PSV Tech: 10 Key Things You Must Know

Overview

PSV Tech is a Copenhagen-based early-stage venture capital firm renowned for its strategic investments in the Nordic region's technology startups, especially focusing on AI, software, and digital infrastructure. Founded in 2020 as part of the broader PSV Venture House, PSV Tech prides itself on backing visionary founders even before they achieve product-market fit, leveraging access to world-class engineering and research talent at the Technical University of Denmark (DTU). Through its specialized funds and deep academic integration, PSV Tech plays a pivotal role in accelerating innovation and technological sovereignty in Europe, supporting startups that aim to become the next tech giants of the Nordics. This article delves into ten key aspects that highlight PSV Tech’s impact, mission, evolution, and future directions.

1. Origins and Evolution of PSV Tech

PSV Tech originated as a state-funded pre-seed investment vehicle approximately 25 years ago, evolving into an independent, nimble venture capital firm by 2020. Its transformation was driven by the need to provide more flexible, focused funding to early-stage technology startups in Denmark and the Nordic region. The firm's integration with DTU offers proprietary access to top engineering talent and research, setting it apart from traditional VC funds. This academic synergy ensures PSV Tech remains deeply connected to emerging technological innovations, providing founders not just capital but also mentorship and proximity to scientific excellence.

2. Focus on Early-Stage and Pre-Product Startups

Distinctly, PSV Tech specializes in investing at pre-seed and seed stages, typically before startups have solidified product-market fit. This early focus reduces funding gaps often faced by tech entrepreneurs in the Nordics, allowing PSV Tech to nurture ideas from conception through scaling. Investments typically range between €100,000 to €1.5 million, primarily targeting startups in AI, software, and digital infrastructure sectors. This strategy supports startups that require patient capital and technical expertise to develop deep tech solutions capable of global impact.

3. Deep Ties to the Technical University of Denmark (DTU)

PSV Tech’s base at DTU is a core asset, enabling a seamless link between cutting-edge academic research and venture capital investment. This symbiotic relationship enriches PSV Tech’s deal flow with access to breakthrough technologies and a steady stream of STEM talent. The collaboration benefits founders by providing mentorship, technical validation, and market insight aligned with university research initiatives. DTU’s president has noted that this partnership brings capital and strategic guidance directly to the companies emerging from the university’s research ecosystem.

4. €70 Million Fund II: Ambitions and Backing

In 2025, PSV Tech launched its second fund, Tech Fund II, with a target of €70 million, aimed at fueling Nordic startups with growth potential. The fund quickly secured around 65% of this capital from prominent institutional investors such as ATP (Denmark's national pension fund), EIFO (Export and Investment Fund of Denmark), and the Danish Society of Engineers (IDA), alongside leading tech entrepreneurs. This fund emphasizes support for startups building AI, digital infrastructure, and software solutions that can elevate Europe’s technological autonomy and competitiveness globally.

5. Commitment to European Technological Sovereignty

PSV Tech’s mission transcends profit; it aims to bolster Europe's ability to innovate and compete independently on the global stage by backing homegrown tech champions. It strongly advocates for investment in startups that can reduce reliance on foreign technology sources, thereby increasing resilience amid shifting geopolitical landscapes. This focus aligns with the fund's commitment to nurturing startups early and persistently, fostering solutions that address critical societal and industrial challenges within the Nordic region and Europe at large.

6. Key General Partners and Leadership

PSV Tech is led by a skilled team of four General Partners: Helle Uth (Co-founder and General Partner), Richard Breiter, Alexander Viterbo-Horten, and Christel Piron. They combine diverse expertise in venture capital, technology, and entrepreneurship, driving the fund’s strategy and operations. Their leadership reflects a blend of academic insight, deep market understanding, and a commitment to elevating emerging founders. The team is credited with creating an ecosystem that supports startups from ideation to exit.

7. Notable Portfolio and Sector Focus

PSV Tech has invested in diverse sectors within the deep tech arena, including climate tech, digital health, edtech, cybersecurity, VR training, and enterprise SaaS. Some portfolio highlights include firms like Heliac (solar technology), Heyhack (cybersecurity), CanopyLAB (education technology), and Gleechi (VR training solutions). These platforms demonstrate PSV Tech’s strong thematic focus on scalable, impactful technologies with societal benefits, reinforcing its role as a catalyst for sustainable and innovative growth.

8. Support for Female-Led and Diverse Founders

The fund is noted for its female-led management and inclusive investment philosophy, supporting diverse founders who drive innovation in the Nordic tech ecosystem. For example, Helle Uth’s leadership symbolizes the fund’s commitment to empowering underrepresented groups in technology and venture capital. PSV Tech actively strives to not only back the most promising startups but also foster a diverse entrepreneurial landscape, which is critical to innovation and long-term industry impact.

9. Integration of Social Intelligence in AI Startups

PSV Tech’s recent investments highlight a strategic interest in socially impactful AI technology. A notable example is Interhuman AI, a Copenhagen-based startup developing AI that understands non-verbal communication cues such as facial expressions and body language. This investment exemplifies PSV Tech’s focus on frontier AI innovation that enhances human-computer interaction, with potential applications in healthcare, education, and customer service. It underscores PSV Tech’s vision of supporting technologies that combine scientific rigor and ethical awareness.

10. Future Prospects and the Nordic Tech Ecosystem

Looking ahead, PSV Tech is poised to continue shaping the Nordic and broader European tech landscape by investing in startups with global aspirations. With strong institutional backing and an evolving fund strategy, it aims to deepen its influence and help scale more Nordic startups internationally. The fund’s focus on bridging research, capital, and entrepreneurship positions it as a vital enabler of technological breakthroughs that can define Europe’s competitive edge in the decades to come.

Conclusion

PSV Tech stands out as a cornerstone in the Nordic early-stage technology investment landscape, uniquely positioned at the intersection of academia, venture capital, and entrepreneurship. From its origins as a state-sponsored initiative to becoming a €70 million fund with global ambitions, PSV Tech emphasizes support for pre-product startups in AI, software, and digital infrastructure. Its vision of European technological sovereignty, coupled with strong institutional and entrepreneurial partnerships, drives a powerful narrative of sustainable tech innovation rooted in the Nordics. As PSV Tech continues to back pioneering founders, it raises persisting questions about how regions can best nurture homegrown technologies to compete on the world stage — a topic of growing relevance in today’s tech-driven economy.