Highland Europe has raised €1.1 billion for Fund VI, giving the growth-stage investment firm a substantial new pool of capital to support technology companies founded or headquartered across Europe. The London- and Geneva-based investor said the fund will continue its established strategy of backing businesses that have demonstrated commercial momentum and are preparing to expand internationally. The closing strengthens Highland Europe’s position in the European growth-equity market as artificial intelligence, automation, and digital infrastructure reshape both enterprise and consumer industries.
Expanding Highland Europe’s Investment Platform
Fund VI brings the firm’s total capital raised since its establishment in 2012 to approximately €3.75 billion across six investment vehicles. Highland Europe has backed more than 80 companies and recorded 30 exits, building a portfolio spanning enterprise software, financial technology, consumer products, healthcare, agriculture, and other technology-enabled sectors. The new fund is expected to provide growth capital and strategic support to founders seeking to scale established products, enter additional markets, strengthen their organizations, and compete with larger international businesses.
Portfolio Liquidity Supports the New Fund
The fundraising announcement follows a period of significant portfolio liquidity, with Highland Europe reporting more than €1 billion generated through recent exits and transactions. The firm highlighted the $3 billion sale of workplace technology company Nexthink, Danone’s agreed acquisition of nutrition brand Huel, and the $7.5 billion combination of fitness technology company EGYM with Playlist. It also pointed to the Nasdaq listing of software group Bending Spoons, presenting these outcomes as evidence of its ability to support companies from the growth stage through major strategic transactions or public-market milestones.
Fund V and Recent Investments
Highland Europe’s previous vehicle invested in companies including smartphone maker Nothing, credit intelligence platform 9fin, healthcare artificial intelligence assistant Nabla, and workflow automation company n8n. More recent transactions include leading a $70 million Series B for legal AI platform Wordsmith, a $50 million Series B for enterprise AI deployment company Unframe, and a $105 million Series D for precision agriculture business Ecorobotix. Together, these investments illustrate the firm’s broad sector approach while also showing increased attention to artificial intelligence, specialized software, and technologies capable of improving productivity in traditional industries.
Leadership Promotions and Future Strategy
Alongside the fund closing, Highland Europe promoted Helena Richardson and Jacob Bernstein to Partner, expanding the senior team responsible for sourcing investments and supporting portfolio companies. Richardson joined the firm in 2016 and has worked with businesses including Ffern, ME+EM, Modulr, and Huel, while Bernstein joined in 2017 and has focused on companies such as Unframe, Zero Networks, Oritain, and Descartes Underwriting. Their appointments reinforce Highland Europe’s internal leadership development model as the firm prepares to deploy Fund VI into growth-stage companies with differentiated technology, durable market positions, and credible international ambitions.
The €1.1 billion closing provides Highland Europe with significant investment capacity during a period when funding remains available for strong European technology companies but is increasingly concentrated among businesses with clear traction and defensible products. Its recent portfolio outcomes, active investment pace, and expanded partnership team offer a foundation for the next deployment cycle, although future returns will depend on company performance and market conditions. Fund VI positions the firm to remain an important source of growth capital for European founders seeking to turn established technology businesses into larger global competitors.