BlackWood Ventures Fund I: Pioneering Innovation Across Europe
June 8, 2024, 9:31 am
BlackWood Ventures, a Copenhagen-based early-stage venture capital fund, has recently announced the successful 2nd closing of its debut fund, BlackWood Ventures Fund I, securing an impressive €14.7 million. This milestone marks a significant achievement for the fund, which has quickly established itself as a catalyst for revolutionary companies and founders across Europe.
Utilizing a network and technology-driven approach, BlackWood Ventures has implemented a systematic strategy to identify and invest in the most promising early-stage startups on the continent. Since its inception in April 2023, the fund has made a total of 12 investments, supporting visionary founders in countries such as Denmark, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Sweden, Switzerland, the UK, and the US.
The success of BlackWood Ventures Fund I can be attributed to its ability to effectively close cross-border venture deals and maintain a diverse portfolio size. Founder and CEO, Bastian Larsen, expressed his confidence in the fund's progress, stating, "BlackWood Ventures is increasingly becoming a catalyst for revolutionary companies and founders across Europe. With the timing of our fund launch aligning perfectly with market conditions, we are in an exceptionally promising position to drive significant advancements in our focus sectors."
One of the key strengths of BlackWood Ventures lies in its extensive network of over 1200 high-profile angel investors and top venture capital funds. This network provides strategic support and co-investment opportunities, further enhancing the fund's ability to identify and nurture promising startups. Additionally, the team has established more than 100 partnerships with leading accelerators, universities, and incubators across Europe to source the most innovative and disruptive companies.
Christian Mariager, a new investor in the fund and Senior Advisor at L Catterton, highlighted the exceptional qualities of the BlackWood Ventures team, stating, "After a long career, I have rarely come across such exceptional and driven individuals. The team at BlackWood is on a mission to disrupt the European venture capital space, and I believe in their ability to offer pan-European exposure to Nordic investors like myself."
Since the first closing, BlackWood Ventures has experienced a consistent and robust deal flow, evaluating approximately 300 startups each month. This influx of opportunities is sustained through expanded partnership channels, a steady stream of proposals from the Angel Network, and a significant volume of organic inbound inquiries. By employing a proprietary selection process, BlackWood Ventures ensures that only the most promising opportunities are considered, maintaining an impressive acceptance rate of 0.2%.
Simon Stampe, Chairman of BlackWood Ventures, emphasized the crucial role of the team in the fund's success, stating, "Our team's expertise is a cornerstone of our strategy. Our backgrounds and industry experience allow us to uniquely identify and support promising startups, which is essential for discovering and nurturing Europe's next wave of innovation."
The investors in the recent funding round primarily consisted of private investors from the Nordics, exited entrepreneurs, and family offices. Despite the successful 2nd closing, BlackWood Ventures Fund I remains open for further investment, showcasing the fund's commitment to supporting and fostering innovation across Europe. With its strong network, strategic partnerships, and expert team, BlackWood Ventures is well-positioned to continue driving advancements in the European venture capital landscape.
Utilizing a network and technology-driven approach, BlackWood Ventures has implemented a systematic strategy to identify and invest in the most promising early-stage startups on the continent. Since its inception in April 2023, the fund has made a total of 12 investments, supporting visionary founders in countries such as Denmark, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Sweden, Switzerland, the UK, and the US.
The success of BlackWood Ventures Fund I can be attributed to its ability to effectively close cross-border venture deals and maintain a diverse portfolio size. Founder and CEO, Bastian Larsen, expressed his confidence in the fund's progress, stating, "BlackWood Ventures is increasingly becoming a catalyst for revolutionary companies and founders across Europe. With the timing of our fund launch aligning perfectly with market conditions, we are in an exceptionally promising position to drive significant advancements in our focus sectors."
One of the key strengths of BlackWood Ventures lies in its extensive network of over 1200 high-profile angel investors and top venture capital funds. This network provides strategic support and co-investment opportunities, further enhancing the fund's ability to identify and nurture promising startups. Additionally, the team has established more than 100 partnerships with leading accelerators, universities, and incubators across Europe to source the most innovative and disruptive companies.
Christian Mariager, a new investor in the fund and Senior Advisor at L Catterton, highlighted the exceptional qualities of the BlackWood Ventures team, stating, "After a long career, I have rarely come across such exceptional and driven individuals. The team at BlackWood is on a mission to disrupt the European venture capital space, and I believe in their ability to offer pan-European exposure to Nordic investors like myself."
Since the first closing, BlackWood Ventures has experienced a consistent and robust deal flow, evaluating approximately 300 startups each month. This influx of opportunities is sustained through expanded partnership channels, a steady stream of proposals from the Angel Network, and a significant volume of organic inbound inquiries. By employing a proprietary selection process, BlackWood Ventures ensures that only the most promising opportunities are considered, maintaining an impressive acceptance rate of 0.2%.
Simon Stampe, Chairman of BlackWood Ventures, emphasized the crucial role of the team in the fund's success, stating, "Our team's expertise is a cornerstone of our strategy. Our backgrounds and industry experience allow us to uniquely identify and support promising startups, which is essential for discovering and nurturing Europe's next wave of innovation."
The investors in the recent funding round primarily consisted of private investors from the Nordics, exited entrepreneurs, and family offices. Despite the successful 2nd closing, BlackWood Ventures Fund I remains open for further investment, showcasing the fund's commitment to supporting and fostering innovation across Europe. With its strong network, strategic partnerships, and expert team, BlackWood Ventures is well-positioned to continue driving advancements in the European venture capital landscape.