Applications are now open for the programme which targets exceptional managers headquartered in Europe, specialist or agnostic funds, investing at pre-seed to Series A stage. Entrance and participation in the 12-week accelerator is free, with no hidden costs involved, in an effort to avoid selection bias and level the playing field for underrepresented managers who could otherwise be excluded.

‘YC for VC’

New and developing VC firms are consistently among the top 10 performers in the asset class, accounting for 72% of the top-returning funds. Compared to larger brands, they can provide better speed, value-add, founder optionality, and financial returns to LPs. However, support for these investors is relatively scarce. Whilst thousands of incubators, accelerators, and communities exist for startup founders, VCs face far fewer options despite facing fundraising challenges that are more time-consuming, expensive and complex; prompting the launch of this industry first.

This annual VC programme represents the first structured programme for emerging managers headquartered in Europe and is designed to support a cohort of 15–20 exceptional VCs in closing their next fund.

Built to fit alongside busy general partner’s schedules, successful applicants will receive:

• Warm introductions to LPs through a series of in-person events across Europe, including London, Berlin, Amsterdam, Copenhagen, and Helsinki, in addition to a curated list of international Limited Partners and family offices
• At least 10 hours of 1:1 mentoring from founding partners behind some of Europe’s most successful VCs and LPs, including Robin Klein (LocalGlobe), Haakon Overli (Dawn Capital), Sitar Teli (Connect Ventures), Hussein Kanji (Hoxton Ventures),  Christian Stiebner (KfW), Charlotte Palmer (Integra), and James Heath (Dara5) 
• Structured content focused on LPs; with comprehensive guidance based on 200+ LP’s feedback and responses, optimised for face-to-face interactions
• At least six days of workshops delivered by LPs and fundraising experts over the three month workshop and a series of LP matchmaking events

Jonathan Hollis, Managing Partner at Mountside Ventures, commented: “Europe is full of exceptional investors backing incredible founders. However, the fundraising pathway for these investors is challenging, opaque and often prohibitive. We’re here to work with the very best and to help them develop into equally strong fundraisers. 

“We are grateful to the incredible mentors and partners right across the fundraising ecosystem who are joining us in delivering this programme, and look forward to working with what we’re confident will become the vanguard of Europe’s next generation of fund managers.”

Gregor von dem Knesebeck, Managing Partner at Blue Future Partners, added: “Emerging VC managers are paramount for a thriving European tech ecosystem and by co-initiating the programme we express our strong and continued commitment to supporting the next generation of VCs. This programme is directed at effectively enabling a cohort of managers to access resources and funding to accelerate their fundraising in extremely difficult times.”

This represents the latest programme from Mountside Ventures in a series of free support targeted at the VC-LP ecosystem in recent years, following on from their main LP-focused annual VC conference, Funding Venture, Mountside are also co-hosts of the London and Munich Venture Capital Academy educating Family officers on investing in tech, as well as publishers of various reports unpicking the European ecosystem, like their 2024 Corporate Venture Capital Report, 2023 Limited Partner Report, and 2022 Term Sheet Guide.

Whilst a limited number of programmes exist for emerging managers, by comparison, they operate more like incubators than accelerators, typically with a more restricted regional focus, or minimum costs that follow freemium models, or range between €5k and €80k, all with a focus on first time fund managers, without a focus on LP introductions 

The Europe-wide accelerator is fully-funded by the programme’s corporate partners who share Mountside Ventures’ goal of widening access to Venture Capital. Despite analysis showing us mixed management teams generate six times more revenues, and surveys which tell us 87% of Europe’s VCs and LPs agree that increased diversity in venture capital leads to better performance, individuals meeting a basic definition of diverse remain significantly underrepresented. For example, 2023’s figures show only 16% of Europe’s GPs were women. The eventual emerging manager cohort will also receive training and advice from Blue Future Partners, who are contributing to the fund selection process for the participants, and corporate partners including fund administration partner HFL, legal partner Osborne Clarke, technology partner Sage, PR and communications partner Ballou, accounting partner Johnston Carmichael and regulatory partner Leela Capital – all of whom were selected due to their track record and credibility within the venture community.

The programme is seeking VCs raising their first to third fund with a differentiated strategy, partner teams with deep domain experience and who are likely to form the next generation of top-tier funds. The selection process does not require warm introductions, instead relying on a brief initial online application, followed by a call, request for further information then if required reference calls, ahead of a decision.