automation and new mobility models become more widespread, demand is rising for technologies that can support cleaner, more efficient and more flexible infrastructure.
Montis VC is positioning itself around that opportunity. Its strategy centres on startups working across the energy and industrial transition, while also backing solutions that can help Europe build stronger long-term economic capacity. The fund is looking for businesses with global potential, particularly those capable of using artificial intelligence as a practical tool for faster scaling and broader real-world impact.
This means the firm is not chasing narrow themes. Instead, it is looking at the systems that sit underneath the modern economy, from how goods move to how energy is managed and how industrial operations can become smarter and more efficient.
A team building on an established track record
Montis VC was founded in 2019 by Łukasz Dziekoński, Wojciech Szwankowski, and Michał Gawęda in Warsaw. The team has also been strengthened by the addition of Michał Baś, who was previously associated with pan-European venture capital firm Venture Friends. The same team previously launched and managed Montis Capital. It has invested around €30 million across nine companies operating at the intersection of technology and industry.
With the new vehicle, Montis VC is scaling up both its structure and ambitions. The firm now has a larger team, a broader international network and a more active investment strategy across European markets..
International network, broader ambition
Its international reach extends beyond the core investment team. Venture partners include former Estonian Prime Minister Taavi Rõivas, entrepreneur and Harvard Business School graduate Tomasz Misiak, and renewable energy specialist Bart Dujczyński, whose experience spans Western European markets. Their role will be to help the fund build relationships across the wider technology ecosystem and support portfolio companies as they expand internationally.
Montis VC says speed and a founder-first approach will be central to how it operates. The firm wants to work closely with founders on strategy, cross-border growth and future fundraising. The €50 million first close is not the endpoint either. It marks the start of a broader fundraising process, with plans to increase the fund’s capitalisation in the months ahead.
Investment portfolio
Montis Capital’s portfolio spans industry, life sciences and digital infrastructure, backing companies that pair technical depth with commercial traction. The portfolio includes:
- Talkin’ Things: RFID technology that helps digitise products at scale.
- PlumResearch: Audience measurement for OTT and TV markets.
- Proteon Pharmaceuticals: Animal health solutions based on bacteriophages.
- Fresh Inset: Post-harvest freshness technology for food.
- Biotts: proprietary drug development in oncology, dermatology and autoimmune diseases.
- Plenti: Subscription-based tech rentals supporting the circular economy.
- Autofixer: Managed marketplace for car parts.
- Port: Last-mile delivery infrastructure for e-mobility businesses.
“We invest in founders who want to build the future of the European economy through technology and energy efficiency. We are particularly focused on areas such as the energy and industrial transition, where artificial intelligence can become a powerful driver of innovation and global scale,” says Michał Gawęda, Partner at Montis VC.
“We are building Montis VC as a new-generation fund that is fast, flexible and works closely with founders. There is still a shortage of investors who actively help startups scale faster and prepare for the next stages of growth. That is the gap we want to fill,” says Michał Baś, Principal at Montis VC.
“Europe has exceptional technological potential and a deep pool of talent. At Montis VC, we want to help startups unlock that potential globally by supporting projects that have the ambition to transform entire sectors of the economy,” adds Wojciech Szwankowski, Partner at Montis VC.
“Earlier, PFR Ventures also joined the investor base, allocating €10 million to the new Montis VC fund. – Montis VC is another team from Poland that first built its track record using capital backed by European Union funds and is now successfully attracting private and institutional investors for its next fund. Stories like this help move the Polish venture ecosystem to the next level,” says Bartłomiej Samsonowicz, Investment Director at PFR Ventures.
“Our goal is to deliver above-average investment returns while backing technologies that genuinely increase economic productivity. We are particularly interested in projects applying AI in sectors such as industry, energy and infrastructure. These are the areas where we see the strongest potential for building global technology companies from Europe,” says Łukasz Dziekoński, Partner at Montis VC – The €50 million first close is only a starting point. Over the coming months we plan to continue scaling the fund and are already in advanced discussions with additional investors – he adds.
