EIF Backs €100 Million Orbit Growth Debt II Fund for Non-Dilutive Tech Financing in Czechia, Poland and Slovakia

EIF Backs €100 Million Orbit Growth Debt II Fund for Non-Dilutive Tech Financing in Czechia, Poland and Slovakia

(IN BRIEF) The EIF is investing up to €20 million in Orbit Growth Debt II, a new €100 million private credit fund managed by Orbit Capital, focused on non-dilutive senior debt financing for growth-stage tech and tech-enabled SMEs and small Mid-Caps in the Czech Republic, Poland, Slovakia and the wider CEE “Moderate and Emerging Innovator” cluster. Achieving its first close on 27 May 2025, the SFDR Article 8-classified vehicle builds on Orbit Growth Debt I’s track record of financing 15 regional champions and addresses a €1.4 trillion financing gap. Venture debt offers founders a cost-effective alternative to equity dilution, fostering innovation and boosting the region’s global competitiveness.

(PRESS RELEASE) LUXEMBOURG, 17-Jun-2025 — /EuropaWire/ — The European Investment Fund (EIF) has committed up to €20 million to Orbit Growth Debt II, a new private credit vehicle managed by Orbit Capital, to expand financing for growth-stage technology and tech-enabled companies across Central and Eastern Europe (CEE). With a target size of €100 million and a first close achieved on 27 May 2025, Orbit Growth Debt II will channel senior, non-dilutive debt into SMEs and small Mid-Caps—particularly in the Czech Republic, Poland and Slovakia—to help bridge the region’s estimated €1.4 trillion funding gap for high-growth enterprises.

Orbit Growth Debt II is designated as an SFDR Article 8 fund, embedding environmental, social and governance criteria into its investment process. Building on the success of Orbit Growth Debt I—a €40 million fund launched in 2019 that backed 15 Central European innovators such as Rohlík, Twisto, ThreatMark, CloudTalk and Boataround—this second vehicle will continue to supply tailored venture-debt solutions. Venture debt typically costs founders and investors up to four times less than equity rounds, enabling companies to accelerate growth without diluting ownership.

“By partnering with Orbit Capital, we are enabling crucial alternative financing for the CEE’s most dynamic tech firms,” said Marjut Falkstedt, EIF Chief Executive. “This investment not only addresses the region’s SME funding shortfall but also stimulates innovation and strengthens the competitiveness of CEE economies.”

Radovan Něšrsta, Partner at Orbit Capital, commented, “Orbit Growth Debt II extends our pioneering venture-debt model across key emerging innovator markets. With €100 million at our disposal, we can empower both nascent and more mature tech businesses that struggle to access traditional bank loans.”

About the EIB

The European Investment Bank (EIB) is the long-term lending institution of the European Union owned by its Member States. It makes long-term finance available for sound investment in order to contribute towards EU policy goals. The EIB supports projects that make a significant impact on economic growth, innovation, and job creation. It is also one of the largest providers of climate finance, supporting projects that contribute to environmental sustainability and the fight against climate change.

About the EIF

The EIF is part of the European Investment Bank (EIB) Group and its central mission is to help Europe’s micro businesses and SMEs access finance. The EIF designs and develops venture and growth capital, guarantees and microfinance instruments that specifically target this market segment. In this role, the EIF advances EU goals in the areas of innovation, research and development, entrepreneurship, economic growth and employment.

About InvestEU

The InvestEU programme provides the European Union with crucial long-term funding by leveraging substantial private and public funds in support of a sustainable recovery. It also helps mobilise private investments for the European Union’s policy priorities, such as the European Green Deal and the digital transition. The InvestEU programme brings together under one roof the multitude of EU financial instruments currently available to support investment in the European Union, making funding for investment projects in Europe simpler, more efficient and more flexible. The programme consists of three components: the InvestEU Fund, the InvestEU Advisory Hub and the InvestEU Portal. The InvestEU Fund is implemented through financial partners that will invest in projects using the EU budget guarantee of €26.2 billion. The entire budget guarantee will back the investment projects of the implementing partners, increase their risk-bearing capacity and thus mobilise at least €372 billion in additional investment.

Press contacts:

EIB

Katarina Karmazinova, k.karmazinova@ext.eib.org, tel.: +352 4379 71570

Website: www.eib.org/press – Press Office: press@eib.org

SOURCE: European Investment Fund