Startup Lions is establishing a new investment company in Sweden, Scale Up Lions. The company aims to facilitate the participation of international investors in Startup Lions’ portfolio companies that are in the growth phase. Fully owned by Startup Lions, the company will begin operations in autumn 2025.
“In Sweden, there is a clear need for investment targets that are already too large for angel investors but still too small for VC firms. There are many investors with capacity, but they do not want to engage in very early-stage companies. Here, we see a clear market gap for us,” says Jaakko Salminen, who is responsible for establishing the company.
The goal is to transfer Startup Lions’ portfolio companies in the growth phase under Scale Up Lions. This will enable them to access significantly larger growth financing than before, allowing their business to scale rapidly.
“We will also support the companies in other ways – for example, by assisting with international recruitment and participating in board work.”
The company’s goal is to raise an investment portfolio of several tens of millions of euros, primarily from the Swedish market, and channel the funding to Startup Lions’ portfolio companies as well as potentially to other investment targets.
“There are a wide variety of companies listed on the Swedish stock exchanges, so I consider a public listing a realistic option for Scale Up Lions. This would provide a flexible way to bring in a large number of investors while creating a functioning secondary market for Scale Up Lions’ shares. “
