From left: Pär Hedberg (Sting), Peder Hasslev (Saminvest), Erik Wijnbladh (Saminvest), Jens Lundström (ABI) and Jeanette Andersson (Minc)

Propel Capital IV, founded by Sting, is one of three selected business angel companies that raises capital from Saminvest to improve the financing and growth opportunities for its incubator and accelerator companies. In addition to the 8 MSEK investment in Propel Capital IV, Saminvest undertakes to invest together with selected business angels when they make follow-on investments in Propel Capitals portfolio companies.

Propel Capital I – IV are business angel companies linked to Sting, the leading ecosystem in the Nordics for startups with high growth potential. Propel Capital allows business angels to become indirect shareholders in a large number of promising startups with a relatively small capital investment. The angels also have the opportunity to make direct investments in their favorite Propel Capital companies.

“Since the start in 2002, Sting has contributed to the development of a large number of interesting companies and built a network of experienced business angels. It was therefore natural for Saminvest to have Sting and Propel Capital as part of this first investment round in incubator-based business angel companies. We are now building on this structure and we look forward to taking the concept to other parts of the country,” comments Peter Hasslev, CEO of Saminvest.

Including the investment from Saminvest, Propel Capital IV, has raised more than 20 MSEK to invest in up to 40 companies. As a complement to the investment in Propel Capital, Saminvest will also match selected business angels’ continued investments in Propel Capitals portfolio companies.

“Propel Capital has so far funded over 70 startups in Stockholm. It has made us one of Sweden’s most active private investors with great reach among entrepreneurs and investors in early stages. Through the investment from Saminvest, we now have additional resources to help entrepreneurs to realize business ideas and build more growth companies in Sweden,” says Niclas Lilja, Chairman of Propel Capital.

Saminvest’s investment initiative initially involves investments in business angel companies linked to three incubators from north to south – Sting, Minc (Malmö) and the Arctic Business Incubator (Luleå), all participants in Vinnova‘s excellence program. The aim is that these investments will soon be followed by similar investments in business angel companies linked to incubators in other parts of the country. The management of both Propel Capital and Saminvest’s additional investments in Propel Capital companies are handled by Sting.

“Business angels play a key role in funding young growth companies. In this context, today’s launch of the matching initiative, where Saminvest will match selected business angels’ follow-on investments, is extra pleasing. Sweden now get a business angel investment booster corresponding to similar initiatives in many other parts of the world,” says Erik Wijnbladh, Head of Fund Investments in Saminvest.

For more information contact:
Peder Hasslev, CEO Saminvest, 076-117 31 70
Pär Hedberg, CEO Sting, 070-855 03 18

About Saminvest
Saminvest is a venture capital company, formed by the state in 2016. Saminvest is actively working on the creation of new venture capital funds (“VC”) with sufficient qualities and long-term ability to develop the Swedish venture capital market. This is done by identifying new teams with experience in developing successful companies that manage funds that have the potential to attract private capital. Together with other investors, Saminvest will invest in these new venture capital funds, which in turn become active owners of portfolio companies in future industries.

About Sting and Propel Capital
Since 2002, Sting has helped entrepreneurs to develop their business ideas into successful growth companies. We offer startups financing, business development support and world-class networks. Sting has supported over 240 startups, of which 70 percent continue to grow and grow today. Together, all Sting companies have a turnover of over SEK 2.1 billion. In addition, they have created over 1800 jobs. Linked to Sting is Propel Capital, which since its inception in 2014 through Propel Capital I, II III and IV has invested nearly SEK 25 million in over 70 STING companies. The portfolio includes companies such as Sellpy, Signal Signal, DP Organizer, Elly Pistol, Sniph, Airinum and Sudio.