Example of our work: creating a win-win partnership between pension funds and the growth and VC sector.
We represent the sector as a whole, as an independent convener between institutional capital and Europe's fund managers.
“Europe's competitiveness and sovereignty depend on accelerating innovation. That means unlocking the big pools of long-term capital held by our institutional investors.”
Ekaterina Zaharieva · Commissioner for Startups, Research and Innovation, European Commission
“Together, we can transform pension funds from passive investors into active builders of our economy: fuelling innovation, creating jobs, and unlocking stronger returns for savers.”
Rachel Reeves · Chancellor of the Exchequer, United Kingdom
“This report will feed in the reflection on how to foster a more active participation of pension funds in support of our businesses, competitiveness and innovation.”
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Kerstin Jorna · Director-General, DG GROW, European Commission
What we do
Capital strategy for those who shape the market.
01
Institutions and sovereigns
Capital mobilisation strategy, venture programme architecture and mandate design for public and sovereign investors.
02
Fund managers
Institutional positioning and access to the pension funds and allocators engaged through our initiatives. Selected managers only.
03
Corporates
Venture days with curated deep tech access, commissioned market studies and corporate venturing strategy.
Programme
The CVC Circle: a dedicated peer programme for women leading corporate venture capital.
FIND OUT MORE →04
Founder programmes
Leadership and growth programmes for deep tech founders, designed and delivered for corporate and institutional sponsors.
Platform
Scala Academy: the European learning platform for founders under 26, available for corporate and foundation sponsorship.
FIND OUT MORE →Pensions into Venture
US pension funds allocate over 10% to private assets. European pension funds invest less than 0.1% in venture.
Moving 1 to 2% would channel €37.5 billion a year into Europe's innovation economy. Our flagship initiative: five annual reports, institutional convening at the European Commission, and the policy agenda. Research delivered with Investors for Purpose.
READ THE 2025 REPORT →PDF ↓10%
US pension allocation to private assets
<0.1%
European pension allocation to venture
$3.5tn
Value created by European VC-backed companies
€37.5bn
Annual flow from a 1–2% shift
The initiative in the room
European Commission, Berlaymont
INITIATIVE KICK-OFF
Pension roundtable with DG GROW, October 2025
11 Downing Street
Reception hosted by the Chancellor of the Exchequer
EU Finance Days,
BerlinPension capital keynote alongside M&G and PensionsEurope
Ventures.eu Forum, Château de Beloeil
Hosted by Prince Henri de Ligne; Kinga led the pension funds panel with Atomico, Speedinvest and the BVCA
London Tech Week
Pensions into venture on the main agenda
SuperVenture, Berlin
Fireside chat on stage with Ian Connatty, British Growth Partnership; investor lunch co-hosted with EIF and Goodwin
European Parliament
Kinga Stanislawska on capital architecture, hosted by the Chair of ITRE, with EVP Henna Virkkunen in the room
EU Implementation Dialogue
At the table with Commissioner Albuquerque on scaling Europe's venture capital market
Pensions for Purpose Symposium, London
On the Mansion House and fiduciary duty panel with Nest Pensions and Fidelity International
Our network
We founded European Women in VC, Europe's most senior investor community.
A thousand investors across five hundred firms managing €70 billion, convened at SuperVenture, SLUSH and in 12 cities around Europe. It serves the entire market, and it is why the right people take our calls.
EUROPEANWOMENVC.ORG →
Insights
ALL INSIGHTS →
Thought leadership
Blog →
Book a briefing
Talk to us.
Tell us who you are and what you have in mind. We route every enquiry personally.
Working across our reports, programmes and community with
“Europe does not lack capital or companies. It lacks the connections between them. That is the entire business.”
Kinga Stanislawska · Founder and CEO, Venture Connections · Founder, European Women in VC
Former Board Member of the European Innovation Council and Investment Committee Member of the EIC Fund