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.

Commercialization Reactor

Accelerator with ongoing applications. Programs start in batches. Currently everything online, but they plan to resume physical participation programs later.

Requirements: Deep tech. Significant understanding behind tech. Team of founders have to include at least one scientist and one entrepreneur. Have to be from EEA or UK or Switzerland or willing to move to Latvia. Have to establish a company in Latvia for the acceleration program.

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.

 

Nordic XR Startups

Nordic XR Startups invests into startups with a strong connection to XR (VR/AR/MR) and are from Nordics, Baltics or Eastern Europe.

They invest mainly into companies where they can offer significant added value with their international mentor and investor network.

They are open for startups’ applications at any time. They organize batches but are open for discussions and investments on other times as well.

They often join the board as observers.

 

Nordic FoodTech VC

Nordic FoodTech invests, as the name implies, in food-related technology. Not brands, not production, but for example new production and packaging technologies.

Focusing more on B2B and B2G. B2C is possible, if the business model is practical to scale.

Open Circle Capital

Open Circle is based in Lithuania and they have partners in Finland and Denmark. Most of their investments are in Lithuania, but they can invest anywhere in the European Economic Area.

Their ideal case is to co-invest or lead a round into a software company. This is the 3/5 year of their investment period and they look forward to making a couple more new investments. They’re stake size agnostic.

Their usual minimum ticket is 100ke. In exceptional cases they have done 50ke, and in very exceptional cases can consider even smaller tickets.

They prefer applying startups to contact the partner whose experience best matches their area.

Grid.vc

Grid.vc invests into early-stage energy companies.

They’re often the first fund investor of a company and the only one on a round with angels and other non-institutional investors, leading the round. On later rounds they often co-invest with other funds.

They have a global mandate, but focus on investing into companies in the New Nordics and Germany.

Fiil Good

Impact investment fund by a group of angels. FIIL = Finnish Impact Investment Limited (Vaikuttavuussijoitus in Finnish). Investments have to fulfill UN SDG (sustainable development goals) criteria.

All members are active angel investors, who see themselves more as co-founders than just financial investors.

Prefer companies with traction and product-market fit (or very close). Occasionally also do pre-revenue investments.

MVP with traction (seed): €50k-200k, rounds €50k-€400k. Valuations below €2M.

Pre-seed (idea testing stage) €5k-20k, rounds max. €50k.

When lead investing, they take board chairperson position. When co-investing, prefer board membership.