Key Takeaways
- • NewSchool VC has closed its Fund I at a €10 million target, positioning the Belgium-based firm as an early-stage B2B technology investor across Europe with a focus on AI/ML, SaaS, and cybersecurity sectors.
- • The fund has already deployed capital across 32 investments at the pre-seed and seed stages, with 6 completed follow-on investments, demonstrating early operational momentum and portfolio conviction.
- • NewSchool VC has articulated ambitious scaling targets: short-term goals of €100 million in annual payout volume, with a longer-term objective to reach €1 billion in assets under management, signaling confidence in the fund's investment thesis and follow-on capacity.
- • The firm is based in Knokke-Heist, Belgium, and operates within a competitive European early-stage venture landscape where multiple funds are launching or closing larger vehicles (Earlybird's €360M Fund VIII, Uplift's €100M fund, and various CEE-focused vehicles ranging from €25M to €105M).
- • Fund I capital is earmarked for product development and portfolio support, with the vehicle targeting pre-seed and seed-stage B2B technology companies across core vertical specializations.
Summary
NewSchool VC has successfully closed Fund I at its €10 million target, marking the firm's entry into the formal venture capital market as a dedicated early-stage investor. According to Christophe Morbee, the firm's general partner, the fund closure reflects strong momentum and represents a validated investment thesis around ambitious B2B technology founders in Europe. The timing of the close aligns with broader European venture capital activity, though NewSchool's fund size positions it within the micro-VC segment focused on initial capital deployment rather than later-stage scaling.
The fund has already demonstrated operational execution prior to formal closure, having made 32 investments to date across pre-seed and seed stages. The portfolio includes 6 completed follow-on investments, indicating that the firm has both deployed capital efficiently and identified winners worthy of additional support—a critical metric for early-stage fund performance. NewSchool's investment focus spans AI/ML, SaaS/Software, and Cybersecurity, sectors that remain in high demand among European institutional investors and corporate venture arms seeking exposure to foundational technology trends.
NewSchool VC's capital allocation strategy and growth ambitions suggest the firm is positioned for rapid scaling. The stated short-term objective of achieving €100 million in annual payout volume—ten times the current fund size—implies aggressive follow-on investment capacity and confidence in portfolio company acceleration. The longer-term €1 billion goal reflects management's conviction in the firm's investment model and founder network, though execution against such targets will depend on portfolio company exits and follow-on fundraising success. Current Fund I capital is allocated toward product development and direct portfolio support, prioritizing company-building over fee coverage.
NewSchool operates within a dynamic European early-stage venture ecosystem. Larger vehicles like Earlybird's €360 million Fund VIII (targeting AI applications and deep tech) and Uplift Ventures' €100 million inaugural fund occupy different market segments, while regional players such as Polish Inovo VC (€105M) and Movens (€100M) focus on Central and Eastern European founders. NewSchool's Belgium-based position and pan-European investment thesis position it between hyper-regional and continent-wide strategies, a positioning that allows access to underserved founder networks while maintaining exposure to leading-edge B2B technology trends.
The fund has already demonstrated operational execution prior to formal closure, having made 32 investments to date across pre-seed and seed stages. The portfolio includes 6 completed follow-on investments, indicating that the firm has both deployed capital efficiently and identified winners worthy of additional support—a critical metric for early-stage fund performance. NewSchool's investment focus spans AI/ML, SaaS/Software, and Cybersecurity, sectors that remain in high demand among European institutional investors and corporate venture arms seeking exposure to foundational technology trends.
NewSchool VC's capital allocation strategy and growth ambitions suggest the firm is positioned for rapid scaling. The stated short-term objective of achieving €100 million in annual payout volume—ten times the current fund size—implies aggressive follow-on investment capacity and confidence in portfolio company acceleration. The longer-term €1 billion goal reflects management's conviction in the firm's investment model and founder network, though execution against such targets will depend on portfolio company exits and follow-on fundraising success. Current Fund I capital is allocated toward product development and direct portfolio support, prioritizing company-building over fee coverage.
NewSchool operates within a dynamic European early-stage venture ecosystem. Larger vehicles like Earlybird's €360 million Fund VIII (targeting AI applications and deep tech) and Uplift Ventures' €100 million inaugural fund occupy different market segments, while regional players such as Polish Inovo VC (€105M) and Movens (€100M) focus on Central and Eastern European founders. NewSchool's Belgium-based position and pan-European investment thesis position it between hyper-regional and continent-wide strategies, a positioning that allows access to underserved founder networks while maintaining exposure to leading-edge B2B technology trends.
Go deeper than the headline
Research every firm in this story, track the ones that matter and get the daily briefing — free for 7 days.