Delphinus Venture Capital, an Aarhus-based evergreen investment fund, has raised €80 million to finance research-driven startups in East and Central Jutland. Established by the Aarhus University Research Foundation, HEARTLAND, Norlys, and Salling Group, the fund will invest from pre-seed through scale-up stages, with a focus on companies emerging from academic and research environments. Newly appointed CEO Mathias Brink Lorenz, who previously worked at the European Circular Bioeconomy Fund, said the structure allows for longer-term commitments than typical venture funds. The initiative is intended to strengthen the regional innovation ecosystem, support commercialisation of research, and provide sustained backing for knowledge-based companies.
Delphinus Venture Capital focuses on supporting research-driven startups and knowledge-based companies. The fund invests across the full startup lifecycle, from early-stage ventures to scaling businesses, with an emphasis on long-term development rather than short-term returns. Established through a partnership between the Aarhus University Research Foundation, HEARTLAND, Norlys, and Salling Group, Delphinus aims to strengthen connections between academic research, industry, and capital in East and Central Jutland. Its operations are closely aligned with regional research environments, including Aarhus University and Aarhus University Hospital, to facilitate the translation of research into commercially viable solutions.
Full story: Aarhus University and regional partners launch €80M venture fund for research startups – ArcticStartup
