New venture fund to boost knowledge-intensive startups with over half a billion

A new player enters the Danish venture scene based in Aarhus. Delphinus Venture Capital was founded by Aarhus University Research Foundation, HEARTLAND, Norlys and Salling Group and has raised DKK 600 million for investments in knowledge-intensive startups and scaleups with a special focus on companies that originate from research and have the potential to create global solutions.

The fund differs from many traditional venture funds by being evergreen, allowing for a more long-term investment perspective. Delphinus will invest from pre-seed to scaleup and follow companies throughout their growth journey.

The newly established foundation announced this in a press release.

Experience from international venture capital

To lead the fund, Mathias Brink Lorenz has been appointed as Director. He comes with solid international experience, most recently as Investment Director at the European Circular Bioeconomy Fund in Germany, where he worked with investments in knowledge-intensive startups across Europe.

“Innovation takes time, courage and capital. Unlike traditional venture funds, Delphinus is also deliberately established with a structure that enables long-term commitment and flexibility in our investments. We can and will be involved as an investor from the very early stages to the late stage of growth. This is how we can make a real difference for the companies we invest in,” says Mathias Brink Lorenz in the press release.

According to Mathias Brink Lorenz, the Danish market for knowledge and technology-driven companies is growing and foreign funds are showing increasing interest. Delphinus Venture Capital will be a strong regional investor that can match this development and offer continuous support to entrepreneurs.

Close links to both research and business

The foundation will be based in Aarhus, close to the research environments at Aarhus University, Aarhus University Hospital and other knowledge centers in the region. This location provides direct access to research-based innovation that can be translated into commercial solutions.

“The unique collaboration created here in our region will ensure that research ideas are transformed into sustainable commercial enterprises. On behalf of the university, I am extremely excited about this significant support to enable even more researchers to fund their entrepreneurial ideas. Both for the more “wild” ideas that need to be pressure tested to see if they can fly, and for solid solutions that are closer to commercialization. This gives the university’s researchers better conditions for contributing to the important development of our society, and we at the Aarhus University Research Foundation are very pleased to be able to support this development,” says Rector of Aarhus University Brian Bech Nielsen.

At the same time, the partners ensure that the fund also has a strong business focus. HEARTLAND, Norlys and Salling Group each bring networks, business understanding and industry insight that can strengthen the portfolio companies’ commercial development, says the press release.

Indlægget New venture fund to boost knowledge-intensive startups with over half a billion blev først udgivet på TechSavvy.