PRIVATE Venture Capital with a nordic focus
Backstage Invest is the investment arm of a Swedish Single Family Office. We make direct investments in entrepreneurial scale-up companies based in Sweden, with a broader Nordic mandate.
We’re not a traditional VC fund. We are self-made entrepreneurs investing our own capital – something the family has been doing since the 1980s.
Are you leading a company with strong growth potential and looking for capital to scale? We offer more than just funding. Our portfolio companies benefit from our experience and network in areas such as business development, strategy, financing, marketing, and international expansion.
We believe in the power of technology, invest very selectively and steer clear of highly capital-intensive sectors.
We prefer to back proven entrepreneurs with a solid track record.
We need to see real evidence of traction and growing revenues – typically, we do not invest at the early stage.
Feel free to get in touch – we’d love to hear your story.
Philosophy
We invest in opportunities where ambitious, talented teams are matched by strong execution capabilities and clear potential for exceptional growth.
Our evaluation process is guided by what we call the Seven Pillars of T:
Team × Trust × Track Record × Traction × Timing × Tech × Trajectory
These six factors form the foundation of every investment decision we make.
We invest our own capital – and just as importantly, our own time. We don’t outsource. Instead, we believe in the value of hands-on, committed ownership. As active investors, we support management teams with our experience and open doors through our network.
We often co-invest alongside other private investors and Venture Capital Funds. Like most professional investors, we look for a viable exit path over time – but we are also open to longer-term holdings where it makes sense.
Success
Are there fixed recipes for success in this business? Perhaps not – but over the years, we’ve found that certain truths tend to hold. Here are ten principles we live by:
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People matter more than the idea – A strong team beats a brilliant concept without execution power.
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Always negotiate with the ultimate decision-maker – Avoid middlemen; go straight to the source.
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Even the most senior counterpart is just human – Stay respectful, but don’t be intimidated.
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Before investing, think about who might buy it from you – A clear exit vision is key.
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Once a deal is agreed, don’t wait – Push for documentation and signatures immediately.
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Exit before the peak – Trying to time the top often ends in disappointment.
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Avoid weather-dependent ventures – External unpredictability is not your friend.
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Analyse deeply, but trust your gut – Intuition, shaped by experience, is a powerful tool.
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Nothing is real until the money is in the bank – Stay vigilant until the deal is fully closed.
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Hire people smarter than you – Talent attracts talent, and builds strong companies.
Portfolio
Unlisted investments
Animoca Brands
Animoca Brands is a leader in the field of digital entertainment, specializing in blockchain, gamification, and artificial intelligence technologies to develop and publish a broad portfolio of products. The company has a broad portfolio of world famous partner brands and also investments in other Web3 gaming companies such as The Sandbox.
BCB Medical
BCB Medical Oy gather real-world data for medical effectiveness and treatment quality through an integrated proprietary platform. They combine, analyze and illustrate clinical data from various sources and present it in an understandable format.
Joining forces with Swedish company Health Solutions in 2021, the now revolutionize the way clinical data impacts people’s lives.
Brink
Brink Commerce offers a modern eCommerce platform built for forward-looking merchants and retailers. Designed to support fast growth and constant change, it enables seamless customer experiences, operational efficiency, and global scalability. Co-investment led by Qvantea Capital.
DH anticounterfeit
DH Anticounterfeit’s software platform serves global owners of intellectual property and brands in protection against counterfeit. The platform is used by teams who want to streamline, digitalize and professionalize their operations, case & project management, intelligence & data analysis, collaboration, communication & reporting of anti-counterfeiting activities.
GP Bullhound Sidecar III, IV, V & VI
Investment firm GP Bullhound is managing a series of VC-funds which mainly do investments in digital and technology based companies. Investments include companies such as Klarna, Revolut, Ravenpack, Mentimeter and many more. For the full list please visit their website.
Greenely
Greenely is a software enabled energy company that helps its customers to optimize their electricity consumption. They offer a software solution that covers home automation, smart electric vehicle charging and smart information. Join Greenely to save energy!
Haypp Group
The Haypp Group (NASDAQ: HAYPP.ST) is spearheading the global transformation from smoking to risk-reduced alternatives. With origins in Scandinavia, the company has leveraged its leading position, along with its category and e-commerce experience, to widen its positive impact to the USA and a range of European markets. With multiple B2C e-commerce store brands the company serves hundreds of thousands of customers. IPO Oct 2021.
