KPN Ventures

KPN Ventures is the corporate venture capital arm of KPN, the Netherlands' leading telecom and ICT company. Founded in 2015 and headquartered in Rotterdam, the fund deploys a 70 million euro vehicle investing 1 to 5 million euros per deal for minority stakes in innovative technology companies at Series A, B, and C rounds. Director Hans Sohngen leads a team of nine including three partners. The firm's strategy focuses on building long-term partnerships with portfolio companies, targeting external exits rather than eventual acquisition by KPN. KPN Ventures leads rounds and has made 32 investments to date, with a focus on the Internet of Things, connected home, cybersecurity, eHealth, cloud services, data and analytics, and AI. The portfolio has produced two unicorns: Airalo, the global eSIM marketplace serving over 10 million users across 200-plus destinations, which achieved unicorn status in 2025, and ElevenLabs, a leading AI audio technology company. Other active portfolio companies include Cequence (API security), Perlego, Sentiance, Qollabi, Lendis, and BOX ID Systems. The most recent investment was Openlayer's $14.5 million Series A in May 2025, an AI governance platform. Nine portfolio exits have been recorded, with Actility the most recent in January 2026. The fund also participates in indirect investments such as its stake in KEEN Venture Partners. KPN Ventures provides portfolio companies with more than capital: access to KPN's infrastructure, industry expertise, professional networks, and crucially its enterprise customer base give portfolio companies a commercial channel that independent investors cannot replicate. This strategic angle consistently attracts B2B technology startups seeking a credible European telecom partner for market development.