Atomico is an investment firm that focuses on helping disruptive technology companies scale globally.
Seed to IPO
Atomico is accelerating global progress through its founder-built, mission-driven venture capital approach. As a leading European VC, Atomico invests in ambitious technology companies across sectors like frontier tech, health, and AI, partnering with entrepreneurs who are reimagining the way we live and work. Headquartered in London with offices in Paris, Berlin, and Stockholm, Atomico leverages its international network and deep operational expertise to help founders scale impactful businesses and create lasting, positive change in society and the economy.
Atomico’s mission is to develop the world’s most prosperous, sustainable, inclusive, and mission-driven technology ecosystem, focusing on Europe. They believe that entrepreneurs are the driving force behind positive, transformative change in all areas of society and the economy.
Integrity:
A culture of open and honest communication is central to Atomico’s approach. The firm is known for its willingness to provide candid feedback and to stand by founders during both challenges and successes.
Boldness & Progressiveness:
Atomico encourages ambitious, contrarian thinking and is willing to challenge the status quo. The team invests with conviction and is dedicated to helping founders achieve transformative, world-changing outcomes.
Partnership Over Transactions:
Relationships are prioritised over individual deals. Atomico is committed to supporting founders throughout their journeys, often maintaining long-term connections that extend beyond a single company or investment.
Purpose-Driven:
There is a strong emphasis on building companies that deliver positive impact. Atomico seeks out founders who believe that profit and purpose are mutually reinforcing, and who are committed to making a meaningful difference.
Niklas Zennström, a serial entrepreneur best known for co-founding Skype and Kazaa, founded Atomico in 2006. Inspired by his own journey scaling Skype into a global success story, Zennström recognised a gap in the European venture landscape: too few investors had firsthand experience as founders themselves. His vision for Atomico was to create a venture capital firm built by founders, for founders- one that could offer not just capital, but also operational expertise and genuine empathy for the entrepreneurial journey. Today, Atomico stands as a leading European VC, championing innovation, diversity, and the belief that profit and purpose can go hand in hand.
Connect on LinkedIn: Niklas Zennström
Atomico invests in Series A and Series B using technology to solve major global challenges. The firm backs scalable businesses with the potential for significant positive impact, particularly in areas like sustainability, decarbonisation, and digital transformation. Atomico’s approach combines a focus on strong financial returns with a commitment to measurable environmental and societal benefits.
Atomico takes a pan-European approach, investing in technology startups across the continent while keeping its headquarters in London and establishing hubs in cities like Berlin, Paris, and Stockholm. Their reach extends from major tech centres to emerging innovation hotspots, allowing them to tap into diverse talent pools and local networks. Atomico’s mission is to help European founders scale globally, connecting them with experienced operators and a supportive community of entrepreneurs facing similar hurdles. By fostering collaboration and sharing knowledge across borders, Atomico is building a unified European tech ecosystem with global ambitions.
Atomico targets a diverse range of sectors at the intersection of technology, sustainability, and digital innovation, including:
Atomico invests in ambitious technology founders who are building companies with the potential for transformative, positive impact on society and the economy. The firm is a generalist technology investor, backing startups across various verticals, with a particular focus on those aiming to rewire large markets and scale globally. Atomico primarily invests at Series A and beyond, occasionally participating in Seed rounds, and supports later-stage growth through dedicated funds. Mission alignment is crucial - Atomico seeks founders with bold visions rather than those making incremental progress. The firm leverages its operational expertise and global network to help portfolio companies expand internationally and build sustainable businesses.
Atomico employs a structured, multi-stage assessment process for potential investments. The initial screening focuses on ensuring strong alignment with Atomico’s mission and values, as well as evaluating the founding team’s unique perspective, ambition, and ability to address significant market problems. Formal due diligence is then tailored to the company’s stage, with early-stage startups assessed for product-market fit and customer validation, while later-stage companies are scrutinised for scalability, go-to-market strategy, and financial health. Diversity, equity, and inclusion are integral benchmarks; Atomico’s process is designed to identify biases and ensure opportunities are considered from diverse perspectives, with DEI policies and strategies required post-investment. Throughout, Atomico seeks founders capable of building billion-dollar businesses, with the potential for global scale and transformative impact.
Klarna: A global payments and shopping platform that offers "Buy Now, Pay Later" services, enabling consumers to split purchases into interest-free instalments. Klarna has become a leader in the fintech sector by making online shopping smoother and more flexible for millions of users worldwide. Visit Klarna
Graphcore: An artificial intelligence hardware company developing Intelligence Processing Units (IPUs) designed specifically for machine learning and AI workloads. Graphcore’s technology accelerates AI computations, empowering breakthroughs in fields from healthcare to global climate problems. Visit Graphcore
Lakera: An AI safety company focused on making artificial intelligence systems more robust and secure. Lakera’s solutions help organisations deploy AI responsibly, mitigating risks and ensuring ethical use in critical applications. Visit Lakera
Atomico is backed by a broad and diverse group of institutional investors, sovereign funds, and family offices from across Europe, North America, and Asia. Notable supporters include the European Investment Fund (EIF) through its European Tech Champions Initiative (ETCI), as well as major international backers such as the Japan Investment Corporation, which recently committed $50 million to Atomico’s funds. This global, high-profile investor base reflects strong confidence in Atomico’s mission to support ambitious technology founders and drive transformative innovation across Europe and beyond.
