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Learn which startups Picus Capital invests in, what size check sizes they write, and who their partners are (e.g. Robin Godenrath).
Picus Capital is an early-stage investment firm focusing on pre-seed, seed, and Series A funding rounds. It partners with founders to build category-defining companies, offering hands-on strategic and operational expertise to navigate challenges and accelerate growth. The firm actively engages with its portfolio to ensure robust development and market positioning.
Alexander Samwer and Jeremias Heinrich co-founded Picus Capital in 2015. Samwer, a seasoned investor, previously co-founded European Founders Fund, investing early in notable tech ventures. Heinrich contributed substantial infrastructure and business development expertise from large-scale renewable energy and real estate investments, shaping the firm's vision from its inception.
Picus Capital primarily serves visionary founders of early-stage technology companies, providing capital and strategic guidance. The firm aims to be a long-term partner, supporting portfolio companies from inception through growth phases. Its vision centers on fostering global technology leaders across diverse sectors, helping them achieve their long-term potential.
Key people at Picus Capital.
Picus Capital is an early-stage technology investment firm headquartered in Munich, Germany, that operates with a distinctly patient, long-term investment philosophy fundamentally different from traditional venture capital.[1][2] Founded in 2015, the firm focuses on identifying and supporting exceptional founders building category-defining companies across fintech, healthcare, e-commerce, proptech, and climate sectors.[1][4] Rather than pursuing quick exits, Picus commits to supporting portfolio companies for 5-10+ years or longer, providing significant capital from the earliest stages and remaining deeply engaged throughout a company's growth trajectory.[1]
The firm has established itself as a meaningful force in the early-stage ecosystem, having made 289 investments across more than 20 countries with a 20+ member investment team spanning North America, Latin America, Europe, and Asia.[1][2] Their mission centers on partnering with "daring technology companies to build successful, global companies challenging the status quo and shaping tomorrow," positioning themselves as operational partners rather than passive financial investors.[3]
Picus Capital was established in 2015 by Jeremias Heinrich and Alexander Samwer, two entrepreneurs who recognized a gap in the venture capital market.[1] Rather than following the conventional VC playbook of rapid deployment and predetermined exit timelines, the founders built a firm around the conviction that patient capital and long-term commitment produce stronger outcomes. This philosophy emerged from their observation that most investors prioritize quick returns, leaving founders without the sustained support needed to build truly transformative companies.
The firm's evolution reflects this founding thesis. In 2021, they closed their first major fund, and by early 2024, they announced their second fund at €250 million—more than double the size of its predecessor.[2] This capital expansion enabled them to scale their mandate across the capital stack, allowing them to participate in follow-on rounds from Pre-Seed through Series B and beyond. The growth trajectory demonstrates that their contrarian approach has resonated with limited partners and founders alike.
Unlike traditional venture funds with fixed 10-year lifecycles, Picus operates with permanent capital that removes artificial time pressure from investment decisions.[4] This structural advantage allows them to hold positions through multiple market cycles and support founders through extended scaling phases without forced exits.
Picus distinguishes itself through its ability to double down on portfolio companies across Pre-Seed, Seed, Series A, and Series B rounds.[2] This creates a unified partnership model where founders know they have a committed capital partner willing to support subsequent rounds, reducing the friction and uncertainty of fundraising.
The firm goes beyond capital provision. Portfolio company testimonials consistently highlight Picus's hands-on involvement in strategic decisions, geographic expansion, and operational challenges.[3] Their 20+ investment team provides direct support, market intelligence, and founder mentorship—positioning them as true operational partners rather than financial intermediaries.
Picus has invested significantly in technology infrastructure and data analytics to operate at scale and speed across their global portfolio.[2] This systematic approach to firm building and portfolio management enables them to identify opportunities early and execute with precision.
With on-the-ground presence across four continents and investment activity in over 20 countries, Picus has built a genuinely global platform that allows them to source deals across markets and support portfolio companies' international expansion.[2]
Picus Capital represents a meaningful counterweight to the short-termism that has characterized much of venture capital. As startup valuations have become increasingly volatile and exit opportunities have compressed, the firm's patient capital model addresses a real founder pain point: the need for partners who won't force premature exits or abandon companies during market downturns.
The timing of their expansion—particularly the €250 million second fund in 2024—reflects broader market recognition that sustainable company building requires sustained capital commitment. This trend aligns with growing institutional interest in longer-duration venture strategies and the recognition that many transformative companies require 10-15+ years to reach their full potential.
Picus's focus on sectors like climate, fintech, and proptech positions them at the intersection of technological innovation and pressing global challenges. By providing patient capital to founders tackling these domains, they're influencing which problems get solved and at what pace. Their portfolio companies like Niko—which is addressing Mexico's high electricity costs through solar technology—demonstrate how their capital enables solutions to structural economic problems.[1]
The firm's emphasis on founder support and operational partnership also signals a broader shift in how venture capital creates value. Rather than relying solely on portfolio diversification and market timing, Picus's model suggests that active engagement and strategic guidance are increasingly critical differentiators in competitive markets.
Picus Capital is well-positioned to become a defining institution in European and global venture capital over the next decade. Their combination of permanent capital, multi-stage flexibility, and operational depth addresses genuine founder needs that traditional venture structures struggle to meet. As markets mature and founder expectations evolve, their patient, partnership-oriented approach will likely attract increasingly sophisticated entrepreneurs.
The key question for Picus's future is whether they can maintain their operational intensity and founder focus as assets under management grow. Scaling a hands-on partnership model is notoriously difficult, but their investment in data infrastructure and global team expansion suggests they're thinking systematically about this challenge.
Looking ahead, expect Picus to deepen their presence in emerging markets where patient capital is particularly scarce, continue building category leaders in climate and fintech, and potentially influence how other venture firms structure their capital and engagement models. In a venture landscape often criticized for short-termism and founder misalignment, Picus's long-term thesis may prove to be not just a differentiator, but a template for how venture capital can better serve the entrepreneurs building tomorrow's transformative companies.
Key people at Picus Capital.
