TL;DR: How Carles Reina’s €12.9M Fund is Transforming Startups in Europe
Carles Reina is redefining Europe’s startup ecosystem with Baobab Ventures, a €12.9M fund specializing in early-stage investments in AI, robotics, and defense. By combining operational expertise and capital, Reina focuses on pre-seed and seed startups, helping founders scale globally through streamlined Go-To-Market strategies.
• Target sectors: AI, robotics, and defense are essential and high-growth areas.
• Investor philosophy: Reina emphasizes global ambitions, fast enterprise sales cycles, and agile leadership.
• Actionable insight: Startups must align with cutting-edge innovations like multimodal AI and cybersecurity to attract investment and dominate future markets.
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How Carles Reina’s €12.9M Solo GP Fund Is Redefining the Startup Scene
Do you know what €12.9 million can achieve when placed in the hands of a seasoned investor like Carles Reina? This move just might shift the trajectory of Europe’s most promising sectors, AI, robotics, and defense. If you’re an entrepreneur wondering how to navigate the ever-changing startup landscape (yes, I mean you), you need to pay attention to Baobab Ventures.
Reina isn’t simply investing; he’s targeting the foundational stages with a laser-like focus on pre-seed and seed rounds. By offering hands-on experience, as much an operator as an investor, he’s rewriting the rulebook in a world where traditional VCs often emphasize finances over function.
Who’s Behind the €12.9M Fund?
Carles Reina, the first investor of ElevenLabs (valued at €5.7 billion today), is central to this story. Not only is he notable for spotting pioneering startups like Revolut early, but his operational experience, scaling ElevenLabs to $200M ARR, made him one of Europe’s go-to angel investors. If there’s anyone qualified to identify market-shifting opportunities, it’s him.
- Fund Size: €12.9 million (oversubscribed during fundraising)
- Backers: Renowned institutional LPs like Cendana Capital and RSJ Investments
- Focus Sectors: Artificial Intelligence, Robotics, Defense
- Investment Stage: Pre-seed and Seed
Reina calls his solo GP vehicle Baobab Ventures, a name that signifies durability and sustainable growth. But beyond metaphorical branding, his ability to construct a high-functioning pipeline of globally ambitious startups sets Baobab Ventures apart.
Why AI, Robotics, And Defense?
As a founder myself, seeing Reina zero in on these sectors aligns (yes, I said it!) with global pressures and competitive urgency. Why should YOU care about this? Because businesses addressing these areas are not just profitable, they’re essential.
- AI: As machine learning drops engagement costs, customer acquisition strategies are morphing.
- Robotics: Efficiency is critical globally, especially in automation-heavy industries.
- Defense: In a time of geopolitical instability, startups focusing on defense & cybersecurity solutions are attracting record-breaking investment.
The greatest opportunities now exist at the intersection of these spaces. You don’t just invest in one trend anymore, success comes from addressing multiple streams simultaneously. Need proof? ElevenLabs itself is materially shaping AI-enabled creativity platforms in industries you wouldn’t expect.
Lessons From Reina’s Playbook, How Founders Should Prepare
The Baobab Ventures game isn’t about simply handing out capital, so don’t think you’ll pitch ideas and forget your grind. Reina embeds experience in Go-To-Market strategies, contract negotiations, and product development into his investments. Here’s how you should approach investors like him:
- Nail Your Global Ambition: Reina backs globally scalable models. Your market focus can’t live locally.
- Be Ready for Faster Sales Cycles: He teaches startups how to close enterprise deals in under 60 days.
- Build a Team That Can Pivot: Flexibility isn’t optional. Ensure your leadership is prepared to weather rapid iterations.
- Focus on GTM Execution Skills: This is where early-stage collapses usually happen, seek mentorship and guidance.
In Reina’s words: “Startups are no longer asking ‘what worked five years ago.’ Today, it’s about hitting momentum fast and keeping up. Building visionary companies needs consistent product deployment and extra hours with customers.”
Three Mistakes Founders Should Avoid With Operator Investors
- Poor communication: Operator investors demand transparency in updates, don’t fall into the “check-ins as formality” trap.
- Taking advice passively: You’re receiving front-line GTM wisdom for free; use it rigorously.
- Focusing too much on funding milestones: Investors like Reina will measure market uptake and customer retention over the usual vanity metrics.
What’s Next For Founders?
If this fund and Reina’s hands-on approach feel intimidating, GOOD. Entrepreneurship wasn’t meant to feel easy, but the resources are out there for founders willing to learn new frameworks. The €12.9 million Baobab Ventures is deploying will test the resilience and adaptability of startups targeting rapid-scaling sectors.
- What’s actionable for you:
- Define a clear GTM strategy before you even knock on an investor’s door.
- Create a transparent, trust-driven onboarding process with investors like Reina.
- Track customer metrics obsessively for demos, less focus on your pitch deck compared to actual results.
The next evolution of venture funding isn’t about piling resources into bloated teams or grand office expansions, it’s about specialized help and readiness at the earliest possible stage.
Together, Reinventing Founders’ Path to Success
This article is a call-to-action, not just to apply to funds like Baobab Ventures but to use operators’ expertise correctly. Let’s get our priorities straight. AI isn’t just “cool”; robotics isn’t buzz; defense isn’t optional. Businesses addressing these needs WILL dominate markets. Entrepreneurs, adjust now, or face irrelevance by 2026.
The future starts with you. Are you ready?
