About us
Backstage Invest is a single family office venture capital investor with focus on Nordic entrepreneurial scale-up companies.
Do you have a great new business idea or are you managing a company with strong growth potential in need of capital for scale-up? We have an open mind-set towards looking at new industries, but only invest in proven entrepreneurs with a track record.
We can invest early stage if the team and idea is right, but prefer to see proof of concept from real customers. We give value back to our portfolio companies not only in form of capital, but also by contributing with knowledge and contacts in areas such as business development, strategy, financing, marketing and international expansion.
Welcome to contact us!
Philosophy
We seek investment opportunities combining great talented people with execution capability and exceptional growth potential.
We only invest our own money and we invest our own time. We do not pay others to do the job. Rather, we strongly believe in the positive effect of having committed visible owners motivating management and contributing with experience as well a contact network.
We often make our investments in cooperation with other investors. As most professional investors we require an exit opportunity within time. However, we sometimes make investments for the long term.
Success
Are there recipes for being successful in this line of business?We believe in the following 10 theses:
- People are more important for success than the business concept itself
- Always negotiate with the ultimate decision maker
- Remember, even the most senior executive is human like everybody else
- Before you invest in a venture, think first of who will buy it from you in the future
- When a deal has been made, never ever wait, but push for documentation and sign
- When it comes to exit, never try to find the peak, divest before
- Never invest in weather dependant ventures
- Analyse thoroughly, but also follow your gut feeling
- Nothing has been achieved before the money is in the bank
- Hire people that are more talented than you
Portfolio
Unlisted investments
24Storage
24Storage AB offers Self Storage to private and corporate customers in the Stockholm, Gothenburg and Malmö region, but with a vision to expand outside of Sweden. 24Storage has developed a concept for cost efficiently operating smaller sized facilities, thereby enabling use of better locations closer to the customers. The storage facilities are managed using the latest modern IT-infrastructure and automated processes providing better and faster customer service.
APPRL
APPRL connects retailers & brands with online influencers in one powerful platform. On the one side, APPRL helps retailers to increase their reach through a network of influencers and premium media partners. In short, APPRL helps retailers get their products into premium inspirational content. On the other side APPRL provides online influencers & premium content media with a powerful monetization tool.
BCB Medical
BCB Medical Oy is the Nordic market leader in gathering and analysing clinical data in digital quality registers via a SaaS-model. The mission is to combine, analyse and illustrate clinical data gathered from various sources and present it in an understandable format so that current and future generations can live healthier lives.
ETNetwork
ETNetwork provides an infrastructure for digital transaction information from payments. Partners, such as retailers and banks, are connected in one infrastructure. With the company’s Kwick Service, you get digital receipts for purchases made with your private or corporate payment card. Both small and large organisations can use this service to improve their efficiency in areas such as Receipt handling, Assigning of accounts, VAT reporting and Expense reporting.
GP Bullhound Sidecar III & IV
Investment firm GP Bullhound is currently managing four Sidecar-funds (I – IV) which mainly do investments in digital and technology based companies. Investments include companies such as Spotify, Leovegas, Klarna, Fishbrain and Mathem, for the full list please visit this page.
Gumbler (G:loot)
Gumbler (G:loot) is a unique real money e-sports platform that lets gamers of mobile, tablet and PC games compete and win real money against friends and random opponents. G:loot was founded in 2013 in Stockholm with the goal to create an esports company where whoever, whenever can win real money in the skill-based games they already play and love.
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, municipalities 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.
Kwiff
Eaton Gate Gaming is an online gaming start-up founded by Unibet founder Anders Ström. Eaton is the company behind Kwiff, a fast-growing sports-betting and casino app in the UK market. The mission is to re-invent sportsbetting using a fully proprietary and in-house built platform and product. The customer experience is a differentiated intuitive app providing extra incentive to play.
