Credo Ventures Raises $88M to Double Down on CEE Pre-Seed Deals
Prague-based venture capital firm Credo Ventures, an early backer of breakout successes ElevenLabs and UiPath, has closed a new fund of approximately $88 million to invest in pre-seed and seed-stage startups across Central and Eastern Europe (CEE). The fresh vehicle underscores rising global investor interest in the region’s fast-maturing tech ecosystem.
Backing the Next Wave After UiPath and ElevenLabs
Credo Ventures built its reputation by spotting category-defining companies early, including Romanian-born UiPath, a pioneer in robotic process automation, and AI audio platform ElevenLabs, now one of the most talked-about players in generative AI. The firm’s new fund aims to replicate those wins by targeting founders at the very earliest stages, often before they have significant revenue or traction.
The fund will focus on software-driven startups in sectors such as AI, automation, developer tools, fintech, and enterprise SaaS. By concentrating on pre-seed and seed, Credo Ventures seeks to position itself as the first institutional investor for ambitious CEE founders building globally scalable products.
Central and Eastern Europe’s Growing VC Magnetism
Central and Eastern Europe has emerged as a fertile ground for high-growth technology companies, producing multiple unicorns despite historically limited access to early-stage capital. The new Credo Ventures fund is designed to close that gap, providing not only capital but also hands-on support in go-to-market strategy, hiring, and follow-on fundraising.
Industry observers note that macroeconomic uncertainty and tighter global liquidity have not dampened long-term optimism about CEE. Instead, investors are gravitating toward regions where valuations remain disciplined and technical talent is strong. With this $88 million fund, Credo Ventures is signaling its conviction that the next unicorns from the region will be built in the coming decade by founders who can leverage both local engineering strength and global market ambitions.
For early-stage entrepreneurs in CEE, the fund represents a timely injection of smart capital at a moment when building resilient, capital-efficient startups is more critical than ever.