Europe Startup GuideDiscover European startups, investors, and angels.
Venture Capital

Valar Ventures

Valar Ventures is a fintech-focused venture firm and an investor in N26, backing the company’s international growth.

United KingdomLondonSeries A+FintechSoftware
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Details

Location

London, United Kingdom

Category

Venture Capital

Stage

Series A+

Profile

/united-kingdom/venture-capital/valar-ventures

Portfolio startups

Startups this investor has backed

N26

Berlin, Germany · Startup

N26 is a Berlin-based digital bank with a mobile-first current account and financial products for consumers across Europe. In May 2024, BaFin lifted the growth restrictions previously imposed on the bank, clearing the way for renewed customer expansion. In 2025 N26 rolled out free stock and ETF trading for all eligible customers, adding investing to its core banking offering. The company positions itself as a full-stack European challenger bank with a focus on product breadth and operational discipline.

StartupGrowthFintechBankingWealth
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Similar entries

Matched by sector and location overlap; not a confirmed investment portfolio

Eileen Burbidge

London, United Kingdom · Angel Investor

Tech veteran and angel building founder communities through Passion Capital and individual bets.

Angel InvestorPre-Seed to Series AFintechSoftware
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Taavet Hinrikus

London, United Kingdom · Angel Investor

Taavet Hinrikus is a prominent European tech entrepreneur-turned-angel investor, best known as the co-founder of Wise (TransferWise). Hinrikus, originally from Estonia, was Skype’s first employee before co-founding TransferWise in London in 2011. Under his leadership (as CEO then Chairman), TransferWise revolutionized cross-border finance and reached a multi-billion valuation. After Wise’s success (it went public in 2021), Taavet Hinrikus shifted focus to investing and supporting other startups. He has become an “operator angel” who backs early-stage European founders, particularly in fintech and software, bringing his experience in scaling a fintech unicorn. In 2022, Hinrikus teamed up with Teleport co-founder Sten Tamkivi to launch a new VC firm called Plural, a €250 million fund “built by founders” to invest in Europe’s next generation of tech companies. As an individual angel, Taavet has made personal investments in startups like Bolt (ride-hailing, Estonia), Mirror (US fintech), Zego (insurance) and many others, often taking advisory roles. He is known for his hands-on mentorship style – for example, he has provided guidance to Wise alumni starting companies and frequently advocates for Baltic and European tech on the global stage. Taavet also serves on various boards (e.g. he was on the board of Nasdaq’s Estonia arm and advisory boards of fintech companies) and was a special adviser to the UK government on fintech. In the Europe Startup Guide, Taavet is described as an angel “investing as an operator-angel in European fintech and software,” focusing on pre-seed to Series A deals. His journey from founding a $10B fintech company to re-investing in the ecosystem has made Hinrikus an influential figure. Not only does he bring capital, but also credibility and connections – helping younger European startups navigate growth and international expansion. In essence, Taavet Hinrikus exemplifies the new wave of successful European founders who “pay it forward” by fueling the next cohort of startups.

Angel InvestorPre-Seed to Series AFintechSoftware
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Elkstone Ventures

Dublin, Ireland · Accelerator

Multi-family office operating syndicated investments in high-growth Irish startups.

AcceleratorSeed to Series AFintechSoftwareFrontier Tech
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FinovateEurope 2026

London, United Kingdom · Event

Fintech demo conference with a no-slides rule: 7-minute live product demos only. Price: about GBP 2299 general, with startup rates around GBP 799. Audience skews to senior banking decision makers looking for vendors.

EventEventsFintechFinancial Services
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Hopin

London, United Kingdom · Startup

Virtual and hybrid event platform enabling immersive conferences, expos, and town halls.

StartupGrowthEventsSoftware
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Indico Capital Partners

Lisbon, Portugal · Accelerator

Founded 2019 by an ex-Caixa Capital team. Independent VC investing in Iberian tech startups across fintech, AI, and marketplaces.

AcceleratorSeed to Series AFintechAIMarketplacesSoftware
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