Fund profile / Germany

Join Capital Fund III

Geography
Germany
Stage
Pre-Seed
Fund size
€235M
Focus
Cybersecurity, Deep Tech, Defense and Space
Signals
Published
Share
N°01 / About

About Join Capital Fund III

Berlin, London, Milan-based defence and deep tech VC. Fund III targets €235M with a record €50M EIF anchor via InvestEU Defence Equity Facility. ~25 pre-seed and seed investments in European dual-use technologies.

N°02 / Thesis

Investment Focus

Location / RegionGermany
Funding StagePre-Seed
Industry Focus
Cybersecurity
Deep Tech
Defense
Space

Investor Signals Profile

active

Sweet Spot

Early-stage European deep tech founder in defense, space, quantum, or cybersecurity

defense & dual-use deep tech
space & aerospace
quantum & advanced computing
AI & cybersecurity
advanced materials & robotics

Bullish Signals

€50M EIF anchor via InvestEU Defence Equity Facility signals tier-one statusblog
LP syndicate includes NATO Innovation Fund, KfW, and CDP — rare strategic alignmentblog
36 portfolio companies and 5 exits validate decade-long defense-tech track recordblog
Record European defense budgets create strongest institutional tailwind in decadesblog
Co-invested with NATO Fund in Kreios Space seed roundexternal
Active seed deals: ISPTech, enclaive, Kreios Space — 2025/26external
Broad sector coverage: space, quantum, AI, robotics, materialsexternal
ISPTech €5.5M seed — low-cost spacecraft propulsionwebsite
enclaive €4.1M seed — confidential multi-cloud computingwebsite
Six verticals: surveillance, space, quantum, AI, materials, roboticswebsite
Quadsat portfolio bet on contested satcom spectrumwebsite
Fund III active — EIF €50M commitment confirmedwebsite
Kreios Space €8M seed — very low orbit satelliteswebsite
enclaive co-led with Amadeus APEX + Auriga Cyberwebsite
Fund III confirmed March 2026 — EIF €50M lockedexternal
Digital twin tech, next-gen surveillance, debris removal focusexternal
Reusable spacecraft, quantum networking, modular robotics portfolio depthexternal
Fund III closes March 2026 with full €50M EIF commitmentexternal
ISPTech low-cost, less-toxic spacecraft propulsion — production scalingexternal
Kreios Space very-low-orbit satellites — NATO + Join leadexternal
enclaive confidential multi-cloud — Amadeus + Auriga co-leadsexternal
Quadsat contested-satcom-spectrum thesis — strategic positioningexternal
Digital twin, surveillance, debris removal sector focus strengtheningwebsite
Autonomous systems and unmanned vehicles investment thesis activewebsite
Integrated photonic circuits, lightweight materials portfolio expansionwebsite
Fund III closes March 2026 — EIF €50M confirmed lockedwebsite
Defense/Surveillance, Space, Quantum, AI, Materials, Robotics sectorswebsite
Portfolio focus: foundational, not flashy — "lead, scale, last" mandatewebsite

Contrarian Signals

Rising entry valuations as defense-tech attracts more competing capitalblog
Fund explicitly rejects defense-narrative software — hard tech onlyblog
Wide sector scope may dilute deep specialization focusexternal
"Not headlines" positioning — slow burn, not hype cycleswebsite
"Must lead, scale, last" — high bar filters most pitcheswebsite

Founder Do's

Highlight dual-use applications — civilian and military angles
Demonstrate EU/NATO procurement pathway knowledge
Show pan-European ambition, not single-country focus
Emphasize hard-tech differentiation, not defense-narrative software
Align with strategic autonomy / European sovereignty angle

Founder Don'ts

Pitch software with thin defense narrative — genuine deep tech only
Come without understanding dual-use regulatory complexity
Pitch if US-only or non-European in focus

42 signals on Join Capital Fund III

28 bullish · 5 contrarian · 5 pitch do's · 3 don'ts · 1 GP profile, each with its source. From €9/month, cancel anytime.

Facts

Fund Overview

Fund Size€235M
Saves0
People

Key People

Jan Borgstädt

Jan BorgstädtFounding Partner
Backers

Known LPs

KfW CapitalPublic / State institution
Isomer CapitalFund-of-Funds
+2 more LPs in LP Radar
N°04 / See also

Related Funds

Location
Germany
Stage
Series A
Focus
Climate Sustainability, Energy Tech
Manager
Future Energy Ventures
Series A
Climate Sustainability
Energy Tech

Heal Capital

Fund size€100M
Location
Germany
Stage
Pre Seed
Focus
Saas
Manager
Eckhardt Weber, Christian Lautner
Pre Seed
Saas
Location
Germany
Stage
Seed
Focus
Ai Ml, Travel Tech, Supply Chain
Manager
Lennard Niemann, Darren Soh
Seed
Ai Ml
Travel Tech
Supply Chain