Danske Vækstkapital IV has successfully completed its first fundraising round, securing approximately DKK 1.7 billion from a mix of leading Danish organisations, companies, funds, and selected high-net-worth individuals. The fund aims to provide risk capital to entrepreneurs and growth companies while generating attractive returns for investors, with additional capital expected to be raised over the next 12 months. The first investments are anticipated to be closed in the near future.
Key initial investors include EIFO (the Export and Investment Fund of Denmark), Dansk Industri, ATP, Danica, and DTU’s subsidiary PSV Foundry, among others, forming the backbone of Danske Vækstkapital IV. Selected high-net-worth individuals from Danske Bank have also committed through a special fund established for this purpose. Casper Bruyant Bonde, Head of Illiquid Alternatives at Danske Bank Asset Management, highlighted that this first fundraising is just the starting point, with plans to expand investor participation over the coming year.
Danske Vækstkapital IV consists of three fund modules designed to provide exposure to a broad portfolio of unlisted start-ups and growth companies at various development stages, primarily in Denmark and the wider Nordic region. The modules focus on venture funds, buyout funds, and carefully selected individual companies, including co-investments alongside buyout funds. This structure allows investors to tailor their exposure according to their preferences, with EIFO focusing on the venture module and other investors prioritizing buyout investments.
Dansk Industri emphasized that its investment seeks both attractive returns and the promotion of risk capital for entrepreneurship in Denmark, highlighting the importance of initiative and innovation for future growth. Similarly, EIFO underscored that long-term risk capital, such as that provided by Danske Vækstkapital IV, is critical for fostering growth and job creation within Danish businesses.
The fund is expected to invest in selected technology and life sciences ventures, with a promising pipeline of potential investment opportunities. Investors should note that investments in Danske Vækstkapital IV are high-risk, illiquid, and require a long-term horizon. Managed by an experienced team at Danske Private Equity, the fund builds on the legacy of the first three Danske Vækstkapital funds, which collectively attracted around DKK 9.4 billion in commitments and significantly supported the Danish start-up and growth ecosystem since 2011.
