European tech startups often hit a wall when it comes to scaling—especially at the growth stage. While U.S. counterparts enjoy abundant late-stage capital. Many promising European companies are forced to look elsewhere for funding or risk falling short of their potential. Atempo Growth, a London-based venture debt firm, is working to change that.
Today, Atempo Growth announced a €300 million first close for its second fund. Atempo II, pushing its total assets under management beyond €700 million. Backed by heavyweight investors like Santander, British Business Investments, and now the European Investment Fund (EIF). The fund is set to expand access to non-dilutive capital for tech companies across Europe.
The announcement marks a milestone for the firm, which offers flexible venture debt solutions for high-growth startups from Series A through to IPO. Santander, which holds a 30% stake in Atempo Growth, has committed up to €160 million to the new fund. A strong signal of confidence in the platform’s long-term strategy. British Business Investments, an existing backer, has also returned for Fund II. While EIF’s entry brings a boost in institutional credibility and reach.
Tina Page, Atempo’s Chief Operating Officer, commented: “We are delighted with Santander and British Business Investments’ continued support and are excited to welcome the European Investment Fund into our second Fund. This is a significant milestone for Atempo as our AuM crosses over €700M. Allowing us to build further on our platform to support European technology.”
Founded in 2021 by Luca Colciago, Jack Diamond, and Matteo Avramov Giulivi, Atempo Growth was born out of a growing need in the market. European startups lacked access to growth capital that didn’t require giving up large equity stakes. Traditional lenders often ignored early and growth-stage tech companies, leaving founders with few options that preserved ownership.
With over 40 years of combined experience, the founding team had already financed more than 100 European tech companies before launching Atempo. They saw venture debt as a tool to bridge the funding gap. Giving startups a runway to grow without being over-reliant on dilutive equity financing.
Today, Atempo Growth is helping startups scale across sectors and geographies. Supporting innovation while enabling founders to retain more control of their companies. From logistics and education to cybersecurity and developer tools. Atempo’s portfolio reflects its commitment to funding Europe’s next generation of tech leaders.
A Growing Portfolio of High-Growth Startups
Atempo’s model is resonating. Its second fund will strengthen its ability to support startups with tailored debt packages that complement equity rounds. By offering flexible terms and a founder-first approach, the firm has established itself as a key financing partner for Europe’s rising tech stars.
Among its standout investments is Hive Technologies, an operations platform for commerce brands that secured €10 million in venture debt to supercharge its expansion. Another key portfolio company is Shippeo, a supply chain visibility platform that raised $30 million and is now recognized as a logistics leader tackling global infrastructure challenges.
Other notable companies backed by Atempo Growth include:
- Acin, a risk analytics platform improving operational resilience with data-driven insights
- Ironhack, a global tech education provider offering bootcamps in web development and data analytics
- Trucksters, an innovative logistics startup redefining long-haul freight with relay-based transport
These investments underline Atempo’s vision of supporting scalable, defensible, and impactful innovation across Europe. With a new fund and strong institutional backing, Atempo Growth is poised to fuel a new era of venture debt in Europe—giving founders more ways to grow without compromise.
