Almi Invest is a Swedish venture capital firm established in 2009, focusing on investing in promising start-ups with scalable business models and committed entrepreneurs. The firm operates through seven regionally based funds, each managed by experienced local investment professionals. With a total capital of SEK 1 billion, Almi Invest typically makes initial investments ranging from SEK 2 to 4 million, with the potential to extend up to SEK 10 million during the investment's lifecycle. The firm emphasizes collaboration by syndicating investments with other venture capitalists or angel investors, allowing it to acquire a maximum of 50 percent of shares in any given funding round. Almi Invest sources its capital from European Union structural funds and regional investors, with half of its funding derived from each. The firm's structure as an Evergreen Fund allows it to reinvest generated returns, contributing to its ongoing investment capacity. Additionally, the Almi Invest GreenTech Fund targets early-stage investments in clean tech, climate tech, and life sciences, aiming for a diverse portfolio through at least 50 investments.
Chalmers Ventures AB is a venture capital firm based in Gothenburg, Sweden, that focuses on coaching, financing, and business development for early-stage companies. Founded in 2015, the firm specializes in incubation, seed/startup, early venture, and growth capital investments, primarily within sectors such as Information and Communications Technology, New Materials, Environmental Engineering, Medical Technology, and Biotechnology. Chalmers Ventures prioritizes investments in companies with a clear connection to the Gothenburg region and Sweden, and does not invest in technologies related to weapons or drugs. The firm typically invests between SEK 0.05 million and SEK 10 million, with a maximum investment threshold of SEK 15 million across all phases. It prefers to acquire minority stakes in companies, particularly those participating in its accelerator program, and emphasizes support for companies that have been or intend to be part of its various programs, which include an incubation initiative, Startup Camp, and technology transfer. Additionally, Chalmers Ventures has offices in Östersund, Sweden.
Industrifonden is a Swedish venture capital firm established in 1979, specializing in early-stage investments in technology and life science sectors, as well as industrial growth companies. With a fund size of $600 million, it primarily invests in small and medium-sized enterprises in Sweden, providing equity capital and various loans, typically ranging from SEK 5 million to SEK 100 million per investment. The firm's focus areas within technology include internet, information technology, telecom, automation, robotics, and deep tech, while its life science investments target pharmaceuticals and medical technology. Industrifonden aims to build long-term partnerships with entrepreneurs and often takes a board seat, seeking ownership interests of 15 to 50 percent. The firm usually exits investments within five to ten years through sales or initial public offerings, and it actively co-invests with other regional venture capital firms. Notable companies backed by Industrifonden include Qlik, Arcam, and CellaVision.
Propel Capital serves as the investment arm of Sting, a prominent startup ecosystem in the Nordics. It primarily funds companies that have been accepted into the Sting program, typically investing around 40,000 EUR per venture. The capital for Propel Capital is sourced from seasoned angel investors, many of whom also make direct investments in the selected companies. Focused on fostering innovation, Propel Capital emphasizes investments in the software and technology, media, and telecommunications sectors. The organization aims to support startups by providing not only financial resources but also access to a network of experienced investors.
Antler is a global early-stage venture capital firm founded in Singapore in 2017, focused on investing in technology companies with significant growth potential. With a presence across six continents and major entrepreneurial hubs such as London, New York, Singapore, and Sydney, Antler has supported the establishment of over 200 startups, 40% of which have at least one female co-founder. The firm identifies exceptional individuals and early-stage businesses, providing comprehensive support from team formation and business model validation to capital investment. Antler invests primarily at the pre-seed stage and continues to engage with its portfolio companies through subsequent funding rounds, including Series C. The firm operates several funds, including those targeting specific regions like East Africa, while maintaining a commitment to fostering diverse founding teams representing 70 nationalities. Through its global platform, Antler aims to help founders build impactful startups that can define the future of technology.
Sting Capital AB is a venture capital firm and accelerator based in Kista, Sweden, specializing in supporting start-ups. Founded in March 2005, Sting offers two main programs: Sting Incubate and Sting Accelerate. In the Sting Incubate program, the firm takes a 5% equity stake in participating companies over a 12-month period, typically supporting 15 to 20 companies annually, with a focus on sectors such as AI, deeptech, internet/media, health, sustainability, and games. Each team receives an initial grant of SEK 0.3 million, with potential additional funding. The Sting Accelerate program, lasting four months, involves a 2% equity stake and generally accommodates eight companies per batch, concentrated mainly on the internet/media sector. Sting Capital AB aims to help talented entrepreneurs turn their ideas into sustainable businesses by providing coaching, access to a network of investors and experts, and resources to enhance their growth and competitiveness on an international scale.
Verdane is a venture capital and private equity firm established in 1985, focused on investing in Northern European companies with significant growth potential. The firm targets sectors such as software, consumer internet, energy technology, and advanced industrials, and can take either minority or majority positions in its investments. Verdane employs an active-ownership model, providing portfolio companies with access to extensive networks, market intelligence, and sector expertise to foster top-line growth. Historically, companies in its portfolio have experienced substantial revenue and EBITDA growth. Verdane also manages diversified funds that emphasize impact investing, particularly in the energy sector, and engages in secondary investments aimed at digitalization. The firm is based in Oslo, Norway, and operates across Denmark, Norway, Finland, and Sweden.
Luminar Ventures is a venture capital firm based in Stockholm, Sweden, founded in 2017. The firm focuses on early-stage investments, particularly in scalable digital seed-stage companies from Sweden and the Nordic region, including Denmark, Finland, Iceland, and Norway. Luminar Ventures primarily targets sectors such as fintech, artificial intelligence, machine learning, health tech, and insurtech. The firm invests between 500 thousand and 2 million USD, providing not only financial support but also active operational assistance. Luminar engages closely with its portfolio companies, offering strategic guidance and resources to help entrepreneurs transform major industries through innovative digital technologies.
EQT Ventures is a European venture capital fund that has raised over €1.2 billion in total capital. Established in May 2016 with the launch of EQT Ventures I, which secured €566 million in commitments, the fund aims to provide the kind of support that the team wished they had during their own entrepreneurial experiences. The fund recognizes that successful company building requires more than just financial investment; therefore, it offers extensive support and guidance to founders at various growth stages. EQT Ventures does not target specific markets or industries, but instead seeks out ambitious founders with the determination to create global success stories. In November 2019, EQT Ventures II was launched with commitments of €660 million. The team operates from six offices located in major cities, employing a "locals with locals" strategy to enhance support for founders. Additionally, the in-house AI platform, Motherbrain, enables a data-driven investment approach and has facilitated over $100 million in investments across portfolio companies.
Inventure is a prominent early-stage venture capital firm based in the Nordics and Baltics, with offices in Helsinki, Stockholm, and Shanghai. The firm specializes in investing in innovative and rapidly growing companies, particularly in the technology, software, and digital services sectors. Inventure seeks to partner with exceptional entrepreneurs who aim to disrupt their industries. The firm typically makes initial investments ranging from 100,000 euros to 10 million euros throughout a company's development. Managed from Helsinki, Inventure Fund III, established in 2017, specifically targets software companies in the Nordics and Baltics, leveraging a team of experienced entrepreneurs and investment professionals dedicated to fostering global success for start-ups.