Stockholm’s EQT Progress closes $2.2B to fund scaling European startups like Vinted, Mambu and Epidemic Sound • TechCrunch

The times of European startups relocating to the U.S. in the event that they wish to develop (and lift cash to take action) have been receding within the rearview mirror for some time now, a lot in order that even in these leaner occasions — the place all fundraising and tech bets are tightening up — we’re nonetheless seeing some vital cash and optimism getting channeled into later-stage companies. Within the newest growth, EQT — the non-public fairness and enterprise agency primarily based out of Stockholm — is saying that it has closed a €2.2 billion ($2.2 billion) fund for EQT Progress, which will probably be utilizing for investing in European and Israeli founders and startups in areas like enterprise, shopper, well being, and local weather tech, with typical rounds ranging between €50 million and €200 million.

EQT companion Carolina Brochado stated in an interview that the fund was first opened in 2021 and that the corporate has made seven investments out of it already since then. Over two-thirds of that capital remains to be out there.

That is the primary fund EQT Progress has raised particularly for tech investments, Brochado added, and it stands as one of many greatest first-time development funds in Europe thus far.

These are notable particulars not simply due to the present, constricted funding local weather, however as a result of Europe has really been a minority participant within the growth-funding story on this area. Investments in European startups stood at $20 billion in 2017 and ballooned to greater than $100 billion by 2021 — with larger, later-stage rounds accounting for a bulk of that enhance. However inside that European traders accounted for simply 30% of development spherical funds by worth. (These figures, by the way, come from Atomico, Brochado’s earlier dwelling and likewise a stalwart of European-based funding for home-grown startups.)

among the greatest names in development funding and their actions in Europe, there certainly does appear to be a vacuum out there for the time being, offering fascinating alternatives for these keen to step up.

SoftBank and its mighty Imaginative and prescient Fund made a giant play in Europe a number of years in the past, out of places of work in London, however it’s additionally seen plenty of bum bets amongst them, and this yr the dangerous information has compounded, with the agency reporting huge losses, resulting in downsizing and restructuring to shore up investor confidence. One other agency, Tiger International, noticed the worth of its flagship fund fall 50%, and its long-term bets fund by practically 64%, within the first half of this yr. Each companies are nonetheless energetic in Europe, however focusing extra on smaller, earlier stage rounds.

(It’s not solely a “go massive or go dwelling” story although: simply final week, Thoma Bravo announced an expanded presence in Europe with a brand new workplace in London. The agency final yr disclosed it was elevating its personal $3 billion debut development fund, which has but to be closed.)

The truth that cash will not be flowing fairly as freely because it did beforehand raises some fascinating questions on how folks will regard the capital that is there for the investing. EQT has previously made it clear that it’s not working with these tied to Russia however has been comparatively quiet past that.

With the funding being introduced at the moment, Brochado wouldn’t be drawn out on particulars concerning EQT’s restricted companions on this €2.2 billion fund besides to say that it’s coming from “institutional LPs, very giant pension funds, sovereign wealth funds and household places of work” typically from Europe, Asia, North America and the Center East. Sovereign wealth funds could be enjoying a giant half right here: they’ve extra typically been proving to be robust forces in offsetting present declines, betting when the market is low, with the Saudi state fund just lately investing some $7 billion in U.S. shares; and Norway’s sovereign wealth fund, at present the most important on this planet,  additionally nonetheless looking bullish.)

There was a time, earlier than the present downturn, when speak targeted on whether or not startups must be extra selective in regards to the origins of the funding on its cap desk. With capital much less straightforward to come back by at the moment, the ship could have sailed for that sort of scrutiny (at the very least for now). Or ideally companies are themselves scrutinizing sources greater than earlier than. Brochado stated that startups have requested questions on these particulars and they’re disclosed in these instances, however that the solutions have by no means killed a deal.

By way of what classes are attracting curiosity for investing, the secret continues to be alternatives for probably realizing large scale. Among the investments which have already been made out of the fund embody the music catalogue large Epidemic Sound, embedded finance juggernaut Mambu and second-hand items platform Vinted, all engaged on constructing tech for companies which are arguably extra “recession-proof” than some others which may focus extra on customers or enterprises shopping for nice-to-have moderately than must-have items and companies. On its aspect, EQT makes use of a proprietary AI-based funding platform referred to as Motherbrain to assist consider potential offers.

Brochado famous that the truth that some traders are rationalizing or downsizing their investments signifies that EQT has the chance to do some secondary purchases, however by and enormous it’s coming into offers as a major investor. The truth that the IPO market very a lot stays closed for the second provides an organization like EQT a foot within the door for offering finance to corporations which may have in any other case checked out that sort of exit, both to place themselves as consolidators, or just to maintain scaling on their very own steam, at a time when cash is more durable to come back by, and thus needing to be handled extra rigorously than earlier than.

“I feel the best way that we’re making an attempt to assist entrepreneurs, who’re typically youthful than 35, is to information them by the cycle. To navigate by, for instance, what the price of capital means when there’s a recession coming. How do you reap the benefits of it? It may be a fantastic place to have a ton of money on the steadiness sheet.”