FAQ on Carles Reina's €12.9 Million Baobab Ventures Fund
Why is Baobab Ventures significant for startups?
Baobab Ventures, initiated by Carles Reina, is revolutionizing the European startup landscape by focusing on pre-seed and seed funding for AI, robotics, and defense startups with global ambitions. Backed by institutional leaders like Cendana Capital and RSJ Investments, the fund offers €12.9 million for early-stage ventures. Reina’s operator-investor approach means founders gain hands-on expertise in Go-To-Market (GTM) strategies, product development, and rapid scaling worldwide. Discover the accelerator advantage with Baobab Ventures
What sets Carles Reina apart from other investors?
Carles Reina was the first investor and GTM lead at ElevenLabs, driving it to €200M ARR. He is renowned for his ability to identify transformative startups such as Revolut. His operational expertise and deep involvement at the foundational stage make him a rare blend of angel investor and strategic partner. Learn how Europe’s top ecosystems empower founders
Why are AI, robotics, and defense key focus areas for the fund?
These sectors are at the forefront of technological innovation addressing global needs. AI is revolutionizing industries by lowering costs and increasing efficiency, robotics is scaling automation, and defense technologies are crucial amid rising geopolitical challenges. Reina’s focus on these fields ensures investment in scalable, impactful startups. Explore startup trends thriving in 2026
How does Baobab Ventures help startups accelerate growth?
Baobab Ventures goes beyond funding by embedding GTM execution skills, team-building strategies, and contract negotiation advice into its engagement with startups. Reina's mentorship ensures founders can close enterprise deals faster and track customer metrics more effectively. Check out essential founder skills to drive success
Who are the backers of Baobab Ventures?
The fund has attracted world-class investors, including institutional LPs like Isomer Capital and angel investors like professional footballer Mario Götze. These diverse backers underscore the credibility of Carles Reina’s venture. See why founder ecosystems matter
What qualities should founders demonstrate to attract operator investors like Reina?
Founders targeting operator-investors must exhibit global ambition, emphasize rapid adaptability, and develop transparent onboarding for VCs. Focus on GTM strategies and customer metrics is critical. Learn actionable steps for thriving in competitive sectors like AI in Startup News: Tips for Thriving in the AI Vendor Market
What mistakes should founders avoid when working with investor-operators?
Common pitfalls include poor communication, not leveraging advice proactively, and focusing solely on funding milestones instead of customer retention and market traction. Founders are encouraged to prioritize constant feedback loops with investors for better outcomes. Learn how to avoid essential founder mistakes
How can early-stage startups prepare for funding?
Strategic preparation includes developing a robust GTM strategy, creating scalable product models, and curating immersive customer experiences. Understanding the competitive landscape with tools like Semrush is also vital. Discover top sources for competitive analysis
How does Reina’s experience with ElevenLabs impact his investment strategy?
As ElevenLabs’ first investor, Reina’s hands-on role in growing the company globally to €5.7 billion valuation highlights his expertise in scaling startups. He understands the importance of ethical AI, multimodal integration, and rapid innovation in maintaining relevance. See lessons from ElevenLabs’ $6.6 billion pivot
What is Baobab Ventures’ plan for sectoral diversification?
Baobab Ventures capitalizes on sector intersections, AI, robotics, and defense, ensuring startups tap into cross-industry synergies for growth. With a significant European presence, the fund plans to expand its reach globally, including markets like the US and Asia. Learn about innovative startup resources in Europe
About the Author
Violetta Bonenkamp, also known as MeanCEO, is an experienced startup founder with an impressive educational background including an MBA and four other higher education degrees. She has over 20 years of work experience across multiple countries, including 5 years as a solopreneur and serial entrepreneur. Throughout her startup experience she has applied for multiple startup grants at the EU level, in the Netherlands and Malta, and her startups received quite a few of those. She’s been living, studying and working in many countries around the globe and her extensive multicultural experience has influenced her immensely.
Violetta is a true multiple specialist who has built expertise in Linguistics, Education, Business Management, Blockchain, Entrepreneurship, Intellectual Property, Game Design, AI, SEO, Digital Marketing, cyber security and zero code automations. Her extensive educational journey includes a Master of Arts in Linguistics and Education, an Advanced Master in Linguistics from Belgium (2006-2007), an MBA from Blekinge Institute of Technology in Sweden (2006-2008), and an Erasmus Mundus joint program European Master of Higher Education from universities in Norway, Finland, and Portugal (2009).
She is the founder of Fe/male Switch, a startup game that encourages women to enter STEM fields, and also leads CADChain, and multiple other projects like the Directory of 1,000 Startup Cities with a proprietary MeanCEO Index that ranks cities for female entrepreneurs. Violetta created the “gamepreneurship” methodology, which forms the scientific basis of her startup game. She also builds a lot of SEO tools for startups. Her achievements include being named one of the top 100 women in Europe by EU Startups in 2022 and being nominated for Impact Person of the year at the Dutch Blockchain Week. She is an author with Sifted and a speaker at different Universities. Recently she published a book on Startup Idea Validation the right way: from zero to first customers and beyond, launched a Directory of 1,500+ websites for startups to list themselves in order to gain traction and build backlinks and is building MELA AI to help local restaurants in Malta get more visibility online.
For the past several years Violetta has been living between the Netherlands and Malta, while also regularly traveling to different destinations around the globe, usually due to her entrepreneurial activities. This has led her to start writing about different locations and amenities from the point of view of an entrepreneur. Here’s her recent article about the best hotels in Italy to work from.