Foreword VC

Foreword VC is a Berlin-based early-stage micro fund founded in 2021 by Declan Kelly, a solo GP with deep roots in the European startup community. Kelly previously led European coverage for Techstars Ventures and was a founding team member of Web Summit's venture fund Amaranthine; he also serves as advisor at Web Summit and entrepreneur-in-residence at Seedcamp. Foreword operates with the backing of more than 200 founders and operators who have built world-class technology companies, giving portfolio companies access to an unusually experienced mentor and advisor network for a fund of its size. The fund partners with approximately 10 companies annually, investing up to $250,000 at pre-seed and seed stages, with the ability to invest at Series A in existing relationships. Across 24 investments, Foreword has backed companies in B2B software, fintech, crypto, enterprise software, AI, marketplaces, and consumer sectors across the US and Europe. The portfolio includes three unicorns — Sorare, the digital sports platform; Jeeves, the global corporate card and expense platform; and Localyze, the global mobility platform — alongside two acquisitions. That unicorn density from a $250,000 check size represents an exceptional hit rate for a micro fund. Foreword's approach is relationship-driven and high-conviction rather than volume-driven. Kelly's background operating inside accelerators and venture networks gives him a structural edge in deal sourcing and in helping early-stage founders navigate the path to their first institutional round. Recent investments include Peec AI, Outverse, and Fyxer, which raised a Series B in September 2025.