Indicio
Indicio makes forecasting simple. Their software suite (SaaS) offers an user-friendly interface giving access to advanced statistical methods without the demand for prior statistical knowledge. Primary fields are Time-Series Analysis, Econometrics and Cognitive Analysis.
Innovation 360 Group
Innovation 360 Group is a developer, marketer and seller of data -driven artificial intelligence (“AI”) and innovation analytics tools to consultants, corporations and government bodies on a global scale. Since inception in 2015, the Company has developed a highly differentiated and proprietary innovation management platform that enables consultants and innovation teams to streamline the process of evaluating core competencies, defining innovation strategies and managing workflows across organizations.
Klarna
Klarna is a leading Swedish fintech company. Klarna reinvented the concept of buy now and pay later in online shopping. Klarna’s offering to consumers and retailers include payments, social shopping, and personal finances. Backstage aqcuired a small position in Klarna through the divestment of SaaS-company APPRL to Klarna.
Kwiff
Eaton Gate Gaming is an innovator in field of online gambling. It is the company behind Kwiff, a fast-growing sports-betting and casino app. The mission is to re-invent sportsbetting using a fully proprietary and in-house built platform and product.
Maison Heinrich
Maison Heinrich holds the exclusive commercial rights to market and sell the spirits brand XANTÉ on the North American market. XANTÉ is one of the top selling super premium liqueurs in the Nordic market. Altia Plc (today Anora) acquired the brand from the Tilander family in 2012 (excluding the commercial rights for US/CA.)
ipercept
iPercept offers a hardware sensor & software solution that boosts production- and maintenance teams of industrial machinery. iPercept’s AI assistant provides in-depth insights improving machine reliability, quality and efficiency. ”Gold Company” status on Ny Teknik’s 33-list.
SAVR
SAVR is a fast growing savings- and investment platform providing low fees and full transparency. On their way to become the next investment powerhouse in Europe, SAVR offers an investment platform that empowers people to save in an engaging and simple manner.
Truecaller
Truecaller (NASDAQ: TRUE.ST) set out to make it possible to know who’s trying to contact you, and also tell you when not to pick up your phone. Today, hundreds of millions of app users later, Truecaller’s business concept has expanded to delivering trust in a broader sense by making communication safe and efficient. IPO Oct. 2021.
True Global Ventures
True Global Ventures (”TGV”) is a global technology equity Venture Capital Fund with focus on in the intersection of Web3 technologies (blockchain) and AI. TGV is built by a group of serial entrepreneurs with a solid track record of investing their own money. Backstage is currently LP in three TGV funds. Portfolio companies includes Animoca Brands, The Sandbox, Ledger, Chromaway among others.
Varenne
Volumental
Volumental offers a fully integrated suite of 3D scanning and data tools to optimize fit. They bring together everything needed to take the guesswork out of sizing for shoppers. The products power retail scanning, mobile scanning, personalized recommendations, and digital marketing tools.
Exits, examples
Marshall Group
Consumer audio electronics – the legendary Marshall brand. Acquired in April 2025 by HongShan Capital Group, formerly known as Sequoia China.
24Storage
Leading self storage operator in Sweden built on the latest modern IT-infrastructure and automated processes . IPO Dec. 2019 (NASDAQ: ”24STOR”). Acquired by TIAA in 2021 by public buy-out.
aPPRL
Influencer marketing SaaS platform. Acquired by Klarna in 2021.
Peter F. Heering
TradeExtensions
Park Lane Nightclub
The leading nightclub in Gothenburg. Management Buy-Out in 2016.
Kajskjul 8
Orc Group
HD Resources
The Xanté Company
NeoNet
Sidewalk Express
Ark Travel
ITP-Invest
Pioneer VC-fund in Sweden. Management Buy-Out in 2004.
Trevise Bank
Owell
Contact
We have offices in Stockholm and Gothenburg. Welcome to contact us!
Fredrik Tilander
Managing Director
> Primary point of contact <
Visiting adress:
Norrlandsgatan 10, 1st Floor
SE-111 43 Stockholm, Sweden
Mailing adress:
Box 7327
SE-103 90 Stockolm, Sweden
Tel: +46 705 120 230
E-mail: fredrik (a) backstage.se
Jörgen Tilander
Chairman
Visiting address:
Geijersgatan 1 B
411 34 Gothenburg
Mailing address:
Box 3097
SE-400 10 Gothenburg, Sweden
Tel: +46 705 90 22 42
E-mail: jorgen (a) backstage.se