Nordic Makers

Nordic Makers is a distinctive investment collective based in Stockholm, Sweden, comprising a network of experienced founders and operators who invest their personal capital and time into ambitious early-stage companies. Unlike traditional venture capital funds, Nordic Makers operates as a group of individual investors, often referring to their commitment as investing their “children’s money,” underscoring a long-term, personal stake in the success of their portfolio companies. This unique structure allows them to be highly founder-friendly, leveraging their collective operational expertise to support startups beyond mere financial injection.

Their investment strategy is primarily focused on pre-seed and seed-stage rounds, targeting companies that are still in their nascent phases. Nordic Makers typically writes first checks ranging from $100,000 to $500,000, providing crucial early capital that can help founders validate their ideas and achieve initial traction. While they maintain a sector-agnostic approach, they have shown a particular affinity for SaaS, marketplace, and consumer tech businesses. Although based in Stockholm, their investment scope extends globally, with a strong emphasis on nurturing the vibrant startup ecosystem within the Nordic region.

Since its inception in 2016, Nordic Makers has built an impressive portfolio, having made over 60 investments in promising startups. Their portfolio includes well-known Nordic success stories such as Mentimeter, Fishbrain, Detectify, and Truecaller, demonstrating their ability to identify and back companies with significant growth potential. The value proposition of Nordic Makers extends beyond capital, as their members actively engage with founders, offering mentorship, strategic guidance, and access to their extensive networks, thereby acting as true partners in the entrepreneurial journey.