The British Business Bank has announced a €65m (£55.6m) commitment to Highland Europe’s Technology Growth Fund VI, a €1.1bn (£941.8m) growth equity vehicle focused on scaling high-potential UK and European tech companies.
The state-owned development bank’s capital injection reinforces its ongoing strategy to back specialist growth-stage investors capable of bridging Europe’s late-stage funding gap.
Highland Europe Fund VI, which officially closed at €1.1bn, targets software, AI, cybersecurity, fintech, data, and consumer technology companies spanning Series B through to pre-IPO stages.
Headquartered in London, Highland Europe has raised €3.75bn (£3.2bn) across six funds since its founding in 2012, backing more than 80 scaleups and supporting 30 exits, including recent high-profile liquidity events for Nexthink, Huel, and Bending Spoons.
The British Business Bank already has an established co-investment relationship with Highland Europe, having jointly backed financial intelligence platform 9fin during its Series C round, which pushed the London scaleup into unicorn territory.
Highland’s broader UK portfolio includes insurance tech scaleup hyperexponential, fraud prevention pioneer Featurespace, and fashion brand ME+EM.
“The UK is home to a world-class technology sector, but entrepreneurs need specialist investors who understand the unique challenges of scaling a growth-stage company,” said Christine Hockley, managing director and head of commercial equity funds at the British Business Bank.
“Highland Europe brings deep expertise and a powerful network of founders, operators and early-stage investors across Europe’s technology ecosystems.”
“We are deeply grateful to our Limited Partners for their long-standing trust and commitment to Fund VI,” said Sam Brooks, a partner at Highland Europe.
“Their support enables us to continue backing Europe’s most ambitious founders at a uniquely transformational moment, as AI reshapes every industry.”