Stages: Atomico invests from pre-seed to Series B, supporting companies at the earliest stages through to significant early growth rounds.
Equity: Stake sizes vary based on company stage and growth potential, with Atomico typically seeking significant minority positions to ensure meaningful partnership and long-term alignment.
Atomico recently closed its sixth fundraise at $1.24 billion, split between a $485 million venture fund focused on Series A (with selective seed investments) and a $754 million growth fund targeting Series B and beyond. The funds are dedicated to backing high-growth technology companies across Europe, with a strong emphasis on mission-driven founders and businesses that deliver positive, transformational impact.
Investment sizes are flexible, with Series A and B rounds typically ranging from several million to tens of millions of dollars. Both funds reserve substantial capital for follow-on investments, allowing Atomico to support portfolio companies through multiple stages of growth and scale.
All portfolio companies are expected to adopt diversity and inclusion policies within six months of investment, and Atomico’s “Conscious Scaling” program provides guidance on building responsible, enduring businesses.
Atomico is committed to embedding sustainability and responsible business practices across its operations and portfolio. The firm aims to lead by example, measuring and reducing its own scope 1, 2, and 3 greenhouse gas emissions annually through a third-party verifier, and offsetting or removing at least the equivalent amount each year.
Atomico actively builds a pan-European entrepreneurial community by connecting founders with its extensive network of seasoned operators, advisors, and fellow entrepreneurs through the Atomico Angel Programme and the Atomico Platform. The firm’s investments empower technology leaders whose products and services reach hundreds of millions globally, driving positive change in society and the economy. Atomico also partners with organisations such as Diversity VC and SEO London to foster inclusion and knowledge-sharing across the tech ecosystem, and regularly publishes open-source resources, like its annual State of European Tech report, to strengthen the broader community and promote responsible growth.
The Atomico team is composed of seasoned investors, entrepreneurs, and operators with deep experience across technology, venture capital, and company building. Many team members have founded, scaled, or led successful technology companies themselves, bringing firsthand insight into the challenges and opportunities faced by founders. This blend of operational expertise and investment acumen enables Atomico to identify and support high-potential companies across Europe and beyond.
The team’s backgrounds span leadership roles at global tech giants, hands-on experience in early-stage startups, and management of multi-million dollar investment portfolios. Atomico’s Growth Acceleration Team provides portfolio companies with tailored support in areas such as talent, go-to-market strategy, product development, and sustainability, ensuring founders have access to world-class resources at every stage of growth. By combining diverse perspectives and a shared commitment to responsible innovation, the Atomico team is dedicated to helping entrepreneurs build enduring companies that drive positive impact and shape the future of technology.
Learn more about the team on the Atomico Team Page.
1. Which sectors and stages does Atomico invest in?
Atomico invests primarily in Series A and Series B rounds, with selective seed investments. The firm targets a wide range of technology sectors, including frontier tech, health, AI, sustainability, digital transformation, mobility, and industrial automation, among others.
2. What are Atomico’s core values and mission?
Atomico’s mission is to develop a prosperous, sustainable, and inclusive technology ecosystem in Europe. Its core values include integrity, boldness, partnership over transactions, and a purpose-driven approach, seeking to back companies that deliver both profit and positive societal impact.
3. Who are some notable companies in Atomico’s portfolio?
Notable portfolio companies include Klarna (fintech), Graphcore (AI hardware), Supercell (mobile gaming), Rovio (mobile gaming), Lakera (AI safety), FarmDrop (sustainable food marketplace), and recent investments in DeepL, Stripe, and Aiven, among others.
4. How does Atomico assess potential investments?
Atomico uses a structured, multi-stage assessment process. Initial screening ensures alignment with Atomico’s mission and values, followed by tailored due diligence depending on the company’s stage. The process emphasises diversity, equity, and inclusion, with all portfolio companies required to adopt DEI policies post-investment.
5. How does Atomico promote diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) within its portfolio?
DEI is integral to Atomico’s investment process. All portfolio companies are required to adopt diversity and inclusion policies within six months of investment. Atomico’s assessment process is designed to identify biases and ensure opportunities are considered from diverse perspectives
Are you an innovative European tech founder seeking funding? Discover how Atomico can support your journey by visiting: Atomico Website.
Stay updated with the latest news and opportunities by following Atomico on LinkedIn: Atomico LinkedIn
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