Salvia

Our investments vary from pre-seed stage and technology spin-offs to us leading a series A (and even series B). We are a diverse team of growth entrepreneurs and investors with an eye for ideas and technology that requires time and courage to build.

We are a conviction-led VC , backing deeptech that serves both humanity and the planet. We partner relentlessly: We understand the sacrifices required to achieve your goals. We are 100% committed to advising and supporting our founders, through good times and bad. We dare to innovate: We tirelessly seek game-changing innovators and new ways to support them. We boldly invest where others fear to tread. We propel positive change: We tirelessly seek game-changing innovators and new ways to support them. We boldly invest where others fear to tread. We provide stellar support for startups and stellar returns for investors.

Since 2006 we’ve backed Yale faculty doing cutting edge research on some of the world’s largest problems. With Yale as our largest investor, we’ve supported teams developing much-needed therapeutics, advanced tools and materials for industry, and critical interventions for a warming planet. Our thesis is that great people and great science lead to great impact. YALE AND NEW HAVEN We are primarily interested in companies with a Yale connection, typically technology developed at and licensed from Yale. We also invest in companies located in the greater New Haven area, and, in exceptional cases, non-Yale/non-New Haven companies in which we have strong, personal connections to the founders or investors or where we can add substantial value. INVESTING IN PEOPLE In making investment decisions, we weigh the strength of the team as much as the technology or markets being addressed – often more. We look for creative thinking, high intelligence, passion, and a deep commitment to working hard for success. Building great businesses takes time and hard work. THERE AT THE START We are interested in investing as early as a good idea comes together, or later, as the team is formed and the business develops. We have been co-founders of a number of our portfolio companies, and find that the most rewarding (and hardest) thing we do. We typically make first investments of $500,000 to $1 million, and, if a company is tracking well, look to invest an additional $2 to $2.5 million over multiple financing rounds. We are happy to syndicate with other investors who share our views and approach to investing.

Our network of venture studios provides the rescue capital, expertise and support that startups need to thrive. Rescue Capital We collaborate with founders and investors to revitalize promising early-stage startups that have not yet reached their potential. We can deploy capital discreetly and within days - then incubate teams in our network of studios for hands-on support. New Venture Creation Our venture studio teams work alongside entrepreneurs and seasoned executives to prototype, validate, seed and launch startups addressing human and planetary needs in various industries. New venture concepts are created in-house and in partnership with universities, investors, and experts. What Makes Us Different Human + Planetary Health: We build and invest in companies that improve human and planetary health – because they’re inextricably linked. A majority of our investments are earthshots, not moonshots. Rescue Capital: We provide capital to good companies facing challenges raising seed and Series A funding in this difficult market. And we do it discreetly. Our team brings decades of venturesome turnaround experience to our portfolio. We co-create and execute winning strategies for long-term value. Collaborative Network: We are the first and only network of venture studios across the U.S. All of our studio teams and portfolio companies collaborate on everything from GTM to hiring and beyond. Patient Capital: Backed by a family office, we understand growth can take time. We can also bring in like-minded family offices and top-tier VCs for subsequent growth capital. Portfolio Ownership: We provide founding team with meaningful equity in both their business and in all studio portfolio companies. Founding teams often receive anti-dilution protection up to Series A funding. Opportunity Zones: Our studios are in economic opportunity zones near research universities and concentrations of talent. This creates tax benefits for founding teams working in our locations.

With over two decades of Australian investment in building capability in research and universities, Australia now enjoys some of the most extraordinary talent and globally leading minds. This talent is creating knowledge and has the capacity of solving some of the big problems of our time but if we can’t take this know-how and intellect into the world, then this brilliance is lost and the opportunity we have will remain just that – an opportunity. As business builders and investors, Significant has been taking up this challenge for nearly two decades. Working in collaboration with universities, researchers and state governments, we, as a collective group have a track record in translating this knowledge bank into technology, into products, into services and ultimately into businesses that: Have become global companies Re-shaped markets Solved sustainability problems Created jobs and New career pathways for Australians Significant has the capacity to create high value niche modern manufacturing industries and exports for Australia and are extremely proud of their achievements. Significant leads by example to show that Australia can commercialise its inventions, that sustainable globally competitive businesses can be created in Australia, and that early-stage investment can create immense value for investors, demonstrating that through action Significant is able to attract more capital to invest in this important space and is be able to shift the mindset (read the AFR article) that Australia is great at innovation but not at execution. Backing Australia Our vision is a country that backs its researchers for the intellectual capital advantage they provide. Our mission is to back this talent, entrepreneurs and innovators to take these ideas and concepts to the world and create its own self-funding eco-system that results in the formation of new industries. Through our 4-way all-encompassing unique eco-system, our university investor partners provide us with access to the ‘very earliest’ investment opportunities possible, opening the door to concepts, ideas and innovations well before other venture capital funds. Our investment approach We invest in applied technologies that address high-impact global niche markets and will bring about social, environmental or economic change. Every potential investment must have a pathway to being a sustainable business and contributing impact to the UN Sustainable Development Goals either through the technology or through their business model. We look for technologies that provide a market advantage that is hard to replicate. They will have emerged either from researchers who have had long well-funded R&D cycles or innovators who have deep domain specialisation in an industry and so know their market problem exceptionally well. We are sector agnostic driven by the thematics that arise from the core capabilities of our partner universities and the innovations we uncover. The accelerators Strong market-fit and early industry engagement are imperative. We seek to accelerate the path to market dramatically by sourcing early adopters to validate the market need and aim to achieve market traction within 12-24 months. Our ability to find these early adopters is a key part of Significant’s initial due diligence.

