Nebular has held a first close on $32.3 million from 33 investors for its second fund, according to a regulatory filing. The fund was launched this year and is targeting $55 million, the filing says.
Based in New York, the early-stage investor backs US- and Europe-based start-ups at the pre-seed and seed stages that are “at the event horizon” of technology and new markets, according to its website. The firm previously raised $30 million for its debut fund in 2024 and has so far invested in at least 28 companies.
Nebular prefers to lead its investments, its website says, and its current portfolio includes robotic space labor technology developer Icarus Robotics, applied quantum computing and cryptography researcher Project 11 and AI-based legaltech start-up Tavrn.
The firm was founded in 2023 by Finn Murphy, also the co-founder of Nebular portfolio company Project 11. Murphy founded his firm after spending over four years at B2B tech investor Frontline Ventures, most recently serving as a partner, and previously founded and led a number of start-ups in Ireland.
Murphy graduated with dual bachelor’s degrees in mathematics and mechanical and manufacturing engineering from Trinity College in Dublin, and previously served as a legislative intern in the United States Senate.
The Nebular team is filled out by chief financial officer and operating partner Robbie Osborne, a former senior manager at Deloitte; head of applied research and company formation Tom McCarthy, part of the founding team at Project 11 and founder of talent community Patch; and two operating advisers – Csaba Hartmann, head of supply chain and robots at construction automation company Monumental, and Lydia Rahill, vice-president of global sales at audit-focused AI automation platform DataSnipper.
