Explorer Investments

Explorer Investments, S.C.R, S.A., established in 2003 and based in Lisbon, Portugal, is a prominent private equity and venture capital firm focused on growth capital and buyout investments. The firm targets a wide range of sectors, excluding real estate and finance, primarily investing in Portuguese companies, with occasional investments in Spain. Its typical equity investments range from €15 million to €45 million, while total deal sizes can reach up to €150 million when leveraging debt. Explorer Investments takes either majority or minority stakes in its portfolio companies, ensuring a decisive influence on management, and aims for exits within three to six years, typically through sales to strategic or financial investors. The firm is recognized for its extensive experience and strong connections within the Portuguese business landscape, managing assets exceeding €1 billion across its investment areas. In addition to its investment activities, Explorer provides advisory services in real estate and tourism.

Rodrigo Guimarães

Co-Founder, Partner, Board Member & Chief Executive Officer

Pedro Pereira Nunes

Investment Professional

Elizabeth Rothfield

Co-Founder, President of the Board, Investment Commission Member & Chief Executive Officer

Paulo Santos

Chief Financial Officer, Funds

Pedro Seabra

Partner

Jose Tiago Silva

Partner, Member of the Executive Committee & Board Member

Sofia Sombreireiro

Fund Manager

51 past transactions

Okra Solar

Seed Round in 2022
Okra Solar is an IoT technology solution that enables solar generating communities to share and utilize more energy. It is a plug-and-play smart grid technology that enables rapid electrification for last-mile communities. Using mobile payments, modular grid design, and remote monitoring, they provide utility companies with a low-cost, data-driven solution to operate solar networks in hard to reach communities. They are on a mission to connect off-grid communities to the modern economy. Okra Solar was founded in 2016 and is headquartered in Sydney, Australia.

4Teams

Private Equity Round in 2017
4TEAMS is a company whose main activity is the manufacture of textile products in the field of sports merchandising.

SMARKIO

Seed Round in 2016
SMARKIO, lda. operates a digital marketing platform that helps marketers to generate leads and increase the performance of campaigns. Its services include copywriting, marketing, business intelligence, quality assurance, and deliverability. The company was founded in 2015 and is based in Porto, Portugal. As of October 16, 2020, SMARKIO, lda. operates as a subsidiary of Direct.One S/A.

Pagaqui Portugal

Private Equity Round in 2015
Pagaqui Portugal is a provider of Mobile charging, payment of invoices, tax payments, show tickets and Emoney cash vouchers.

Douro41 Hotel & Spa

Private Equity Round in 2015
The Douro41 Hotel & Spa is a contemporary hotel in harmony with the amazing natural surroundings. Beautifully situated hotel, right on the banks of the Douro, with fabulous views and excellent room comfort. Almost everywhere in the hotel you look out on the passing river and the green hills. The guarantee par excellence for a relaxing stay in a natural and contemporary setting.

Adclick

Private Equity Round in 2015
Adclick provides online marketing, lead generation and web traffic for businesses.

MM Group Lda

Private Equity Round in 2015
MM Group Lda, based in Braga, Portugal, specializes in the manufacturing of ducts and ventilation components. The company produces a variety of duct shapes, including circular, rectangular, and oval, along with essential components that ensure the effective operation of ventilation systems. By focusing on the quality and functionality of its products, MM Group Lda aims to meet the demands of the ventilation industry.

Ibero Massa Florestal

Private Equity Round in 2015
Ibero Forest Massa, Lda. is a young and dynamic company, a pioneer in the production and marketing of biocarbon for domestic and agricultural use. Ecochar is an innovative product 100% ecological and with Portuguese technology for the restructuring of agricultural and forestry soils.

Texamérica - Têxteis, Lda.

Private Equity Round in 2015
Texamérica - Têxteis, Lda. is a Portuguese fashion industry is specialized in all apparel circular knitted and plain fabrics segments.

Scoop Portugal

Private Equity Round in 2015
Scorecode Têxteis SA is an exporting company, inserted in the sector of the textile textile industry that distinguishes itself by the human factor of high experience and dedication.

Marize

Private Equity Round in 2015
Marize is specialized in production of jacquard home textiles.

GreenFiber Tech

Private Equity Round in 2015
GreenFiber Tech, S.A. manufactures composite products. The company was founded in 2011 and is headquartered in Rebordosa, Portugal.

Villa C Boutique Hotel

Private Equity Round in 2015
Villa C Boutique Hotel is a DHM - Discovery Hotel Management unit and a member of Design Hotels.

THROTTLEMAN

Private Equity Round in 2015
Brasopi-Comercio De Vestuário, S.A own and operates apparel stores under the brand name Red Oak and Throttleman. The company was established in 1991 and is based in Maia, Portugal. Brasopi-Comercio De Vestuário, S.A is under Liquidation.

