In an exciting development, the newly established early-stage investment firm, Kvanted Ventures, has unveiled its inaugural fund amounting to €70 million. Co-founded by Maria Wasastjerna, Eerik Paasikivi, and Axel Ahlström, Kvanted Ventures distinguishes itself as the first pure-play industrial technology investor in the Nordic region. The fund is poised to invest in approximately 20 early-stage industrial technology startups in Northern Europe, with initial investments ranging from €0.5 to €3 million. Notably, Kvanted Ventures adopts an extended investment term to align with the lengthier development cycles prevalent in the industrial sector.
Paving the Way for the Next Industrial Revolution:
Fueled by an imperative need for substantial investment in Europe to maintain competitiveness and achieve decarbonization in the industrial sector, Kvanted positions itself as a catalyst for the forthcoming industrial revolution. With a mission centered on constructing a more sustainable and efficient industry, Kvanted serves as a connector, bridging traditional industries with innovative technology startups.
Maria Wasastjerna, founding partner of Kvanted, emphasizes the untapped potential in the technological development and digital transformation of the European industrial sector. She asserts, “To remain competitive and to contribute to a more sustainable world, the industrial sectors in Finland, the Nordics, and beyond need to evolve.” Kvanted Ventures aims to play a pivotal role by providing smart capital, deep industrial expertise, and a platform to unite traditional industrial players with cutting-edge startups.
Kvanted Ventures has a broad investment horizon, encompassing both hardware and software solutions, along with service companies developing innovations for the industrial value chain. The fund places particular emphasis on industrial automation, sustainability, and supply chain resilience. In a departure from many other early-stage investors, Kvanted embraces hardware solutions as essential to addressing significant challenges such as climate change and an aging workforce.
The founding team of Kvanted brings a wealth of expertise in venture capital, private equity, legal and regulatory affairs, and investment banking. Eerik Paasikivi, with over a decade of experience in early-stage investing in the industrial sector, has a proven track record in notable material technology companies. Maria Wasastjerna, previously a partner at the Nordic top law firm Hannes & Snellman, contributes international experience in technology, digital markets, and regulation. Axel Ahlström, with a background in consulting and private equity, offers strategic insights garnered from working with large industrial companies.
Heikki Westerlund, a seasoned private equity and venture capital investor and former CEO of CapMan, chairs Kvanted’s board, enriching the team with extensive knowledge of the investment landscape in the Nordics.
Influential Partnerships:
Kvanted’s fund has garnered investments from prominent industrial players, including the esteemed Finnish industrial owner Oras Invest. This partnership provides Kvanted’s portfolio entrepreneurs with exclusive access to industry networks and decades of experience in supporting industrial innovations.
Additionally, Kvanted benefits from the expertise of Venture Partners, including Suvi Haimi, Lars Peter Lindfors, and Kai Öistämö, who bring a wealth of knowledge and networks from their roles in growth companies and large industries.
Kvanted Ventures is poised to become a leading early-stage investor in the Nordic region, driving technological transformations in the industrial value chain and contributing to a more sustainable and innovative future.