Investor Profile: bValue — Thesis, Cheque Size & How to Apply

Warsaw-based bValue Fund is a technology investor powering innovation and digitalisation across Central and Eastern Europe, backing tech and tech-enabled companies from seed stage right through to growth. Founded in 2016 by Maciej Balsewicz, the firm runs two distinct strategies, seed and growth, and has become one of the most active investors in its region. For founders building in Poland or the wider CEE region, bValue funding is a route worth understanding early.

Investment thesis

bValue aims to bridge the gap between traditional venture capital and private equity, backing early-stage startups and profitable, growing companies with scalable business models. Its approach is capital plus good advice: hands-on support on strategy, governance and operations, carried from seed into later stages where the firm says far less capital is available. The goal is to build regional category leaders with international growth potential.

Sectors and stages

The firm invests in technology and tech-enabled businesses across Central and Eastern Europe, including Poland, Ukraine, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Romania and the Baltic states. Its focus sectors include SaaS, marketplaces, mobility, B2B software and consumer technology, and it invests from pre-seed and seed through Series A and Series B into growth rounds.

Fund size and cheque size

bValue closed its third fund, bValue Growth, at €90 million, its largest fund to date, to support technology companies in Poland and across Central and Eastern Europe. Growth investments typically run from €5 million to €15 million per company, targeting 8 to 12 companies with scalable models. At seed stage the picture is different: the firm also manages €20 million in seed funds, with seed investments usually ranging from €100,000 to €1 million.

Notable portfolio

Since its inception bValue has invested in more than 40 companies and recorded 14 exits. Its portfolio includes Tidio, the customer service platform, YourKaya, the eco-friendly feminine hygiene brand, and Sportano, the sports e-commerce platform, in which it has invested €14.2 million in total. Other seed names include noo.ma, Senuto, Shoplo, Fluentbe and PushPushGo. Its exit from Renters.pl, Poland's leading short-term rental operator, returned 8.0x on money invested, and the firm helped that company set up corporate governance, management reporting and IT systems along the way.

Programs and support

bValue does not run a public accelerator programme. Its support is delivered through the investment team itself: strategic and tactical help on scaling, governance, internal processes and international expansion, plus access to its network of experts and follow-on capital through the growth fund. Its team has executed more than 60 deals across technology, healthcare and consumer sectors.

How to apply for funding

There is no open application portal on the firm's site, so how to get funding from bValue starts with a direct approach or a warm introduction. Founders can contact the team through bvaluefund.com, ideally with a clear account of traction, the size of the opportunity in Central and Eastern Europe and beyond, and why the business can become a category leader. Seed teams should show a working product and early customers; growth teams, scalable revenue and a credible international plan.