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VC FundPuts its own capital into companiesActive · deal in last 18 monthsLAST VERIFIED Oct 2026 · 8 SOURCES

Start Ventures

Also known as Onetier Partners, SCR, S.A.

Lisbon VC managed by Onetier Partners SCR, investing at seed in early-stage B2B fintech and insurtech companies globally; 20 teams backed, 4 exits.

HEADQUARTERS
Lisbon, Portugal
FOUNDED
2016
AUM
—
OUTSIDE CAPITAL
Yes
TEAM LISTED
6 people

Focus

STAGES
SeedSeries A
SECTORS
FintechSoftware & SaaS
ASSET MIX
Venture capitalDirect investments
GEOGRAPHY
Global

Overview

Start Ventures is a Lisbon-based venture capital investor founded in 2016 and managed by Onetier Partners, SCR, S.A. It focuses exclusively on early-stage B2B companies in financial services, with emphasis on fintech and insurtech, backing teams on the verge of product-market fit at seed stage and describing itself as global from day one. The firm reports 20 teams backed and four exits, and lists Drivit, Counting Up, Zego, Youverse, Anansi, Ethiack, LOQR, Habit, Elucidate, Jove, Quantee, Zango, Switch, hAPI, Fraudio, Claims Carbon, Sonant, Frank, James, Coverflex, WealthKernel, Kirontech and ClaimSorted as portfolio companies. It invests alongside an LP network from the financial sector and invites early-stage investors to co-invest; founders can submit a pitch through the form on its contacts page.

Investment thesis

Laser focus on financial services: technology (AI, blockchain, APIs, alternative data) will transform banking and insurance; invest early in B2B fintech and insurtech companies about to find product-market fit, support pilots and first sales through the firm's financial-sector network, and expect portfolio companies to scale globally.

PORTFOLIO (12)

  • ClaimSortedNOTABLE
    Fintech · since 2025
  • WeatherPromiseNOTABLE
    Fintech · since 2026
  • ZegoNOTABLE
    Fintech
  • CoverflexNOTABLE
    Fintech
  • Ethiack
    Software & SaaS
  • Zango
    Fintech
  • Fraudio
    Fintech
  • Youverse
    Software & SaaS
  • LOQR
    Fintech
  • Elucidate
    Fintech
  • WealthKernel
    Fintech
  • Counting Up
    Fintech

People

  • João Freire de Andrade
    Executive Director · source
  • João Menano
    Venture Partner · source
  • Matilde Limbert
    Principal · source
  • Nuno Campos
    Senior Consultant · source
  • Nuno Afonso
    Analyst · source
  • Rafik Shamsudin
    Analyst · source

Links

Frequently asked questions

Start Ventures is a VC fund based in Lisbon, Portugal, founded in 2016.

Yes. Start Ventures invests its own capital in private companies.

Start Ventures invests at Seed and Series A stages in Fintech and Software & SaaS.

Key people at Start Ventures include João Freire de Andrade (Executive Director), João Menano (Venture Partner), Matilde Limbert (Principal) and Nuno Campos (Senior Consultant).

Start Ventures's investments include ClaimSorted, WeatherPromise, Zego, Coverflex, Ethiack, Zango, Fraudio and Youverse, among others.

The most recent publicly reported investment by Start Ventures is WeatherPromise (Series A ($12.8M round)), announced in Jan 2026.

Start Ventures states that it accepts submissions through its official contact page.

Yes. Start Ventures manages capital from outside investors.