DvH Ventures
Also known as Dieter von Holtzbrinck Ventures, Dieter von Holtzbrinck Ventures GmbH, DvH Ventures Fund III, DvH Ventures Digital Health Fund
Cologne early-stage VC (since 2014) started with publisher Dieter von Holtzbrinck's backing; runs Digital Tech Fund III and a €70m Digital Health Fund. €0.5–2m tickets.
USEFUL FOR Founders · Co-investors
Cologne early-stage VC backed by publisher Dieter von Holtzbrinck (Handelsblatt, DIE ZEIT, Tagesspiegel media). Not HV Capital (formerly Holtzbrinck Ventures, Munich) and not Holtzbrinck Publishing Group.
Family & background
- FAMILY
- von Holtzbrinck (Dieter von Holtzbrinck)
- WEALTH ORIGIN
- Publishing (Handelsblatt, DIE ZEIT and Tagesspiegel publishing groups)
- HEADQUARTERS
- Köln, Germany
- FOUNDED
- 2014
- OUTSIDE CAPITAL
- Yes — also manages others' money
Investment approach
- GEOGRAPHY
- EuropeGermany
- STAGES
- SeedSeries A
- ROUTES
- Companies (own capital)
- STRATEGIES
- Venture capital
- TICKET
- €500K–€2M
- INBOUND
- Accepts submissions
Overview
Dieter von Holtzbrinck Ventures (DvH Ventures) in Cologne has invested in early-stage startups since 2014. Its first fund was backed significantly by publisher Dieter von Holtzbrinck and focused on publishing-related digital models, followed by a fintech and insurtech fund with investors from banking and insurance; both are now divesting. It currently runs DvH Ventures Fund III (Digital Tech Fund, deep tech and education, investing since 2017) and the Digital Health Fund (Fund IV), launched in 2020 with a €70m first closing whose investors include NOVENTI, the URSAPHARM family office, Wort & Bild Verlag and multi-family offices. It invests €500,000–2m per early-stage round, often as lead, and offers a media-for-equity programme with brands such as Handelsblatt, WirtschaftsWoche, DIE ZEIT and Apotheken Umschau.
Investment thesis
Early-stage rounds of €0.5–2m, often as lead, in investment clusters such as digital health, education and financial services, plus AI, enterprise software, IoT, big data, mobility, energy and the future of work; open to strong ideas outside these areas.
Holdings & investments (45)
- StudySmarterNOTABLEEducation · since 2020
- LiveEONOTABLESpace · since 2019
- LIQIDNOTABLEFintech · since 2016
- Dermanosticsince 2025
- HelloBetterHealthTech · since 2025
- TukTorosince 2024
- OneTwentysince 2023
- Gardia (formerly Caera)since 2023
- Scrolly.comsince 2023
- DR. VIVIEN KARLsince 2023
- Enotesince 2023
- MERSORsince 2022
- Qunomedicalsince 2022
- Okko Healthsince 2022
- Honicsince 2022
- julisince 2022
- ekkosince 2021
- Broken Stringsince 2021
- Polyteiasince 2021
- HealthCaterssince 2021
- Virtonomysince 2021
- 35upsince 2021
- Buynomicssince 2019
- Meet Pablosince 2019
- Hypatossince 2018 · Exited
- mymoriasince 2018
- Masterplansince 2018 · Exited
- HUMANOOsince 2018 · Exited
- NECTFintech · since 2017
- credi2since 2017
- NDGITsince 2017 · Exited
- SMACCsince 2016 · Exited
- entrafinsince 2016
- Tradicosince 2016 · Exited
- Clinksince 2016
- Sanubisince 2015 · Exited
- Studydrivesince 2015 · Exited
- Lendstarsince 2015
- Classiqssince 2014 · Exited
- Passt24since 2014
- Savedosince 2014 · Exited
- FirmenABCsince 2014 · Exited
- moneymeetssince 2014
- COMPEONsince 2014 · Exited
- Wikifoliosince 2011
People
- Maximilian ConradInvestment Associate · source
- Peter RicharzManaging Partner; Geschäftsführer · source
- Fabian von TrothaManaging Partner; Geschäftsführer · source
- Oliver FinsterwalderGeschäftsführer (Impressum) · source
- Duc Quyen TranPartner · source
- Dr. Cihat CengizPrincipal · source
- Stella HeutzFinance and Accounting · source
Frequently asked questions
DvH Ventures is a family-anchored fund based in Köln, Germany, founded in 2014.
DvH Ventures invests on behalf of the von Holtzbrinck (Dieter von Holtzbrinck) family (Publishing (Handelsblatt, DIE ZEIT and Tagesspiegel publishing groups)).
DvH Ventures invests its own capital into companies. Its stated asset mix includes venture capital.
DvH Ventures invests at Seed and Series A stages in HealthTech, Education, Fintech, Deep Tech, Software & SaaS and Artificial Intelligence.
DvH Ventures's stated ticket size is €500K–€2M.
Key people at DvH Ventures include Peter Richarz (Managing Partner; Geschäftsführer), Fabian von Trotha (Managing Partner; Geschäftsführer), Oliver Finsterwalder (Geschäftsführer (Impressum)) and Duc Quyen Tran (Partner).
DvH Ventures's holdings and investments include StudySmarter, LiveEO, LIQID, Dermanostic, TukToro, HelloBetter, OneTwenty and MERSOR, among others.
The most recent publicly reported investment by DvH Ventures is DR. VIVIEN KARL (Seed (seven-figure; follow-on alongside lead zwei.7)), announced in Aug 2026.
DvH Ventures states that it accepts submissions through its official contact page.
Yes. DvH Ventures manages capital from outside investors.