Helsinki, Finland — October 21, 2025 — Lifeline Ventures today announced the launch of Fund VI, a new €400 million vehicle designed to back Europe’s next generation of category-defining startups.
With only a handful of venture funds of this scale across Europe, the milestone highlights both Finland’s growing influence in the continent’s tech ecosystem and Europe’s increasing ability to scale its own global winners.
“From Oura to Wolt to Supercell, Europe has proven it can build companies that matter globally,” said Timo Ahopelto, Partner and Co-Founder at Lifeline Ventures. “What’s changing now is that, together with our Limited Partners, we can support founders from their very first steps all the way to global scale.”
Lifeline Ventures is among the world’s top-performing venture funds, consistently delivering top-quartile returns. The firm was the first venture investor in nearly every Finnish seed-funded unicorn, including Supercell, Wolt, Oura, ICEYE, and Aiven.
When Lifeline was founded in 2009, Finnish startups raised just over €100 million annually. By 2025, that figure is expected to exceed €2 billion — a 20x increase in 15 years.
Unicorns were once exceptional; today Finland produces two to three each year. Founder talent pool has expanded fivefold in the past five years, with nearly 40,000 people now working in venture-backed tech companies.
With Fund VI, Lifeline Ventures further strengthens its proven model — making very early-stage investments and retaining the capital to follow through in later rounds — so that Europe’s most promising founders have the resources to scale.
“Finland has shown that even a small ecosystem can consistently produce global leaders,” added Ahopelto. “Fund VI reflects a maturing ecosystem that’s ready to compete and win on the world stage. The country is a model for how smaller ecosystems can rapidly grow into global tech powerhouses.”
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About Lifeline Ventures
Founded in 2009, Lifeline Ventures is a Helsinki-based venture capital firm investing in transformative technology startups. The firm partners with founders from day zero, often before a pitch deck exists, and remains committed as companies scale globally.
More information: www.lifelineventures.com
