Former Speedinvest partner Rick Hao has closed a $50 million solo GP fund to back deeptech startups globally, with a concentrated focus on Europe and the UK.
A Solo Bet on Deep Tech
Hao spent years backing early-stage companies at Speedinvest before striking out independently. His new fund targets founders working at the frontier of science and engineering — sectors that require long development cycles but can deliver outsized returns.
"There is a very underappreciated opportunity in what deeptech companies can accomplish," Hao told Sifted.
The fund's thesis centers on "hard science" businesses with defensible, technology-driven moats. Priority sectors include:
- Advanced materials
- Semiconductors
- Defense and dual-use technologies
- Bioengineering and synthetic biology
- Climate and energy infrastructure
Europe's Solo GP Moment
Hao joins a growing cohort of solo GPs spinning out of established European venture firms. Notable peers include managers from Atlantic Labs and Possible Ventures, signaling a broader structural shift in how early-stage capital is being deployed across the continent.
The solo GP model appeals to founders who want direct access to a single decision-maker — someone with deep domain conviction rather than a consensus-driven partnership.
"We're seeing more seed-stage investments in Europe, including deep-tech founders who previously would have gone straight to the US," Hao said.
Why Europe, Why Now
Hao argues that Europe and the UK are uniquely positioned for a deeptech breakout moment. World-class research institutions, growing government defense spending, and maturing startup ecosystems across London, Paris, and the Nordics are converging.
He acknowledges the continent still faces scaling challenges — but sees that gap as an opportunity rather than a deterrent.
"I am very much betting on Europe to get its act together," he said.
The fund has already made several early investments and is actively sourcing across pre-seed and seed stages.
