# Noctua Science Ventures

> Vienna-based specialist pre-seed manager, identified in its website imprint as Noctua Science Ventures GmbH, a joint venture involving Speedinvest and TU Austria. Five Austrian technical universities are shareholders of its operating company, which is distinct from named LP fund commitments. Its pre-seed fund disclosed a €15M first close on November 10, 2026. The manager backs research-driven spin-offs across Austria, not only from member universities, and leads first cheques of up to €500,000.

## Profile

- **Reported initial check:** EUR 500K
- **Check-size evidence basis:** reported
- **Founded:** N/A
- **Headquarters:** Vienna, Austria
- **AUM:** N/A
- **Rounds they lead:** Pre-Seed
- **Rounds they invest:** Pre-Seed
- **Check-size source:** https://noctua.vc/
- **Last verified:** 2026-11-12

## Links

- [Website](https://noctua.vc/)

## In-depth investment analysis

## Identity, sourcing and mandate
[Noctua Science Ventures](https://noctua.vc/) lists the Vienna legal company **Noctua Science Ventures GmbH (FN 646013w)** in its imprint. It describes a joint venture of Speedinvest and TU Austria, with TU Wien, TU Graz, Montanuniversität Leoben, BOKU and Johannes Kepler University Linz in its academic network/shareholder structure. **University operating-company shareholders must not be treated as individually confirmed LPs.**

The manager targets Austrian research spin-offs nationwide, including institutions beyond its partner universities, across deep tech, climate and industrial technology, software/AI, health and biotech. The initial lead cheque is **up to €500,000**; it advertises **5–10 new investments per year**, not a guaranteed deployment pace.

## Practical first-investment process
1. The scientist-founder submits an eligible Austrian research-based venture with IP/tech-transfer ownership and a path from prototype to customer.
2. Noctua reviews team, technology, commercialization and market with a technical due-diligence board.
3. Selected applicants negotiate a lead pre-seed investment up to **€500,000**; no standard valuation/ownership is disclosed.
4. The fund helps pair technical founders with operators, negotiate tech transfer, build a clean cap table and meet follow-on investors.

This is a synthesis of the manager's **published process**, not a tested service or promise of acceptance.

## Capital, LPs and portfolio
[VERBUND X Ventures issued a first-party release](https://www.verbund.com/en/group/news-press/press-releases/2026/11/10/verbund-x-and-noctua-science-ventures) dated November 10, 2026 confirming **€15M at first close**, naming itself, Erste, Allocator One and aws among investors without individual ticket amounts. [Dealroom](https://dealroom.co/news/171112-austria-s-noctua-launches-15m-pre-seed-fund-for-university-spin-offs) reports a **€25M target**, not a final fund size. [Noctua's current portfolio](https://noctua.vc/portfolio.html) identifies **Turn-Motion** and **DiLT Analytics**, without reliable vehicle-by-vehicle ticket amounts. See the separate [fund vehicle](/fund/noctua-science-ventures-pre-seed-fund-2026).

Sources: [manager website](https://noctua.vc/), [VERBUND release](https://www.verbund.com/en/group/news-press/press-releases/2026/11/10/verbund-x-and-noctua-science-ventures), [portfolio](https://noctua.vc/portfolio.html), [Dealroom](https://dealroom.co/news/171112-austria-s-noctua-launches-15m-pre-seed-fund-for-university-spin-offs).

## Research sources

- [Manager investment strategy](https://noctua.vc/)
- [Primary LP first-close statement](https://www.verbund.com/en/group/news-press/press-releases/2026/11/10/verbund-x-and-noctua-science-ventures)

**By:** [Venture Capital Tracker](https://venturecapitaltracker.com/editorial-policy)
**Last updated:** November 12, 2026

**Editorial note:** AI tools assisted with research, structure, or drafting. Venture Capital Tracker retains human editorial responsibility for factual accuracy, relevance, and source quality before publication.

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Source: https://venturecapitaltracker.com/fund/noctua-science-ventures