CRIVEDI VESTUÁRIO

Private Equity Round in 2015
CRIVEDI VESTUÁRIO is a provide personalised unique service.

Shikan & grill

Private Equity Round in 2015
SHIKAN is a restaurant of reference, located in Vila Nova de Famalicão that chose PARTTEAM and the QMAGINE division , to be responsible for the digital signage of the restaurant. For this project, displays were installed, with information about the menus, products, prices and also an external communication station.

BBG Aluminium Systems

Private Equity Round in 2015
BBG manufactures and assembles a multitude of metallic products such as metal structures, railings and guardrails, doors, windows, fixed and ventilated glass curtain walls, etc.

Grestel

Private Equity Round in 2014
Grestel manufactures tableware, serving accessories and ovenware made with the finest natural resources from Portugal, , and using its original formula of high-fired stoneware. Advanced technology meets skilled artisans to deliver to our customers around the world fine, durable and trendy oven-to-table with matching dinnerware.

Espaço Casa

Acquisition in 2014
Espaço Casa is a privately held company that operates a chain of retail stores specializing in home utility products. The company focuses on providing a wide range of household items, allowing customers to fulfill their home needs conveniently and affordably in one location. Through its retail outlets, Espaço Casa aims to make essential household products accessible to a broad customer base.

Girandola - Valindo - Texteis, SA

Private Equity Round in 2014
Girandola - Valindo - Texteis, SA is a Manufacturer and retail of clothes for babies and children

Moldit

Private Equity Round in 2014
Moldit has a Design department in Portugal, two manufacturing facilities (Portugal and Brazil) and a network of partners across the world.

Skypro

Private Equity Round in 2014
Skypro is a global brand specializing in the development of uniforms and footwear designed specifically for aviation industry professionals. The company focuses on creating elegant and functional attire that enhances both performance and quality of life for airline employees. In addition to its uniform offerings, Skypro provides a fully integrated software system that manages the complete uniform needs of its clients, ensuring a streamlined and efficient process for uniform procurement and maintenance.

Vicoustic - Innovative Acoustic Solutions

Private Equity Round in 2014
The Vicoustic Academy Room Acoustics course is an intensive 2 day training program for all who want to understand and experience how sound energy interacts with materials inside rooms and shows its influence on the room’s acoustical response. In this short term but intensive training, participants will not only learn the acoustic principles of sound behaviour in rooms but also experience them, at the Vicoustic R&D Center.

Globaltest

Private Equity Round in 2014
GlobalTest is a privately held company helping drivers, promoting the safety of their vehicles and responding responsibly to society and the environment.

The Ramiro group

Private Equity Round in 2014
The Ramiro group is a supplier to the footwear industry.

Francork

Private Equity Round in 2014
Frankcork provides its customers with the highest quality cork products plus additional added-value services to partner companies.

Tintex Textiles

Private Equity Round in 2014
TINTEX began its journey, making high quality, natural based, responsible jersey fabrics combined with their core expertise using the latest and best sustainable hi-tech dyeing and finishing processes reinforcing the company’s advanced vision to better supply the contemporary fashion, sport and lingerie markets.

Caixiave - Frames Industry SA

Private Equity Round in 2013
CAIXIAVE is currently leading the Iberian market for efficient windows and doors.

Six Senses Douro Valley

Private Equity Round in 2013
Six Senses Douro Valley operates a luxury hotel and spa in Lamego, Portugal, situated in the scenic Douro Valley. The establishment offers a variety of accommodations, including rooms, suites, and villas, catering to diverse guest needs. In addition to comfortable lodging, the hotel features a spa, swimming pools, and multiple restaurants. A notable highlight is the wine library, which complements the region's renowned viticulture. An organic garden further enhances the guest experience, providing fresh produce and a tranquil environment.

MEU SUPER

Private Equity Round in 2013
My Super is the brand of the new proximity stores in franchising format of the group Sonae MC, with dimensions between 100 and 500 m2.

NMusic

Private Equity Round in 2013
NMusic:registered: was launched in 2010 as part of Diligence Capital SGPS SA to do what was thought as impossible at the time: to find a creative solution for digital content distribution, able to please all consumers, partners and music agents.

Finieco

Private Equity Round in 2013
Finieco invests in commercial packaging solutions and food on paper.

Brandcare

Private Equity Round in 2013
Brandcare is a privately held company that is into sale of products for hygiene and cleaning.