Maison Heinrich
Maison Heinrich holds the exclusive commercial rights to market and sell the spirits brand XANTÉ on the North American market. XANTÉ is an exquisite combination of the sweetness of ripe pears and the intensity of a fine cognac. XANTÉ is one of the top selling super premium liqueurs in the Nordic market. Altia Plc acquired the brand from the Tilander family in 2012 (except for the USA and Canadian export market).
Snusbolaget
Snusbolaget is Scandinavia’s leading and fastest growing online retailer of Snus (“Snuff”). The business concept is to offer a safer choice of enjoyment of nicotine combined with unrivalled convenience in deliveries. The consumption of Snus in other European countries has recently experienced an explosion in demand, driven by consumers requesting healthier alternatives to cigarettes. The company is now accelerating international expansion.
Truecaller
Truecaller 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. No matter if it’s in the beginning of a call, in the middle of a transaction or at the end of a signature.
True Global Ventures
True Global Ventures (“TGV”) is a unique, international, early-stage fund formed by leading technology entrepreneurs-turned-angel- investors. In partnership with family offices in Europe, the United States and China, TGV leverages the personal networks and expertise of its investors to support the next generation of superstar entrepreneurs. The fund is focused on business opportunities built on highly scalable Internet, software and mobile applications.
Varenne
Varenne invests mainly in unlisted entrepreneur-led Nordic growth companies seeking expansion capital as well as a long-term financial co-investor and equity partner in order to continue developing the portfolio companies at a fast pace.
Zound Industries
Based in Stockholm, Sweden, Zound Industries designs, develops, manufactures and market audio products under several brands, including Urbanears and Marshall. With a strong focus on innovative technologies and user centric design the company produces iconic, highly acclaimed and awarded audio products. Zound has also announced a partnership with Adidas, with initial products due to hit the market in 2019.
Exits, examples
Peter F. Heering
World famous alcoholic beverage brand. Acquired by Koninklijke De Kuyper (Holland) in 2017.
TradeExtensions
Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) within sourcing optimization. Acquired by Coupa Software (NASDAQ: COUP) in 2017.
Park Lane Restaurang & Nattklubb
Leading nightclub in Gothenburg. Management Buy-Out in 2016.
Kajskjul 8
Dinner Show Restaurant. Managment Buy-Out in 2016.
HD Resources
Outside Broadcasting (OB), TV-production. Acquired by Neqst in 2012.
The Xanté Company
Leading spirits brand in the Nordics. Acquired by Altia Plc in 2012.
Orc Group
Software and trading systems for the financial markets. Acquired by Nordic Capital in 2012 (exit).
NeoNet
Pioneer in Direct Market Access (DMA) for trading on stock exchanges globally. IPO 2001, acquired by Orc Software 2010 (partial exit)
Sidewalk Express
Pioneer in public Internet terminals and digital signage. Acquired by Speed Services in 2009.
Ark Travel
At the time Sweden’s largest privately owned business travel agency. IPO 1999, acquired by Carlson Wagonlit 2005 (exit).
ITP-Invest
Early VC-fund in Sweden. Management Buy-Out in 2004.
Trevise Bank
Private Banking & Wealth Management. Acquired by Unibank in 1997.
Owell
Trading in IT hardware. IPO 1993, acquired by WM-Data in 1995 (exit).
Contact
Backstage got offices in Gothenburg and Stockholm. Welcome to contact us!
Fredrik Tilander
Managing Director
Primary point of contact
Birger Jarlsgatan 9
SE-111 45 Stockholm, Sweden
Tel: +46 8 517 587 40
Mobile: +46 705 120 230
E-mail: fredrik@tilander.com
Jörgen Tilander
Chairman
Visiting address:
Geijersgatan 1 B
411 34 Gothenburg
Mailing address:
Box 3097
SE-400 10 Gothenburg, Sweden
Tel: +46 31 81 57 10
Mobile: +46 705 90 22 42
E-mail: jorgen@tilander.com