Startup Wise Guys

They have three main programs: B2B (SaaS), Cyber Security, Fintech, and a pre-accelerator for idea stage companies. The applications are ongoing, but the programs are done in batches.

Strong focus on B2B. B2B2C is possible if it’s B2B focused. B2G is possible in especially strong cases. They invest in software and marketplaces. Hardware is ok, as long as the main value in the software side.

Main acceleration programs take companies from proof-of-concept stage onwards. Idea stage companies can apply into the pre-acceleration program.

Initial ticket almost always solo, follow-on is a co-investment with possibility to lead.

 

ReadyFireAim

Lagoon Capital

Investment company of Ari Korhonen, one of the longest-standing angel investors in Finland. Invests into software companies. His sweet spot for initial tickets is €50-100k, other sizes are doable on a case-by-case basis.

Ari grew his original company Komartek to an internationally successful one, sold it to WM-data in in 2004, and served as a Vice President of WM-data. WM-data is nowadays known as CGI.

Within the last 14 years, Ari has made angel investments in 39 companies. In those he has participated totally to 128 investment rounds. The companies invested in include MariaDB, DealDash, Klevu, Miradore and Sympa. Of these investments, he has had six successful exits; Small Giant Games, Severa, Paytrail, Octo3, In4mo and The Switch.

Ari is also an investor in venture capital and buyout funds which include Seedcamp, 500 Startups, True Global Ventures, Spintop Ventures, Evli Growth Partners and KJK Capital. Of these investments, he has had one successful exit; Seedcamp fund II. In Spintop Ventures he is also a Senior Advisor and in Evli Growth Partners a Growth Partner. Ari is also Advisory Board member in Finnish Industry Investments (Tesi) and LUT University.

Ari was elected by FiBAN (Finish Business Angels Network) as Business Angel of the Year in Finland in 2014. He is a co-founder and honorary member of FiBAN and Vice Chairman of the Board during 2010-2012. Ari has been an EBAN (European Business Angels Network) board member and Vice-President during 2012-2016. He was awarded EBAN Lifetime Achievement Award in 2015. He is also an active member in many international business angel networks, like EstBAN, NordicBAN, Global Super Angels Club, etc… Ari has been featured by EU-Startups as one of the top 40 of Europe’s most active and most influential angel investors.

Ari was awarded Honorary Doctorate in Economics and Business Administration by LUT University in 2017. He holds a Master of Science degree in engineering from LUT University.

Insta Ventures

Prefer B2B, certain B2C niches are also interesting. Prefer cases with over €15k monthly revenue.

Only co-invest in rounds that already have a lead investor. Majority of deals (70%) from Nordics and Baltics, especially Finland, Sweden, Estonia and Lithuania so far. 15% from Central and Eastern Europe and 15% elsewhere from the world.

Does not invest in mobile gaming or hardware. Hardware-enabled software is interesting.

Turing Studio

Fundraising, branding, design and business development consulting. Helping clients with development projects around the globe.

Does not organize clinical trials, but they do user research and interviews and help with all business areas.

Baltic Sandbox

Ongoing acceleration program, can apply at any time.

Startups have to have a legal entity in EU or willing to open it and relocate, and target market also in the EU for the first three years.

No gaming, gambling, or very sophisticated scientific products that require domain expertise to support.

Katalista Ventures

Hybrid accelerator / fund. Looking at triple top line benefit: people, planet, profit.

Prefer B2B and software. Others are possible in especially strong cases.

Active investor. Putting time into each company. Comfortable with minority stakes. Prefer to co-invest.

 

Earth Capital

Doing sustainability and impact investing: mobility, food and agriculture, energy (renewable, efficiency, storage), water, waste etc. Looking for indications of repeat demand.

Looking for defensible market positions. Technology is not necessary, if the position of the company is otherwise strategically defensible.

Investing globally with a focus on Europe. Also investing actively in Africa and Asia.

Focus on B2B across all their funds.

Prefer to lead or co-invest. Prefer to take a board seat.

EnergySpin

Fidiasz EVC

Interested in hardware and deep tech software. Solutions should be hard for competitors to copy, and if they are, it’s not a must that they’re technological. They prefer companies having customer validation and preferably revenue, but in exceptional cases can invest in a proof-of-concept stage as well.

Companies can be based anywhere, but have to have some operations in Eastern Europe, for example considering Poland as an important target market.

In most cases they only co-invest or lead invest. For startups related to construction industry and chemicals, a CVC investment is possible.