Scientifica

The NATO Innovation Fund (NIF) was created to supercharge the Alliance’s unique innovation ecosystems. Allied talent and research in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) are world-leading, but the market to support deep tech innovation is underfunded. With the NIF, we are creating a commercialisation machine in both the private and public sectors, backing innovators to secure the future for the Alliance's 1 billion citizens. Focus The NIF is a standalone EUR 1 billion venture capital fund supporting ambitious founders developing emerging and disruptive technologies. For us, high-impact verticals include artificial intelligence (AI), biotechnology, energy & propulsion, manufacturing, and space. We are passionate about autonomy, hypersonics, new materials and quantum, and want to shore up cutting-edge hardware and software. Rallying around NATO’s Emerging and Disruptive Technologies (EDTs), our focus will evolve in parallel with today’s rapid innovation environment. Artificial Intelligence (AI) Autonomy Quantum Biotechnologies Hypersonic Systems Space Novel Materials & Manufacturing Energy & Propulsion Next-Generation Communications Objectives With a long-term view, the NIF enables transformative technologies with the potential to shape our security for decades to come. Our mission is an essential one, and it holds us to seeking out cutting-edge developments that solve NATO's challenges through adoption in defence and security markets; bolstering the capacities of Allied innovation ecosystems; and ultimately driving the scale and success of our portfolio.

Investment arm of Enterprise Singapore, nurturing Singapore-based tech startups with intellectual property and global market potential. SEEDS Capital was founded in 2001 to foster entrepreneurship in Singapore when the technology and startup ecosystem was nascent. Today, Singapore is ranked first in Asia and seventh globally in Startup Blink’s Global Startup Ecosystem Index 2022. SEEDS is one of the most active investors in Singapore according to Tech In Asia. As the investment arm of Enterprise Singapore, SEEDS catalyses private sector investments into Singapore-based, early-stage technology startups that are pioneering scientific and engineering solutions. We co-invest with institutional investors such as venture capital funds (VCs), corporate venture capital arms (CVCs) and family offices in innovative startups with strong intellectual content and global market potential. As early-stage investors, we invest in the first and second institutional rounds of technology startups. Our focus sectors are Advanced Manufacturing & Engineering, Health & Biomedical Sciences and Urban Solutions & Sustainability. We also look at emerging areas such as Agri-tech, Artificial Intelligence, Blockchain, Quantum and Space Technologies. Post-investment, we leverage Enterprise Singapore’s network across industries and global overseas centres to add value to our portfolio companies. Since 2017, we have deployed more than S$220 million and stimulated more than S$950 million of private sector investments into more than 160 companies. Learn more about our co-investment partners and portfolio startups.

LiquidMetal Ventures is a newly established venture capital fund based in Boston, aiming at investing in early-stage (Seed, Angel, and pre-A round) in a minority group, particularly deep-tech startups. LiquidMetal Ventures is based on deep-tech start-up communities and has a unique advantage in reaching out to ‘off-the-market’ early-stage deals and cooperating with peer VC funds tightly to reduce the risk, overall a high return could be expected. LiquidMetal Ventures focuses on biotech and healthcare, carbon neutrality, AI and data, infrastructure, and consumer tech. There is a huge tide of startups among Boston entrepreneurs in the US on the way. We would like to be the first to check VC with the founders. Investment FocusBioTech Medical Device Sustainability AI & Data Science Advanced Energy Technology Robotics & Advanced Manufacturing

