Leading Venture Capital Investment Firms Check Out Swedish Startups at Annual Silicon Valley Summit

Improving Global Investment Climate Brightens Mood as 15 Venture Capital and Corporate Investors Meet 14 Promising Green and High Technology Entrepreneurs

• Press Release
• Source: Invest in Sweden Agency
• On 9:00 am EST, Wednesday November 11, 2009

MENLO PARK, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Fifteen prominent venture capital investment firms met with fourteen Swedish startup companies this week on Silicon Valley’s legendary Sand Hill Road. Organized by the Invest in Sweden Agency (www.isa.se), the second annual conference introduced promising early-stage Swedish technology companies to venture capital firms and corporate investors in Silicon Valley. Participants at the invitation-only event included partners from leading venture capital investors, including Atrium Capital, Advanced Technology Ventures, California Technology Ventures and Draper Fisher Jurvetson, as well as executives from strategic investors, including Applied Materials, General Electric, Intel Capital, Qualcomm Ventures and SAP Ventures.

This year’s delegation of Swedish startups included several that are developing and deploying innovative green technologies. From solar power and microturbines, to mobile fuel cells and fiber optics that capture and transmit natural sunlight for indoor illumination, Swedish companies presented an array of new clean solutions to global energy challenges. Other startup ventures focused on social networking, gaming, encryption security and Internet technologies.

“Coming from a Northern latitude, Swedish entrepreneurs cherish every moment of sunlight. Naturally many unique ideas on harnessing and preserving solar power originate in Sweden,” said Tony Svensson, Executive Director of ISA North America. “Sweden has the lowest CO2 emission of any country in Europe. We organize this conference to bring some enabling technologies to a broader audience, as we learn from and partner with the most experienced investment professionals in the world.”

Investor-Friendly Event Introduces Mature Startups

The ISA conference has gained a reputation as investor-friendly. Participating startups are vetted by ISA and--having already raised series A investment--by professional investors as well. The conference offers participating startups an opportunity to meet with Silicon Valley-based investors that can assist with raising additional financing rounds, while providing the startups with strategic connections and experienced guidance in scaling their businesses.

Swedish venture capital has funded more than 800 new technology ventures and, in the past five years, has achieved nearly 100 exits and IPOs. In explaining the intangible qualities that make venture investment in Sweden so attractive, Don Wood, Managing Director of Draper Fisher Jurvetson, and a conference speaker, said, “The acceptance of risk is very important—I think you have that in Sweden. They celebrate entrepreneurs.”

The ISA conference was held 10 November at the Quadrus Conference Center, 2400 Sand Hill Road, Menlo Park, CA. Additional information can be found at: http://www.isa-northamerica.org/events.html. To obtain more information about this annual event, please contact Maja Svensson, +1 212 702 8780, usa@isa.se.

About Invest in Sweden Agency (ISA)

ISA-North America markets Sweden and its regions, industry clusters, funds and individual businesses to North American companies and investors. ISA’s services are free of charge.

Release Summary:

On 10 November, 14 Swedish high tech startups met on Sand Hill Road for an investment conference to introduce early-stage technology companies to venture capital and strategic investors in Silicon Valley.

Keyword Tags:

investment, startup, venture capital

For ISA
Spencer Horowitz, +1-408-832-9616
spencerh@ieee.org