Carles Reina, the sharp-eyed investor who backed ElevenLabs at an $8M valuation before it skyrocketed to $6.6B, just closed his own $15 million fund.
Baobab Ventures targets pre-seed and seed-stage founders building AI, robotics, and defense tech with global ambitions.
The Man Behind the Money
Reina isn't your typical check-writer. He's an operator-turned-investor who stays operational as VP Revenue at ElevenLabs, where he scaled ARR to $200M.
His 74-company portfolio includes Revolut (his first angel bet, now worth $75B), plus stakes in Kiwibot, Praktika AI, and HappyRobot.
Before launching Baobab, Reina cut his teeth at Uber's European expansion, became employee #7 at Tractable (now a unicorn), and was employee #10 at Sonantic before Spotify acquired it.
Baobab Ventures Funding Snapshot
| Fund Details | Description |
|---|---|
| Fund Size | $15M |
| Stage Focus | Pre-seed & Seed |
| Check Size | $300K-$350K |
| Sectors | AI, Robotics, Defense Tech |
| Portfolio Count | 7 investments (4 public, 3 stealth) |
| Valuation | N/A (Fund-level, not startup equity) |
| AICurator Rating | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5) |
| Rating Criteria | Operator-led expertise, proven track record (ElevenLabs, Revolut), strong LP backing, hands-on GTM support, global reach |
Why This Fund Stands Out?
Traditional cold outreach is dead, and AI compressed sales cycles to under 60 days. Baobab writes $300K-$350K checks and delivers hands-on GTM strategy, customer intros, contract negotiations, and critical hires.
The fund already deployed capital into seven startups: Theker Robotics, Altan AI (a collective AGI platform), Murphy (debt-collection AI), Omnia, and three stealth-mode companies. Baobab launched with positive MOIC, signaling early wins.
Power Backers & Global Reach
Institutional LPs include Cendana Capital, Isomer Capital, RSJ Investments, Emergence Ventures, and Cyber Fund. Angel backers feature professional footballer Mario Götze, deep tech investor Dr. Fatima Godall, and partners from Concept and Credo Ventures.
Headquartered between London and Barcelona, Baobab splits capital 50/50 between Europe and global markets, especially the US.
What's Next?
Reina targets “unsexy use cases” ignored by mainstream VCs, betting on verticals before they trend. With competition emerging within months and AI eroding legacy playbooks, founders need velocity—and that's exactly what Baobab delivers.
Connect with Baobab Ventures
| Social Platform | Profile Link |
|---|---|
| Website | baobabventures.vc |
| linkedin.com/in/carlesreina | |
| Twitter/X | @Carles_Reina |
