Amsterdam, September 20, 2022: Rockstart, global early-stage investor and accelerator, announces the launch of its new fund - Rockstart Emerging Tech to fund early stage emerging technology startups and ideas that tackle urgent societal problems through tech-enabled solutions. The fund targets a close at €30m and plans to invest in up to 50 startups over the next ten years. The fund is backed by Vækstfonden (Danish Sovereign Wealth Fund), the family office De Hoge Dennen, several tech entrepreneurs, Rockstart alumni founders, and other informal investors.
Rockstart Emerging Tech is Rockstart’s third fund and is being launched after Rockstart AgriFood in 2019 (closed in 2021 at €22m) and Rockstart Energy in 2020 (closed in 2022 at €27m). Rockstart Emerging Tech is focused primarily on segments such as Industry 4.0 & Advanced Analytics, Smart Societies, Digital Health, Data Privacy/Security, and more general applications proposing solutions for positive change. In terms of specific technologies, Rockstart Emerging Tech is looking to invest in software startups innovating in ML/AI, Computer Vision, web3 & blockchain, IoT & Edge Computing, Biometrics, Geospatial tech, and Additive Manufacturing.
The Rockstart Emerging Tech fund will be investing in technology startups with a purpose-driven agenda to maximize impact in the future. Rockstart has the experience and track record of supporting tech founders to scale locally, regionally, and globally and providing access to market and capital partners at all stages. With Rockstart Emerging Tech, we are expanding on the strategy we set out in 2012.Rune Theill, CEO and Co-Founder, Rockstart
There is a great need for talented and passionate startup teams to solve today’s important challenges. With the new Rockstart Emerging Tech fund, we expand the areas in which Rockstart can support such founders and teams in their endeavors to craft and scale businesses. We aim to establish close ties with the entrepreneurs we invest in - all the way from our pre-seed investment and the acceleration program and onwards to co-investments up to potential Series B rounds. We are very proud of the investors backing us to launch this fund and of the continued trust organizations such as Vækstfonden and De Hoge Dennen placed in Rockstart enabling us to deliver on our mission.Michael Bjørnlund, Managing Partner Emerging Tech, Rockstart
Denmark is known as one of the most digitalized countries in the world. This position was, among others, created by skilled entrepreneurs bringing new solutions to the market. Our investment in Rockstart Emerging Tech is a contribution to this exact agenda. Vækstfonden, the sovereign investment fund of Denmark, is looking at a clear opportunity to scale and develop more early-stage startups that help solve societal challenges through new digital solutions. Rockstart has showcased their worth in Denmark through the Rockstart AgriFood fund already, and we are happy to be part of yet another partnership.Lars Nordal Jensen, Early Stage Director, Vækstfonden
The first investments from Rockstart Emerging Tech have already been identified and selected startups began the Rockstart accelerator program at the end of August. The Rockstart programs are domain-focused, tailor-made programs designed to rapidly take early stage startups from MVP to scaling. The programs run twice per year, in spring and fall. After the program, Rockstart continues to co-invest in its portfolio companies and can participate up to Series B rounds.
Rockstart is on a mission to empower purpose-driven founders to drive positive change at a global scale. The company has invested in more than 60 agrifood and energy startups from its first two funds across Europe, Asia, and the US. Rockstart has leading organizations as LPs in its funds such as the Danish Sovereign Wealth Fund, family offices like Hoge Dennen, corporates such as Arla and Eneco, and has co-invested over the years alongside Astanor, AgFunder, Accel, SET Ventures, Forward Ventures, and tens of informal investors and entrepreneurs.
Startups can apply to Rockstart Emerging Tech via the website at rockstart.com/emerging-tech
About Rockstart
Rockstart is an early stage investor that empowers purpose-driven founders across three domains: Energy, AgriFood, and Emerging Technologies.
Rockstart invests in early-stage startups from each of the three funds and provides access to capital, market, and expertise by connecting founders with co-investors, mentors, partners, corporates, and the wider Rockstart network.
Rockstart has invested in more than 350 startups and its alumni value to date is more than €1.6bn. Rockstart is an international team of 45+ professionals dedicated to empowering purpose-driven founders to become scalable and drive positive change on a global scale. Rockstart has notable exits such asWercker, Dan.com, Hubs.Com, Bouw7, iClinic, and s and Brincr. The company has offices in Amsterdam, Copenhagen, and Bogota.
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