Funding availability
One of Europe’s largest venture capital investors Benchmark Capital Europe has lots of money to invest after raising €430 million for its third European fund.
In a signs that the climate is getting warmer Benchmark said the fund was significantly oversubscribed.
Benchmark previously raised €390 million in May 2000 and € 290 million in July 2004. Since 2000, it has funded over 50 European companies with investments ranging from €75,000 to over €39 million.
Benchmark’s most famous investee company currently is the social networking site bebo.com. Other investments include Betfair, the online betting exchange, and Setanta, a pay TV sports broadcaster.