Everything we do has an enduring impact on society, our economy and the environment.
And we believe focused capital is needed to support the next generation of business leaders.
Investment strategy
We are tech and impact investors investing in:
We value strong teams, substantial market potential, and unique tech. In addition, we look for the following when investing:
S1
Sustainable solutions
Sustainable solutions are at the heart of what we do
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We are an Article 9 VC fund
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Sustainable solutions must be a part of the company DNA and an integral part of the business model (products, value chain, top management)
S2
Strategic fit
To create value, we focus
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We focus on our three investment verticals, Energy Innovation, Food & Agriculture, and Education Technology
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We focus on the Nordics, but will occasionally invest in the rest of Europe and globally
S3
Stage
We excel at growth and acceleration
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Our sweet spot is from Seed to Series A
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Our entry ticket ranges from € 1-5m, and we reserve a substantial part of our fund for follow-on investments. We aim to acquire 10-15% ownership
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Commercial traction, clear proof of business, and product/market fit
S4
Scalability
Real sustainable impact requires global potential
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The business model and organization must have global scalability potential
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Strong teams with proven track-record of scaling
Energy Innovation
VÅR Ventures invests in companies that are building innovative businesses and technologies transforming the energy and resource intensive industries.
The energy sector is making a shift towards a lower carbon economy. We need rapid, large-scale innovation in energy supply, demand reduction, and optimised energy systems to meet societal and regulatory expectations.
Examples of investment areas within Energy Innovation
System flexibility
There is a global demand for solutions that in a cost efficient way may incease flexibility in the electricity system, an area where intelligent storage intragration play an important role. This include a wide range of technologies that transform electric energy into other forms of energy that may be storaged or used.
Digital transition
Digital transition is gradually becoming more important in shaping the energy system of the future. There is a need for developing digital energy solutions that support the development of more flexible, integrated and market based energy systems in which consumers play a novel and more central role, and where intelligence is increasingly build into the systems single components.
Innovative technologies
Innovative technologies that in a short or long term perspective lead to implementation of new technologies and processes or combine known technologies and processes in a new and value adding way. In other words, new innovative technologies, solutions and services with a large global market potential.
Food & Agriculture
High-input, resource-intensive farming systems, which have caused massive deforestation, water scarcities, soil depletion and high levels of greenhouse gas emissions, cannot deliver sustainable food and
agricultural production.
We need companies that create innovative systems that protect and enhance the natural resource base, while increasing productivity in order to overcome traditional resource-intensive farming sytems.
Examples of investment areas within Food & Agriculture
Smart farming
Smart farming that help mangaging farms using technologies like IoT, robotics, drones and AI to increase the quantity and quality of products while optimising the human labor required by production.
Clean production & farming
Clean production and farming that prevent severe agricultural pollution while ensuring agricultural sustainability. This includes cleaner production techniques in agricultural production as well as innovative technological solutions.
Bio-based and circular economy
Bio-based and circular economy activites involving the use of biotechnology and biomass in the production of goods, services or energy including the application of scientific and technological developments to the agriculture industry.
Education technology
We expect education technology solutions to evolve in line with the advances in the latest technologies, such as the Internet of Things (IoT), Artificial Intelligence (AI), Augmented Reality (AR), and Virtual Reality (VR), and contribute significantly to the market growth.
The global education technology market size was valued at USD 89.49 billion in 2020 and is expected to witness a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 19.9% from 2021 to 2028.
Examples of investment areas within Education technology
Inclusive Education
Targeting specific underserved groups (socially disadvantaged persons, immigrants or minority groups, special educational needs students or other groups), address early school leavers or support the improvement of educational attainment for all.
Personalised learning
Personalised learning based e.g. on Artificial Intelligence (AI), learning analytics, and other technologies, with a focus on supporting new, research-based pedagogical approaches for in-classroom education and encouraging life-long learning.
Skills development
Skills development of children, teachers and other types of learners with a focus on development of 21st century skills such as critical thinking, creativity and collaboration.