SmartCap provides cornerstone investments for private fund managers to create a vital venture capital market in Estonia and enable ambitious and innovative Estonian companies to emerge and grow globally SmartCap is a small fund manager established in 2011 operating under an activity licence issued by the Estonian Financial Supervision Authority. SmartCap is a subsidiary of Estonian Business and Innovation Agency (after the merger of Foundation KredEx and Enterprise Estonia from January 2022). SmartCap manages two common closed-end alternative investment funds: SmartCap Venture Capital Fund and SmartCap Green Fund. Both operate as a venture capital fund-of-funds according to their strategy. The sole unitholder of both funds is the Republic of Estonia. SmartCap’s mission is to drive the development and growth of Estonian venture capital market by being a committed cornerstone investor in venture capital funds, addressing identified market gaps and investing through different economic cycles. The Management Board of SmartCap has two members: Sille Pettai and Mari Vavulski. The Supervisory Board has five members: Priit Põldoja (Chairman), Sille Kraam, Aare Järvan, Veiko Hintsov and Mikko-Jussi Suonenlahti. We work towards sustainable future and are devoted to make a conscious impact on various aspects of our society. Our core values are integrated and implemented in our business strategy, management and investment processes, day-to-day operations and interactions with our stakeholders and business partners. The core values are: Strong integrityBeing transparent, trustworthy and open partner to our stakeholders, investors, investees and business partners, as well as with the public; Acting in good faith; Engaging only in ethical, honest and fair business practices; Upholding good reputation and public image; Favouring socially responsible partners, investments and business opportunities. Environmentally-friendly practicesLimiting the impacts of climate change; Practicing responsible resource management; Reducing pollution. Social awarenessBeing mindful of equality, diversity and inclusion at all levels of the society; Caring for the well-being of our employees, the people around us and the society as a whole; Creating a supportive, safe, fair and dignified workplace. Good governanceUsing the best corporate governance, disclosure and reporting practices; Having a transparent ownership and management structure; Applying high standards to internal policies and to the compliance with regulatory requirements; Avoiding conflicts of interest, breaches of confidentiality or any other transgressions; We are a member of the Estonian Private Equity and Venture Capital Association (EstVCA) and follow its openness and transparency guidelines. SmartCap is also part of Invest Europe network – the world’s largest association of private capital providers that represents Europe’s private equity, venture capital and infrastructure investment firms, as well as their investors. Investment strategyWhy we invest? We aim to be a committed partner for private fund managers to develop Estonian venture capital market and modernise Estonian economy. Where we invest? We invest into both generalist and industry specific venture capital funds with a strong focus towards Estonian innovative early-stage research and technology-intensive enterprises with strong international growth potential. How we invest? We make cornerstone investments into venture capital funds hand-in-hand and on equal terms with private investors. Steps towards investmentSmartCap publishes a Call for Expressions of Interest. The Call offers investment solutions that are currently not available on the market or focusing on identified market deficiencies. As a cornerstone investor we lower the entry barrier to the venture capital market for private investors. Private fund manager is selected at the Call to establish a new fund. Fund manager is selected based on their investment proposal, team profile and competences. Our investment decisions are made on market terms and based on market needs. Newly established fund makes direct investments into underlying companies. The new fund will be making investment decisions independently based on the Call's objective and the fund's investment strategy. Our operating principles are:Impact: Our aim is to develop Estonian venture capital market as well as to contribute to Estonian economic growth. Profitability: Our aim is to be self-sustainable and to earn market level long-term investment income for the shareholder/state. Operation on market conform terms: Each investment is made hand-in-hand and on equal terms with a private investor or investors. Responsibility in day-to-day operations: We address and promote responsible principles in our operations. SmartCap has been awarded with Silver Level in Responsible Business Assessment Index.