Lakestar has closed Lakestar Resilience I, the largest privately backed institutional venture fund in Europe dedicated to defence and resilience technologies.
The portfolio includes Helsing, TEKEVER, ARX Robotics, Isar Aerospace and other startups that have collectively raised more than $5 billion and employ over 5,000 people.
Best known for early investments in Spotify, Airbnb and Revolut, Lakestar is now turning toward a sector many investors once avoided altogether.
For most of the last two decades, Lakestar earned its reputation by spotting consumer technology winners before almost everyone else. It invested in Spotify before streaming reshaped the music industry, backed Airbnb while home-sharing was still a radical idea, and recognised Revolut’s potential long before digital banking became mainstream.
Last week, the venture firm announced the final close of Lakestar Resilience I, a $300 million fund focused entirely on defence, security and critical technologies. The vehicle was oversubscribed, with investor demand comfortably exceeding its target.
