Key Takeaways
- • Bosch is committing €100 million to a new Spark Fund that will back deep-tech startups across Germany, with a focus on seed and early-stage companies.
- • Bosch Ventures plans to launch the Spark fund on 1 January 2027, with potential follow-on funding for successful portfolio companies.
- • The fund is positioned as a standalone German offering that complements Bosch Ventures' global investment platforms and the Open Bosch partnership programme.
- • Bosch Ventures has invested in well over 100 startups since 2007 and currently holds approximately 70 active investments; the group says it is among Europe's largest corporate venture capital investors with more than €1 billion committed across its funds.
- • Investment priorities include automation, electrification, artificial intelligence and medical technology, with a particular focus on Baden-Württemberg within the nationwide German mandate.
Summary
Bosch is allocating €100 million in new venture capital to startups in Germany through its Spark Fund, according to the Bosch Group's announcement. Bosch Ventures, the group's corporate venture capital company, will launch the vehicle on 1 January 2027. The fund will prioritise seed and early-stage deep-tech companies across Germany at different development stages, and will also support successful portfolio businesses in subsequent financing rounds. The strategy covers Germany nationwide, with a particular focus on Baden-Württemberg.
Christian Fischer, chairman of the board of management of Robert Bosch GmbH, said Germany's startup landscape is attractive from a technological standpoint and holds significant potential for Bosch's growth areas. He said the group aims to gain greater access to new business models and disruptive technologies through financing, collaborations and partnerships. Bosch considers Germany's ecosystem to have matured into a diverse innovation environment supported by industrial and scientific expertise, which Fischer said creates favourable conditions for more targeted investment despite a challenging environment.
Ingo Ramesohl, managing director of Robert Bosch Venture Capital GmbH, described Spark as a standalone financing offering for German startups that complements Bosch Ventures' global platforms. Bosch Ventures has invested in well over 100 startups since 2007 and holds about 70 active investments, with priorities in automation, electrification, artificial intelligence and medical technology. Named German portfolio companies include Dresden-based Ferroelectric Memory, Berlin-based Qdrant and Munich-based 4screen.
The Spark launch also builds on the Open Bosch programme, operated since 2018, which connects early-stage startups with Bosch business units as suppliers, customers or technology partners. The group says the programme has established several hundred startup partnerships, more than a quarter of them in Germany. Bosch also operates as a corporate venture builder. Bosch says it is now among Europe's largest corporate venture capital investors, with more than €1 billion committed across its funds and a sixth fund launched in 2025.
Christian Fischer, chairman of the board of management of Robert Bosch GmbH, said Germany's startup landscape is attractive from a technological standpoint and holds significant potential for Bosch's growth areas. He said the group aims to gain greater access to new business models and disruptive technologies through financing, collaborations and partnerships. Bosch considers Germany's ecosystem to have matured into a diverse innovation environment supported by industrial and scientific expertise, which Fischer said creates favourable conditions for more targeted investment despite a challenging environment.
Ingo Ramesohl, managing director of Robert Bosch Venture Capital GmbH, described Spark as a standalone financing offering for German startups that complements Bosch Ventures' global platforms. Bosch Ventures has invested in well over 100 startups since 2007 and holds about 70 active investments, with priorities in automation, electrification, artificial intelligence and medical technology. Named German portfolio companies include Dresden-based Ferroelectric Memory, Berlin-based Qdrant and Munich-based 4screen.
The Spark launch also builds on the Open Bosch programme, operated since 2018, which connects early-stage startups with Bosch business units as suppliers, customers or technology partners. The group says the programme has established several hundred startup partnerships, more than a quarter of them in Germany. Bosch also operates as a corporate venture builder. Bosch says it is now among Europe's largest corporate venture capital investors, with more than €1 billion committed across its funds and a sixth fund launched in 2025.
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.