Backstage AB

What is Backstage AB?

Backstage AB is a Swedish family-owned and financed venture capital firm, which specializes in direct investments in unlisted Scandinavian entrepreneurial companies, targeting those that are in their scale-up phase. It is managed by the Tilander family and tends to focus on proven entrepreneurs with a track of growing revenues and strong traction, usually beyond the early stage phase.

Backstage AB leverages its investment to create value by contributing knowledge and contacts in business development, strategy, financing, marketing, and international expansion.

Their broad investment approach encompasses several industries including software, IT and TMT, hardware and manufacturing, as well as logistics and distribution. Backstage AB is committed to not only providing capital but also bringing extensive experience and a supportive network to their portfolio companies.

With a minimum and maximum investment of 2,000,000, the firm primarily engages in equity investments specializing in seed, startup, and early stage ventures. The firm’s investment philosophy is encapsulated by the 'Six Pillars of T' which include Team, Track-record, Traction, Timing, Tech, and Trajectory. They prefer to co-invest with other private investors or VC-funds and are open to long-term investments as well as timely exits.

The firm prides itself on investing and managing their funds directly without intermediaries. Their portfolio includes companies in various sectors such as digital entertainment, medical data platforms, IP protection, digital transactions, energy optimization, e-commerce for risk-reduced alternatives, financial technology, and more.

Noteworthy exits include 24Storage's IPO and subsequent acquisition, aPPRL's acquisition by Klarna, and the sale of Peter F. Heering.

The firm's success is rooted in a set of principles that prioritize talented people, fast execution after deals, and trusting one's intuition among others.