NDrive

Private Equity Round in 2013
NDrive’s software is based on on-board map data providing a network-independent user experience. It connects to the cloud for a wide range of Location Based Services, including map updates, real-time traffic information and social networks integration. Because of its mapping and data integration skills, NDrive is able to offer premium services globally based on OpenStreetMap (OSM), maps from Here, TomTom and from local providers around the world as required. The company was founded as a spin-off of a digital map business in 2007, has headquarters in Porto, Portugal, and offices in Shenzhen, China. NDrive is owned and managed by its founding entrepreneurs, leading a talented and dynamic team of 50 people with in-depth knowledge on Navigation and Location software. The company is highly cost and capital efficient. NDrive has developed a customer base of several million active users in more than 50 countries. Is well positioned to capitalize on high-growth markets wherever they may be. Our most recent B2C application, Karta GPS, which uses data from OpenStreetMap, is being exceptionally well received and reviewed in multiple diverse markets worldwide. Since 2007, NDrive has developed navigation solutions for more than 50 partners in more than 40 countries. Through long term partnerships NDrive software is currently installed in more than 20 million devices worldwide.

Adla Aluminium SA

Private Equity Round in 2013
ADLA is the result of years of experience in the aluminum industry. Based in the Indigenous Area of ​​Lameira in Celorico de Basto, the area of ​​action of ADLA goes from the extrusion to the commercialization and treatment of aluminum profiles, through the assembly of profiles with thermal rupture and the development of several solutions for application in architecture and industry.

ROQ

Private Equity Round in 2013
ROQ manufacturers textile printing and packaging machinery and equipment. The company was formerly known as S.Roque - MAquinas E Tecnologias Laser, S.A. ROQ was founded in 1983 and is based in Vila Nova de Famalicão, Portugal.

J&J Teixeira S.A.

Private Equity Round in 2013
J&J Teixeira S.A. provides custom made carpentry solutions for residential and commercial sectors. It offers doors, wardrobes, wardrobes, closets, wood flooring products, decks, kitchen products, furniture, washstands, wooden windows, paneled systems, and interior coverings. The company’s projects include houses, residential buildings, commercial spaces, and hotels. J&J Teixeira S.A. was founded in 1977 and is based in Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal with locations in Angola, Mozambique, and Qatar.

Totalmedia Group

Private Equity Round in 2010
Totalmedia Group specialize in the delivery of promotional leaflets to the home through field teams that provide a door-to-door service.

PowerVia

Private Equity Round in 2010
PowerVia is a privately held company that provides logistics and transportation services.

Gascan

Acquisition in 2009
Gascan owns and supplies a number of gas networks in Portugal and provides gas to around 60,000 customers.

Solzaima

Venture Round in 2008
Solzaima provides a clean, renewable and more costeffective energy.

Probos Group

Acquisition in 2008
Probos Group produces, supplies, and exports protective, functional, and decorative thermoplastic edgings for the furniture industry. The company offers polymethyl metacrylate–acrylic, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polypropylene, and paintable PVC and ABS edgings.

Starfoods SA

Private Equity Round in 2008
Starfoods SA is a privately held company that owns and operates fast food restaurants in Portugal.

Crioestaminal

Private Equity Round in 2007
Crioestaminal is a privately held biotechnology company that engages in preservation of stem cells to treat future ailments.

Mop

Private Equity Round in 2007
Mop is a privately held company that operates as an advertising company.

Insyncro

Acquisition in 2007
Insyncro is a privately held company that provides services for the design, production, and implementation of stands.

Oficina do Livro

Acquisition in 2006
Oficina do Livro is a privately held company publishes fiction and non-fiction, children, and youth books.

Nutricafes

Private Equity Round in 2006
Nutricafes is a company that produces and markets coffee while also operating restaurants. It specializes in the production and distribution of coffee, owning two prominent brands, Nicola and Chave D'Ouro. These brands are exported to various countries, including Angola, Cape Verde, Brazil, the United States, and the United Kingdom. Nutricafes focuses on managing its coffee brands effectively to reach a global audience while maintaining a presence in the restaurant industry.

Industrias H. Pardo

Venture Round in 2006
Industrias H. Pardo manufactures and markets hospital and nursing, geriatric, and home beds and furniture. The company offers armchairs, bedside tables, cranes, cribs, accessories, mattresses, covers, and pillows. It serves customers in Spain and internationally.

Holmes Place

Private Equity Round in 2005
Holmes Place is a premium health, fitness, and wellness company based in Madrid, Spain, with over 35 years of experience in the industry. It operates health and fitness clubs that provide a variety of services, including gymnasiums, swimming pools, saunas, and steam rooms. Additionally, Holmes Place offers well-being programs and beauty clinics, catering to both men and women. The company focuses on enhancing overall health and wellness through its comprehensive fitness and beauty offerings.

Nuter

Funding Round in 2005
Nuter is one of the largest animal nutrition companies in the Iberian peninsula. It employs over 500 people and annually produces one million tonnes of animal feed.