Investor behaviour

VCs breaking their thesis

A focused fund's first cheque outside its own track record: a new sector, a new region, or an entry far earlier than usual. The thesis is what each fund's earlier first cheques show (15 or more, 80% inside the focus). Follow-ons never count. Each deal is checked against the round's sources, and a deal whose article lists other investors and not the fund is left out.
907
VCs broke their pattern since 2020
495
of them in 2025 and 2026
14%
of focused VCs investing in 2026 (283 of 2023)
884 / 1087 / 31
new sector / region / earlier stage
VCs breaking their pattern, per month
Jan 2020Oct 2026

843 breaks are rounds known only by their year. They count in the totals and the list, not in the monthly bars.

AllNew sectorNew regionEarlier stage2026202520242023202220212020
  1. Mar 2023
    Designer Fund backed Evergreen Renewables at Seed
    New regionFirst deal in DACH. Before: 19 first cheques, 16 in North America, 1 in UK & Ireland.
  2. Mar 2023
    Flagship Pioneering backed AbCheck at Pre-seed
    New regionFirst deal in CEE. Before: 37 first cheques, 34 in North America, 2 in APAC.
  3. Mar 2023
    Leaps by Bayer backed Andes Press Agency at Series A
    New sectorFirst Consumer, Lifestyle & Services cheque. Before: 16 first cheques, 12 in Healthcare & Life Sciences, 3 in Energy, Environment & Mobility.
  4. Mar 2023
    Prosperity7 backed XXII at Series A
    New sectorFirst Healthcare & Life Sciences cheque. Before: 18 first cheques, 11 in Software & Developer Tools, 5 in Industry & Hardware.
  5. Mar 2023
    Vendep Capital backed Inven at Series A
    New sectorFirst Energy, Environment & Mobility cheque. Before: 18 first cheques, 13 in Software & Developer Tools, 2 in Finance & Blockchain.
    Source
  6. Mar 2023
    Zetta Venture Partners backed Ultravox at Seed
    New sectorFirst Consumer, Lifestyle & Services cheque. Before: 23 first cheques, 18 in Software & Developer Tools, 3 in Industry & Hardware.
    Source
  7. Feb 23, 2023
    Faraday Venture Partners backed ScrapBees at Seed
    New regionFirst deal in DACH. Before: 18 first cheques, 15 in Southern Europe, 2 in North America.
    Source
  8. Feb 7, 2023
    First Capital backed Riot at Series A
    New regionFirst deal in North America. Before: 16 first cheques, 14 in Benelux & France, 1 in APAC.
  9. Feb 2023
    ACME Ventures backed Reshape Biotech at Seed
    New regionFirst deal in Nordics. Before: 17 first cheques, 14 in North America, 1 in UK & Ireland.
    Source
  10. Feb 2023
    Banque des Territoires backed Chouette Vision at Series A
    New regionFirst deal in DACH. Before: 19 first cheques, 18 in Benelux & France, 1 in North America.
  11. Feb 2023
    Bling Capital backed inFeedo AI at Series A
    New regionFirst deal in APAC. Before: 52 first cheques, 42 in North America, 4 in UK & Ireland.
  12. Feb 2023
    Castle Island Ventures backed Chaos Labs at Seed
    New sectorFirst Artificial Intelligence & Data cheque. Before: 20 first cheques, 11 in Finance & Blockchain, 5 in Software & Developer Tools.
  13. Feb 2023
    Clearlake Capital Group backed Novata at Series B
    New regionFirst deal in Benelux & France. Before: 32 first cheques, 28 in North America, 2 in UK & Ireland.
  14. Feb 2023
    Dynamo Ventures backed DriveFit at Seed
    New sectorFirst Finance & Blockchain cheque. Before: 25 first cheques, 14 in Software & Developer Tools, 6 in Industry & Hardware.
  15. Feb 2023
    General Atlantic backed ABB E-Mobility at Pre-seed
    Earlier stageFirst entry as early as Pre-seed. Before: 115 entries with a sourced stage, 69 at Series C+, 25 at Series B.
  16. Feb 2023
    Government of Singapore Investment Corporation (GIC) backed ABB E-Mobility at Pre-seed
    Earlier stageFirst entry as early as Pre-seed. Before: 39 entries with a sourced stage, 23 at Series C+, 8 at Series B.
  17. Feb 2023
    Kreaxi backed VEXIM at Series A
