Scalefund, the Belgian danger capital fund, and launched the third fund, Scalefund III, with an preliminary closing of 12 million EUR and a goal measurement of 30 million euros. The fund helps expertise -based firms in digital, Cleantech and Deeptech transformation, whereas passing past the beginning part and are making ready for a sustainable progress.
Claire Munck, founder and management accomplice, is within the middle of Scalefund’s journey. Its sensible imaginative and prescient and method have formed the distinctive id of the fund. With nearly 25 years of expertise within the incipient danger capital and beginning ecosystems, Claire additionally serves as CEO Al Beangels, the biggest and most lively group of Angel buyers in Belgium. His management (European Enterprise Angel Community) and Gobeyond (the European Enterprise Angel Community (European Enterprise Angel Community.
“With over 20 years of expertise within the incipient danger capital and begin ecosystems, I additionally work as CEO of Beangels. I’ve an entrepreneurial mentality and I like the promising initiatives. After serving within the counseling councils of quite a few startups and on a scale, they create a selected knowledgeable,” Munck Munck Tfn.
Claire’s dedication to range and the creation of worth are mirrored within the fund’s data: on the time of investments, 40% of the Scalefund I & II portfolio was based, co-founded or led by girls far above the European common for danger capital.
I talked completely with Claire Munck, Scalefund’s management accomplice, to search out out extra in regards to the distinctive imaginative and prescient, group and method. Here is what he shared.
Strategy to the financing hole with lively help
Scalefund III addresses a important market hole for firms which have handed past the preliminary beginning part, however will not be but prepared for the large rounds of the sequence A. Whereas these firms typically present a robust consumer traction, many are struggling to increase sustainably. The fund will put money into 15 to 20 firms, focusing primarily on the A-Collection A Collection levels, whereas reserving capital for seed investments run by sequence entrepreneurs and monitoring financing in current portfolio firms.
The funding method to Scalefund focuses on a hands-on mannequin, based mostly on partnership. The fund gives capital, strategic steering, operational assist and entry to a sturdy community of over 550 buyers, danger companions and stage administrators, together with shut hyperlinks with Beangels.
Customs Munck Tfn“Because the launch of Fund I in 2017, we all know that greater than cash is required to assist the startups attain their subsequent progress part. Actuality isn’t just a spherical of seeds, a RUND VC, after which the output. Extra spherical Often, generally used to typical.
She added: “We’re one of many few funds organized and able to taking an investor place at this stage, with a vital position within the diligence and structuring of transactions. We’re Fingers-on, all the time taking council locations and constructing shut relations, supporting with the founders of the primary day.
A group of scalefund constructed for the creation of values
Claire works alongside a devoted group, together with Gauthier Van der Elst, a accomplice, whose fund in danger capital, merger and acquisition, and monetary administration brings priceless experience from investments to exit. Gauthier’s profession stretches to the roles at CBC Banque & Assurance, Pwc Luxembourg and Solvay, the place he contributed to post-army integration efforts.
Each administrators, Thomas Pav and Paul Risopoulos, full the group with their entrepreneurial and transactional experience. Collectively, they supply hand-on assist and strategic steering, guaranteeing that portfolio firms obtain the eye and sources to prosper.
“With the opposite two members of our group, we’ve got a mix of entrepreneurial and transactional experience,” says Munck.
Scalefund is engaged in range and inclusion. The funding committee consists of three girls from seven members, and 40% of the fund’s investments have been in firms run or co-conded by girls a big achievement within the panorama of the European danger capital.
Focus of investments and market place
Scalefund III primarily focuses on digital, Deeptech and Cleantech transformation, with a geographical accent on Benelux and France. The fund is distinguished by its capability to run funding rounds, hands-on assist and its community high quality.
“The digital transformation, Deeptech and Cleantech, with a main geographical accent on Benelux and France,” Munck shares. “We’ve acquired over 250 requests within the final three months and we progress effectively with a few of them.”
Scalefund normally leads rounds with funding tickets between 100,000 and 1 million EUR, aiming to supply on common 500,000 euros as a primary funding, with a monitoring capability for larger participation in subsequent rounds.
Scalefund III is distinguished by its administration capability in seeds to grab the A sequence levels, Fingers-on assist and robust community. The ambassador of its founders strengthens the status of the fund, as a result of a few of them have invested a confirmed file of the funding and exit expertise.
“As talked about above: the flexibility to take over within the seed of sequence A, Fingers-on assist, community high quality, entry to over 600 individuals to speed up industrial growth or to determine the member of the suitable board of administrators, the market status and, specifically, our ambassadorization from our founders (two of them).
Scalefund III: Constructing on a confirmed trackout
Scalefund III is predicated on the success of two earlier funds: Scalefund I (EUR 2.5 million) and Scalefund II (EUR 10 million). These funds have invested in firms akin to Wooclap (Belgium – Edtech), Moonbird (Belgium – Halthech), Resortecs (Belgium – Round Textiles), Passbolt (Luxembourg – Cibersecurita) and Wegrow (France – B2B Software program), demonstrating a large geographical amplitude. Portfolio firms obtain capital and strategic ideas, entry to an enormous community and assist tailored throughout their progress journey.
Bart Steukers, CEO of Agoria: “With this funding, we full a key hole within the financing panorama and strengthen our dedication to the ecosystem of Belgian expertise. The fund is completely aligned with our initiatives, akin to Flanders Scaleup and Brussels.”
Wim Peeters, investor in Scalefund III and former VP of enterprise growth at Ecovadis: “It’s enjoyable to share some capital and expertise with” younger wolves “, however once more, their contemporary concepts and concepts enrich my very own expertise. We’ve invested in Scalefund III, as a result of I believe we’ve got an appropriate combine of experience to assist younger founders develop sooner and create a worth above the investor 12 months. “
Olivier Verdin, co-founder of Appptweak, Wooclap and 87 seconds: “Too many sturdy startups have hit a wall after their first spherical of financing. They’ve a product market match, however they don’t have any expertise in constructing constructions for a sustainable progress. Scalefund brings extra money.
François Toche, former CEO and CPTO al Cluepoints (bought by EQT in 2024): “Scalefund is for the founders who’re searching for buyers that contribute quite than observing. As somebody as soon as informed me, it’s not checked, it contributes.”