Bitkraft is a private equity firm founded in 2015 and headquartered in Berlin, with an additional office in New York. The firm focuses on early-stage investments in the esports sector, targeting companies across North America, Europe, and Asia Pacific. Established by entrepreneur Jens Hilgers, Bitkraft has assembled a team of diverse professionals, including entrepreneurs, operators, and investors, who are dedicated to developing businesses and technologies that enhance the esports ecosystem for players, fans, and stakeholders globally. With a presence in major cities such as Los Angeles, San Francisco, and London, Bitkraft actively engages in the dynamic landscape of video games and esports, fostering innovation and growth in this rapidly evolving industry.
Global Founders Capital is a venture capital firm founded in 2013 and based in Berlin, Germany, with a focus on empowering entrepreneurs globally. The firm is stage agnostic, investing in companies across various sectors, including internet, software, fintech, e-commerce, and telecommunications. Global Founders Capital typically invests in the equity of young technology companies, with a preference for startups located in Southeast Asia, the Middle East, North Africa, Vietnam, Colombia, Europe, the United States, and China. Investment amounts range from €0.01 million to €10 million, with specific allocations varying by stage: seed investments typically between €0.1 million and €1 million, early-stage investments between €1 million and €3 million, and growth-stage investments between €3 million and €8 million. The firm often seeks to be the lead investor and aims to secure board representation in its portfolio companies.
Techstars is a global startup accelerator founded in 2006, headquartered in Boulder, Colorado. It provides a supportive environment for entrepreneurs through various programs, including mentorship-driven accelerators, startup programs, and corporate innovation partnerships. Techstars connects founders with a vast network of mentors, investors, and industry experts to foster company growth. The organization operates multiple accelerator programs worldwide, focusing on diverse sectors such as mobility, retail, and social impact. It also manages a venture capital fund that invests in innovative technology companies at early stages. With over 1,000 companies in its accelerator portfolio, Techstars has developed a reputation for nurturing successful startups across various markets, helping them scale and achieve significant valuations.
East Ventures is an early-stage, sector-agnostic venture capital firm founded in 2009, with offices in Tokyo, Singapore, and Jakarta. The firm has invested in over 170 companies across Southeast Asia, with a strong emphasis on Indonesia, Singapore, Japan, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam. It is recognized as a pioneer in the Indonesian startup ecosystem, being the first investor in notable unicorns such as Tokopedia and Traveloka. East Ventures' diverse portfolio includes prominent companies like Mercari, Ruangguru, and Fore Coffee. In 2018, the firm established a growth-stage fund called EV Growth to provide further support to startups in the region. East Ventures has garnered accolades for its consistent performance, being named the most active investor in Southeast Asia and Indonesia, as well as a top-performing VC fund globally by various industry observers. The firm primarily targets investments in technology, consumer web, fintech, and mobile sectors, typically investing between $0.1 million and $0.5 million in early-stage ventures.
IMM Investment Corp. is an independent private equity and venture capital firm based in Seoul, South Korea, founded in July 1999. The firm specializes in mezzanine investments and focuses on various investment strategies, including mergers and acquisitions, corporate restructuring, and management buyouts. It targets medium-sized companies in sectors such as information technology infrastructure, wireless communications, healthcare, biotechnology, and manufacturing. IMM Investment allocates its growth stage investments primarily to startups, expansion, and mezzanine funding, with a strong emphasis on IT infrastructure, digital hardware, and content creation. The firm actively participates in management and seeks to invest in companies with strong ratings, particularly in regions like Seoul and surrounding provinces.
leAD Sports & Health Tech Partners sources, funds, and drives growth of early-stage sports & health tech startups globally. leAD was founded in 2016 and was inspired by the legend of the sports industry Adi Dassler. Since its inception, leAD has taken on new companies into its business every year. With 30 companies from around the globe under its portfolio, leAD is constantly empowering founders to create their own legacy. leAD works with groundbreaking solutions across the verticals of fan engagement, connected athletes, and health & well-being and focuses on driving growth through smart investment, premier network access, and expert training. leAD has three three investment vehicles – Academy, Portfolio, and ADvantage Fund – and commercial partnerships with adidas, Citi Private Bank, Tavistock Group, OurCrowd, and Lake Nona to further support portfolio growth.
Sequoia Capital is a prominent venture capital firm founded in 1972 and based in Menlo Park, California. The firm specializes in investing across various sectors, including energy, financial services, healthcare, internet, mobile, and technology. Sequoia targets startups at different stages, from seed to growth, providing investments ranging from $100,000 to $100 million, depending on the company's maturity and market potential. The firm has a global presence, with significant operations in regions such as China, India, and Israel, where it actively partners with innovative founders to support the development of transformative companies. Sequoia Capital is known for its long-term commitment to its portfolio companies, leveraging extensive experience and industry knowledge to guide entrepreneurs from initial concept to public offerings. The firm also emphasizes the importance of social impact, as a significant portion of its profits is directed towards philanthropic causes.
Valor Equity Partners is a private equity firm based in Chicago, established in 1995, that specializes in operational growth investments across various sectors, including consumer, infrastructure, industrial services, and manufacturing. The firm focuses on high-growth companies at different stages of development and aims to partner with entrepreneurs who are dedicated to excellence and industry transformation. Valor Equity Partners typically invests between $10 million and $75 million in platform companies with revenues ranging from $30 million to $200 million and EBITDA between $5 million and $20 million. The firm also has a presence in North America and India, targeting investments in a wide array of industries, including healthcare, technology, clean energy, and financial services. With a commitment to solving the challenges of growth and scale, Valor Equity Partners seeks to be a lead investor, emphasizing both control and non-control equity investments.
Tencent Holdings, founded in 1998 and headquartered in Shenzhen, is a leading internet service provider that offers a wide range of value-added services, including online games, social networking, and online advertising. The company's popular platforms, such as WeChat and QQ, facilitate communication, entertainment, e-commerce, and various lifestyle services for millions of users. Tencent also operates in sectors like FinTech and cloud services, and it is involved in the production and distribution of films and television programs. The company focuses on user-oriented strategies to maintain steady growth and address the diverse needs of internet users across China and globally. Through its comprehensive service offerings, Tencent aims to create a seamless online lifestyle experience.