SEED Capital is the Venture Capital Fond of the year

(27.4.2010) At DVCA's annual meeting and top management conference 2010 SEED Capital received the award for Venture Capital Fund of the year. The price was given based on SEED Capital's high investment activity and unique business model as well as the fact that SEED Capital during an economic recession has managed both to create impressive exits and raise a new fund of 435 million.

DVCA (Danish Venture Capital & Private Equity Association) is the trade association for a broad range of investors in Denmark, such as Business Angels, Venture Capital and Private Equity Funds. As part of DVCA's Annual Meeting and top management conference DVCA held a ceremony to celebrate those who have performed particularly well in the past year. This year the award for Best Venture Capital Fund went to SEED Capital.

At the award ceremony DVCA chairman Ole Steen Andersen Prize presented the award to SEED Capital with the following words (translated). "Seed invested in 15 new companies in 2009. But even more interesting is their unique business model where pre-seed investments are made through the innovation environment (Innovationsmiljø), and the most promising are then followed by SEED Capital's own money. Thus SEED has found their own unique solution to the challenges of 'death valley'. The unique setup has over time given a lot of interesting investments, and in 2009 two exits were accomplished with very good returns. Evolva and Fullrate. In addition, there is an ongoing exit of TagAway underway. Last but certainly not least, SEED Capital Denmark is the only Danish-based venture fund to raise a new fund in more than 1½ years".

SEED Capital has since it was establishment helped to create a series of successful businesses. Their strong portfolio includes watAgame - with the concept goSupermodel - who has one of the most popular social networks for teenage girls aged 10-16 years with 4.2 million visitors a month. Similarly, the Cleantech company Ammminex, which recently concluded a large contract with truck and engine manufacturer Navistar.

"We are incredibly proud of this award which is a nice recognition of the last seven years of hard work to build our strong position in the Danish venture environment. The price should largely be dedicated to the entire SEED Capital team of highly skilled employees, all with considerable experience and insight into how you establish and operate emerging businesses. The employees' efforts have secured the success we are experiencing now. We also thank SEED Capital investors who have acknowledged our work with capital for the next fund, so we can continue to develop tomorrow's growth companies from the entrepreneurial stage to mature companies, "says Ulla Brockenhuus-Schack, Managing Partner at SEED Capital.

In February 2010 SEED Capital managed to raise the fund SEED Capital Denmark II K / S with initial capital of 435 million. kr from among others ATP and Vækstfonden.

Apart from this DVCA award SEED Capital was also nominated for the Connect Denmark award for best growth initiative.

SEED Capital is the biggest venture fund in Denmark within the pre-seed and seed segment and specializes in identifying and developing new and innovative technology companies. SEED Capital manages both private and public venture capital funds through the innovation environment DTU Symbion Innovation. Public funding allows SEED to invest in start-ups in the early stages, and private funds can then be invested in the most successful companies in subsequent investment rounds. SEED today manages approx. DKK 1.5 billion and has about 70 companies in its portfolio. Visit www.seedcapital.dk

For more information

  • Mikkel Toft-Olsen, Communications Manager, SEED Capital, Tel.: 28 70 40 28
  • Ulla Brockenhuus-Schack, Managing Partner, SEED Capital, Tel.: 20 82 83 74