Double up with venture capital

SamInvest manages a fund of SEK 100 million of venture capital investments in Jämtland and Västernorrland County.

The fund is financed by the EU (SEK 50 million), the county administrative boards in Jämtland and Västernorrland (SEK 30 million) and by Almi Företagspartner (SEK 20 million). The aim of the fund is to increase the availability of venture capital in the region and to function as a catalyst between private venture capital and small and medium-sized companies with a potential for development.

SamInvest signs collaboration agreements with venture capital companies, private investors, networks of investors and companies. The aim is to make a joint investment in a company in the region with the potential for development. The collaborating party thus shares the risk with a maximum equivalent amount from SamInvest while switching up the investment.

SamInvest only invests in connection with collaborating parties that have taken their own position on going in with venture capital. SamInvest’s commitment rests on the "equal terms principle", i.e. the terms that the collaborating party negotiated with regard to amount, expectations of yields, selling of shares (exit) etc applies equally to SamInvest.

SamInvest can invest in all industries and can own a maximum of 30 per cent of the associated company. Early-stage companies, companies in expansion and companies in a change process are given priority.

SamInvest, which is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Almi Företagspartner Mitt, ran a pilot project with a partnership fund between 2005 and 2008. For the first time in Sweden the possibility to use public funds and EU funds as venture capital in private companies was tested. The pilot project was concluded on 30-06-2008 and after that only the follow up investments in the existing associated company were made in the project.

The pilot project was very successful and praised by the collaborating parties as well as the associated companies. In total, SamInvest invested SEK 56 million in 26 companies for 2.5 years. Together with the private party’s share, SEK 125 million was invested.

Corporate registration number: 556670-2444