    New regionFirst deal in LATAM. Before: 20 first cheques, 17 in Benelux & France, 2 in DACH.
  18. Feb 2023
    MAYA Capital backed Vaas at Seed
    New regionFirst deal in APAC. Before: 24 first cheques, 20 in LATAM, 3 in North America.
    Source
  19. Feb 2023
    Mérieux Equity Partners backed Biobest at Series C+
    New sectorFirst Energy, Environment & Mobility cheque. Before: 24 first cheques, 20 in Healthcare & Life Sciences, 1 in Software & Developer Tools.
  20. Feb 2023
    Praetura Ventures backed careloop at Seed
    New regionFirst deal in DACH. Before: 55 first cheques, 50 in UK & Ireland, 3 in North America.
    Source
  21. Feb 2023
    Riverwood Capital backed QUASH.ai at Seed
    Earlier stageFirst entry as early as Seed. Before: 24 entries with a sourced stage, 17 at Series C+, 5 at Series B.
    Source
  22. Jan 27, 2023
    Obvious Ventures backed Senken at Seed
    New regionFirst deal in APAC. Before: 30 first cheques, 24 in North America, 2 in UK & Ireland.
    Source
  23. 2023
    4DX Ventures backed Mophones at Seed
    New regionFirst deal in LATAM. Before: 18 first cheques, 17 in MEA, 1 in North America.
  24. 2023
    4DX Ventures backed Nesti at Seed
    New regionFirst deal in UK & Ireland. Before: 18 first cheques, 17 in MEA, 1 in North America.
  25. 2023
    9Yards Capital backed Dharma Labs at Seed
    New regionFirst deal in LATAM. Before: 49 first cheques, 40 in North America, 4 in APAC.
  26. 2023
    A15 backed Buguard at Seed
    New regionFirst deal in North America. Before: 15 first cheques, 14 in MEA, 1 in UK & Ireland.
    Source
  27. 2023
    Abingworth backed Atsenah at Series C+
    New sectorFirst Commerce & Marketing cheque. Before: 29 first cheques, 20 in Healthcare & Life Sciences, 6 in Software & Developer Tools.
  28. 2023
    AlphaEdison backed AI Foundation at Series B
    New regionFirst deal in MEA. Before: 17 first cheques, 16 in North America, 1 in DACH.
  29. 2023
    Alteria backed Chainstack at Series A
    New regionFirst deal in DACH. Before: 15 first cheques, 12 in APAC, 2 in North America.
    Source
  30. 2023
    aMoon backed Ibex at Series B
    New sectorFirst Consumer, Lifestyle & Services cheque. Before: 24 first cheques, 21 in Healthcare & Life Sciences, 2 in Industry & Hardware.
  31. 2023
    Anzu Partners backed Adrino at Series B
    New regionFirst deal in CEE. Before: 28 first cheques, 25 in North America, 2 in APAC.
  32. 2023
    Astella Investimentos backed Madglove Amsterdam B.V at Series B
    New regionFirst deal in Benelux & France. Before: 22 first cheques, 19 in LATAM, 1 in North America.
  33. 2023
    BlackFin Capital Partners backed Aquigen at Series A
    New sectorFirst Energy, Environment & Mobility cheque. Before: 20 first cheques, 16 in Finance & Blockchain, 3 in Software & Developer Tools.
  34. 2023
    Bling Capital backed Wally at Seed
    New regionFirst deal in Benelux & France. Before: 46 first cheques, 40 in North America, 2 in UK & Ireland.
  35. 2023
    Bling Capital backed Forward at Series C+
    New regionFirst deal in DACH. Before: 46 first cheques, 40 in North America, 2 in UK & Ireland.
  36. 2023
    Bonfire Ventures backed Octav at Seed
    New regionFirst deal in Nordics. Before: 45 first cheques, 38 in North America, 4 in Benelux & France.
  37. 2023
    Bonfire Ventures backed Kyc at Seed
    New regionFirst deal in UK & Ireland. Before: 45 first cheques, 38 in North America, 4 in Benelux & France.
  38. 2023
    Bpifrance backed Pale blue dot at Series C+
    New regionFirst deal in Nordics. Before: 367 first cheques, 330 in Benelux & France, 13 in North America.
  39. 2023
    Braemar Energy Ventures backed Laser Light Engines at Series C+
    New regionFirst deal in MEA. Before: 19 first cheques, 16 in North America, 1 in DACH.
  40. 2023
    Breakthrough Energy Ventures-Europe backed CubicPV at Series B
    New regionFirst deal in DACH. Before: 24 first cheques, 20 in North America, 2 in Nordics.
    Source