Navigare Ventures is an early-stage investor specialized in science-driven companies. Through our investments, we strengthen the industrial and societal impact of research, as well as the long-term financial capacity of our owners, Wallenberg Investments AB. Our core investment themes within deep tech are underpinned by our knowledge and network in a number of scientific fields and industries. These include advanced computing and quantum technologies, synthetic biology and bio innovation, advanced materials and nano technology as well as data-driven life science. We are long term investors - Seed and Series A and beyond - and form deep and lasting partnerships with founders and entrepreneurs. Our extensive industrial and scientific networks gives us the opportunity to provide capital, network, and know-how to transform promising science start-ups into successful companies. Who we are Navigare Ventures, based in Stockholm, is a fully owned subsidiary of Wallenberg Investments AB. We are a team of scientists, industrialists and entrepreneurs who understand the challenges of turning cutting-edge technologies to successful ventures. As part of the Wallenberg ecosystem, our returns fuel the next generation of scientific advancement through research funding from the Wallenberg Foundations to Swedish universities. What we are looking for We partner with experienced entrepreneurial teams that combine scientific excellence with strong business acumen. In this respect, your company should have a unique offering based on a profound understanding of your scientific or technological field and its market and industrial environment. You should also be capable of demonstrating the viability and commercial potential of your product by engaging with real customers. You are raising capital to scale the R&D, production, marketing, and sales capabilities of your company. Our investment philosophy We only invest in companies we understand. While this is an important general principle in any investment activity, it is even more important when making early-stage investments in new technology. If we don’t understand your science, we won’t understand what experts tell us about the value chain and how it works, or what the competitive landscape looks like. And most importantly, we won’t be able to help you develop your strategy and navigate through the challenges of deep-tech start-ups. So, when preparing a meeting with us, don’t put too much emphasis on future revenue projections. That’s important too, in due time. But first, be prepared for long sessions in front of a whiteboard, explaining to us how your material, algorithm, or antibody functions. We don’t need to understand all the equations, but we need to get the heuristics. We are scientists at heart, eager to learn, and we carry a deep conviction that the world is fundamentally understandable. Core investment themesAdvanced computing and quantum technologies: Digitization and automation deepens in industry and society, driven by breakthroughs in computing and AI. Our focus includes improving existing technologies as well as finding completely new platforms in AI and other areas of applied mathematics as well as in novel computer architectures, communication technology, hardware and design. Synthetic biology and bio innovation: Synthetic biology and bio innovations contribute to a more sustainable society. Companies in this field often combine principles of biology, engineering, and computer science for the development of new biological products and manufacturing methods. Advanced materials and nano technology: New materials and nanoscale technology enable disruptions with the potential to benefit numerous existing industries. From quantum materials to biomaterials and biologically inspired nanostructures, we look for the most promising technology platforms in the field. Data-driven life science: Combining digital technology and data with life science drives scientific understanding and enables novel products. Our focus is on data-driven methods to increase personalization and precision of medical interventions, accelerate product development, digitalize care among other advancements.

CDL has designed a new approach to enterprising research and innovation, nurturing an entrepreneurial mindset through expert opinion, funding opportunities, research analysis, and business development support. CDL’s objective-setting process enhances the performance of technical founders who learn from the insights of experienced entrepreneurs, increasing their probability of success. The Program involves:Mentorship from select entrepreneurs and angel investors: the Fellows and Associates Intensive full-day sessions with the CDL Mentors take place every eight weeks with the purpose of assessing progress and setting new short-term objectives. Fellows and Associates provide professional judgment (entrepreneurial knowledge) to help guide CDL Ventures and prioritize actions. The program is designed for early-stage, science-based technology companies, though we consider all applicants based on their potential to scale and the viability of their product. CDL’s objective-setting process enhances the performance of technical founders who learn from the insights of experienced entrepreneurs, increasing their probability of success. Opportunities to raise capital CDL Mentors are made up of a carefully selected group of exited entrepreneurs, angel investors, and partners from leading venture capital firms. These participants often invest in ventures that demonstrate a track record of achieving their objectives. Advice on technology roadmaps from CDL’s Chief Scientists World-renowned experts from leading academic institutions provide technical feedback to founders and advise the Fellows and Associates on objectives related to technology validation. Business development support from top students Business school students work to support ventures including developing financial models, evaluating potential markets, and fine-tuning strategies for scaling. Twelve locations globally CDL operates five sites in Canada, three in the United States and four in Europe. Launched in 2012 at the Rotman School of Management at University of Toronto, the program has now expanded with locations in Oxford (Saïd Business School, University of Oxford), Paris (HEC Paris), Atlanta (Scheller College of Business, Georgia Institute of Technology), Madison (Wisconsin School of Business, University of Wisconsin-Madison), Seattle (University of Washington, Foster School of Business), Berlin (European School of Management and Technology), Tartu (Delta Management School, University of Tartu), Vancouver (Sauder School of Business, University of British Columbia), Montreal (HEC Montréal), Calgary (Haskayne School of Business, University of Calgary), and Halifax (Rowe School of Business, Dalhousie University).

Our planet is facing a multitude of urgent challenges; from climate change, dwindling natural resources and rapid urbanisation, to a growing demand for accessible healthcare. These pressing issues call for innovative and sustainable solutions that only scientific advancements can provide. Deep Science as an Asset Class.We invest in scientific breakthroughs that together advance human capability and create financial returns. We’re looking for: Entirely new technologies developed from fundamental research IP-rich innovations with competitive defensibility Solutions to real problems in Life Sciences, Advanced Materials, TechBio, Photonics and Quantum Hardware, Robotics and Automation, AgChem/Tech and DeepTech We offer portfolio exposure to deep science investments supported by a best-in-class due diligence process conducted by experienced entrepreneurs, operators, investors and scientists Investing with Empirical Ventures. ACCESS: leading pre-seed and seed rounds by leveraging our market-leading due diligence and domain expertise, opening doors to the best deals and co-investors SELECTION: our robust, highly selective process identifies cutting-edge scientific advances from the UK R&D landscape with the most compelling commercial opportunities SCALE: Our track record presents unparalleled opportunities to scale our portfolio companies and attract the best follow-on investors and talent POSITION: Our approach increases the probability of reaching Series A, a key inflection point for pre-seed and seed investors.