Signature Ventures

What they fund

• Deep Tech Startups — Founders working at the intersection of science and engineering, often in early stages.
• Digital Asset Services — Companies like Notabene and Unblock operating in the digital asset and crypto infrastructure space.
• Data & Finance Infrastructure — Firms like Celestia and Credit Coop building foundational data and open finance tools.
• Emerging Fund Managers — The firm also invests in other fund managers, indicating a fund-of-funds or co-investment component in its strategy.

Investment thesis

Signature Ventures backs founders and emerging fund managers driving transformative change at the intersection of science, engineering, and imagination, specifically focusing on Deep Tech innovation.

• Deep Tech Focus — The firm explicitly powers the next wave of Deep Tech innovation, targeting the intersection of science, engineering, and imagination.
• Founder & Fund Manager Support — They invest in outstanding founders and emerging fund managers, aiming to drive transformative change through these key actors.
• Long-term Innovation — By backing those who "dare to wonder," the firm targets high-impact, foundational technologies rather than incremental software plays.

Value add

Signature Ventures provides capital and strategic backing to founders and fund managers in deep tech and digital asset sectors. They focus on transformative change and long-term innovation.

Fit verdict: Ideal for deep tech founders in data, finance, or digital assets seeking patient capital and a focus on foundational science and engineering.

Founder diligence script:

• What specific engineering or scientific breakthrough does your technology rely on?
• How does your solution address the intersection of science and imagination in your sector?
• What is your timeline for achieving transformative change in the market?
• How do you plan to leverage the firm's network of emerging fund managers?

Portfolio focus

• Celestia Data Infrastructure — A portfolio company focused on data infrastructure, invested in 2021 [1].
• Notabene — A portfolio company in digital asset services, invested in 2020 [1].
• Credit Coop — A portfolio company in open finance, invested in 2024 [1].
• Unblock — A portfolio company in digital asset services, invested in 2026 [1].

Notable investments & exits

• No Public Exits — No publicly disclosed exits are mentioned in the available sources.
• Portfolio Activity — Recent investments in 2026 (Unblock) suggest the portfolio is still in early growth stages.
• Long-Term Horizon — Deep tech investments often have longer exit timelines, which may explain the lack of public exits.
• Future Potential — Companies like Celestia and Notabene may have future exit potential as the deep tech sector matures.

Strategic implications

Signature Ventures' focus on deep tech and emerging fund managers positions it as a key player in the German innovation ecosystem, particularly in science and engineering. The firm's investment in digital asset services (Notabene, Unblock) suggests a forward-looking approach to fintech and crypto infrastructure. By backing emerging fund managers, the firm may be building a network effect, amplifying its impact beyond direct investments. The lack of public exits and disclosed fund details indicates a long-term, patient capital approach, which is typical for deep tech investing.

Where they could go further

The firm could benefit from publicly disclosing its fund size and vintages to attract more LPs and co-investors. Increasing transparency around board seat policies and control terms would help founders assess fit more easily. Expanding its geographic focus beyond Germany could help it access a broader pool of deep tech talent and opportunities. Publishing more case studies on its portfolio companies would help demonstrate its value add and investment thesis to potential founders.