Brighteye Ventures holds $72M first close of Fund III, reaching $245M under management

The story so far, in brief; the legwork, and the full article, stay with the original outlet.

Brighteye Ventures, which backs early-stage European companies in learning and work, has raised a $72 million first close for its Fund III, taking its assets under management to $245 million. Lumina Foundation, Zanichelli and PI Impact are new investors, alongside returning backers including the European Investment Fund, the Jacobs Foundation and several European family offices.

The fund widens the brief to AI, productivity and labour infrastructure, with up to 35 investments planned. Its premise is that AI's economic value will hinge on how well people learn to work with it, a view that sits comfortably with a firm built on funding learning. Early bets include imagi, NEX Health Intelligence and Gyver.

Founding partner Ben Wirz described the opportunity as "expanding what humans can do with machines." David Guérin was also promoted to Partner.