Start Ventures
ABOUT START VENTURES
Start Ventures is a Lisbon-based venture capital firm founded in 2016 and managed by Onetier Partners, SCR, S.A. (formerly known as BiG Start Ventures, from the Banco de Investimento Global group). It invests at seed and Series A in early-stage B2B companies in financial services, with particular emphasis on fintech, insurtech and cybersecurity, backing teams on the verge of product-market fit. The firm reports 20-plus companies backed and four exits, including Drivit (sold to Zego in 2020) and James (acquired by Google in 2019), with portfolio companies having raised over $365M from global investors. Current holdings include ClaimSorted, Frank, Zango, Ethiack, Coverflex, Habit, LOQR, Zego, Elucidate, Fraudio, Youverse, WealthKernel, Countingup, Kirontech, Claims Carbon, WeatherPromise, Anansi, Quantee, Sonant, Jove, hAPI and Switch, reflecting a thesis around financial and insurance infrastructure and security. Start Ventures is led by Executive Director João Freire de Andrade, with João Menano as Venture Partner and Matilde Limbert as Principal, from its office on Avenida 24 de Julho in Lisbon.
INVESTMENT THESIS
Focused investor in fintech, insurtech, and cybersecurity. Selective approach with concentrated portfolio.
INVESTMENT DETAILS
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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What stage does Start Ventures invest at?
Start Ventures invests at Seed, Series A stages.
What sectors does Start Ventures invest in?
Start Ventures focuses on FinTech, InsurTech, Cybersecurity.
Where is Start Ventures based?
Start Ventures is a VC based in Lisbon, Portugal, founded in 2016.
Who are the partners at Start Ventures?
Key people at Start Ventures include João Freire de Andrade (Executive Director), João Menano (Venture Partner), Matilde Limbert (Principal).
What companies has Start Ventures invested in?
Start Ventures's portfolio includes LOQR, Habit, Coverflex, Zego, Elucidate, Fraudio, Youverse, Claims Carbon, among others.
Can I invest in Start Ventures's funds as an external investor?
Start Ventures raises its funds from external investors (LPs). No open subscription window is publicly announced right now — prospective LPs are typically onboarded when the next fund is raised.
How do I contact or pitch Start Ventures?
You can reach Start Ventures via their website (startventures.vc). You can also run your startup through Portugal VC's AI matcher to get a ranked shortlist of the investors that fit.