SK

About

Our portfolio includes private equity, real assets, and impact-driven projects. We are committed to building sustainable, resilient solutions that drive financial growth as well as positive societal outcomes.

  • Scale: Great solutions work on several levels. Whether tackling large-scale challenges or finessing tiny details, every decision must contribute to long-term value. For us, scale is about understanding the big picture, as well as the smaller steps that make it a reality.

  • Curiosity: Curiosity sparks everything else. We explore new ideas and ask questions that push us beyond the obvious. This helps uncover hidden opportunities and drive deeper, more meaningful change.

  • Courage: Progress doesn’t happen by playing it safe. Real impact requires bold action. It involves calculated risks and the courage to embrace new possibilities in the unknown. We approach each investment with confidence. Challenges are opportunities in disguise.

  • Connection: Real progress happens when people work together. Collaboration is key to achieving long-term success, and we prioritise building strong relationships with our partners, teams, and the communities we invest in. Our approach goes beyond capital. It’s about connecting people and ideas – that’s where meaningful outcomes are born.

The origin story

Skaala’s story is rooted in 2005 when Taavet Hinrikus was busy building Skype as its first employee. To manage his early startup investments, he created a holding company. Those few ventures soon expanded into a portfolio of dozens, driven by Taavet’s curiosity and his passion for supporting other founders.

After departing Skype, in 2010 Taavet co-founded Wise (then known as TransferWise). The company gained rapid momentum by making money transfers fast and affordable. Wise went public in 2021, becoming not just Europe’s first-ever direct listing, but also the largest tech IPO in UK history.

Meanwhile, his friend and former Skype colleague, Sten Tamkivi, launched Teleport, which made it easier for individuals and teams to move around globally. Teleport’s success eventually led to its acquisition by Topia.

In 2021, Taavet and Sten joined forces to launch Taavet+Sten, an investment platform rooted in their shared mission to create meaningful, lasting impact.

In 2022, alongside three other partners, they co-founded Plural, a venture fund for Europe’s most ambitious tech founders. It quickly became their main channel for VC investments, supporting startups poised for significant growth and positive change. Today, both Taavet and Sten focus most of their day to day efforts on Plural.

Since late 2024, Taavet+Sten operates under a new name, Skaala. It has evolved into an independent investment company that spans diverse asset classes and impact-driven projects. Built on insights gained from the founders’ past endeavours, Skaala fosters systemic change through solutions that last.

Skaala is led by a team of four partners: Kristina (CEO), Martin (CLO), and Taavet and Sten. Day-to-day operations are managed by Kristina, Martin, and a dedicated team of ten. Taavet and Sten focus primarily on Plural.

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