EBRD Backs New Polish Private Equity Fund with €20 Million to Boost Tech-Driven SMEs in Central and Eastern Europe

EBRD Backs New Polish Private Equity Fund with €20 Million to Boost Tech-Driven SMEs in Central and Eastern Europe

(IN BRIEF) The EBRD has invested €20 million in the newly launched Spire Capital Partners Fund I, helping the Polish-based fund reach its €90 million target and focus on tech-enabled SMEs in Poland and central and eastern Europe. The fund will make equity and quasi-equity investments of €5–20 million in established, profitable companies, aiming to drive growth through strategic, operational, and digital transformation. EBRD officials stressed the importance of filling the financing gap between early growth and mature buy-out stages, while Spire Capital underlined its commitment to becoming a long-term partner for market-leading businesses. The initiative is part of the EBRD’s ongoing efforts to strengthen the region’s private equity ecosystem, where access to institutional capital remains limited.

(PRESS RELEASE) LONDON, 14-Aug-2025 — /EuropaWire/ — The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has committed €20 million to Spire Capital Partners Fund I, a newly established independent private equity fund manager based in Poland. This investment played a pivotal role in enabling the fund to reach its target size of €90 million, positioning Spire Capital Partners to invest in technology-driven small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across Poland and the wider central and eastern European region.

Spire Capital Partners Fund I will focus on sectors such as technology-enabled services, software, and e-commerce, targeting SMEs with solid market positions, positive cash flows, and strong growth prospects. Typical investments will range between €5 million and €20 million, with the aim of acquiring majority or significant minority stakes and helping portfolio companies achieve strategic, operational, and digital transformation for long-term growth.

Anne Fossemalle, EBRD Head of Equity Funds, emphasised the fund’s role in closing a crucial funding gap: “There is a missing layer of capital for companies that are profitable but require a professional investor to prepare them for the next stage of their evolution. Spire Capital will help to bridge this financing gap between early growth and mature buy-out investments and use its technological expertise to support the development of companies.”

Andreea Moraru, EBRD Regional Director for Poland and the Baltic States, highlighted the broader impact: “We’re proud to support the emergence of new fund managers such as Spire Capital. The EBRD’s commitment to funds is contributing to the development of the private equity ecosystem and providing companies with an alternative source of financing. This is crucial to make the region’s enterprises more competitive and innovative.”

Arkadiusz Podziewski, Partner at Spire Capital, noted the significance of the fund’s launch: “Closing our first fund in today’s challenging geopolitical and macroeconomic environment is a strong signal that investors view our strategy as compelling. Our goal is to be an active, long-term partner for founders and management teams who have the potential to become leaders in their markets.”

While Poland’s private equity market is relatively mature, challenges remain, including limited domestic institutional investor participation and restricted access to bank financing for SMEs. First-time fund managers, in particular, face difficulties in attracting international capital amid global fundraising volatility. The EBRD’s backing aims to address these gaps and foster a more diverse and resilient private equity environment in the region.

The EBRD has been a major institutional investor in Poland since 1991, having invested over €16 billion in 576 projects. In 2024 alone, the Bank delivered a record €1.4 billion investment in the country.

Media Contact:

Nigina Mirbabaeva
Email: media@ebrd.com

SOURCE: EBRD