NEW MEMBER: Nordic Science Investments joins EstVCA

We are excited to announce that Nordic Science Investments, an early-stage venture fund advancing research-empowered entrepreneurship across the New Nordics, has joined EstVCA as a new member!

Launched in February 2024, the fund has currently invested in 19 spinouts and startups, working at the crossroads of scientific disciplines and emerging technology, transforming frontier research into scalable, globally competitive companies.

Madis Lehtmets, Managing Director at EstVCA: “Nordic Science Investments is an excellent addition to the EstVCA community, enriching it with valuable knowledge and experience from the science-based innovation field. As EstVCA has become increasingly outward-looking, building relationships across Europe and beyond is more important than ever. Having a new member with a strong Nordic presence and partner-level connections adds significant value to our network.”

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Originally published on 27 Oct

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EXIT: Trind Ventures’ portfolio company Tise has been acquired by eBay

eBay, a global commerce leader that connects millions of buyers and sellers worldwide, has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Trind Ventures’ portfolio company, Tise – a consumer-to-consumer (C2C) social marketplace headquartered in Oslo, Norway.

The acquisition will strengthen eBay’s global proposition in C2C, building on the significant momentum it has made in elevating the customer experience. Tise’s social-first, highly intuitive platform will open the door to a vibrant community of Gen Z and Millennial enthusiasts who continue to drive demand across categories.

Oliver Klinck, VP, GM Global Markets Success & C2C at eBay: “This acquisition is a natural next step in our investment in Tise, which will allow us to accelerate Tise’s strategy and unlock new opportunities for innovation. With Tise’s on-trend inventory, loyal community, and social-first approach, we’ll strengthen eBay’s C2C offerings and more deeply connect with the next generation of enthusiasts.”

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Originally published on 25 Sep

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Karma Ventures participates in DRUID AI’s $31M Series C funding round

DRUID AI has secured $31 million in a Series C funding round, led by Cipio Partners, with participation from TQ Ventures, Karma Ventures, Smedvig, and Hoxton Ventures. The funding will advance DRUID AI’s mission to empower companies to create, manage, and orchestrate conversational AI agents, and will be used to accelerate the global expansion of its enterprise-ready agentic AI platform under the leadership of its new CEO, Joseph Kim.

“This investment is both a testament to DRUID AI’s success and a catalyst to elevate businesses globally through the power of agentic AI,” said Kim. “Customer success is what it’s all about, and delivering real business outcomes requires understanding companies’ pain points and introducing innovations that help those customers address their complex challenges. That’s the DRUID AI way, and now we’re bringing it to the world through this new phase of global growth.”

In 2024, DRUID AI grew ARR 2.7x year-over-year. Its award-winning platform has powered more than 1 billion conversations across thousands of agents. In addition, the DRUID AI global partner ecosystem has attracted industry giants Microsoft, Genpact, Cognizant, and Accenture.

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Originally published on 16 Sep

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Plural leads Teton.ai’s $20M Series A round

Teton.ai, a Danish predictive intelligence company that uses proprietary AI and computer vision technology to provide predictive care for older people, has raised $20 million in a funding round led by Plural. Other participants in the round include Bertelsmann Investments, Antler Elevate, and Nebular, with follow-on investment from PSV Tech. The funding round will be used to launch nationwide in the United States, deepen its operations across Europe, and continue to push the boundaries of predictive AI in care.

“Teton is at the cutting edge of a much-needed transformation in healthcare,” said Taavet Hinrikus, Partner at Plural. “Within a short time, its technology is already reducing costs and resource needs while achieving the most important thing – improved health outcomes. It’s a complete game-changer for owners, operators, caregivers, families, and residents. The strength of Teton’s team and technology means it’s set to become the market leader as it solves a huge global problem.”

According to the company, healthcare, particularly senior care, faces systemic and urgent challenges. Populations are aging, and comorbidities are increasing. Care staff are over-burdened and exiting the industry at higher rates than ever. Costs are already steep and rising. Teton looks to bridge the gap between care needs and care capacity, enabling wider access to premium care for ordinary families and their loved ones.

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Originally published on 9 Sep

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