Investments
Funds
Frumtak I
Frumtak was founded December 23rd. 2008. The objective was to invest in early stage growth companies that were post seed and had growth potential. This would result in leading companies that could deliver a good return to investors.
At the close of Frumtak‘s investment period on December 31st. 2012, the fund had invested in fifteen companies with nine investments still active. The remainder of lifetime of the fund is used to follow on investments and divest assets.
The board of Frumtak appoints a special seven man investment committee. Its role is to further define the funds investment criteria within the fund‘s bylaws and shareholder agreement.It deals with interpretation of the shareholder agreement or any other issues that could stem from conflict of interest. The committee does not discuss individual investments.
Board of Directors
Huld Magnúsdóttir – Chairman
Hálfdan Karlsson – Deputy Chair
Margrét G. Valdimarsdóttir
Hallfríður Kristjánsdóttir
Davíð Rudolfsson
Ellert Arnarson
Snæbjörn Sigurðsson
Shareholders
Nýsköpunarsjóður Atvinnulífsins – Government fund
Lífeyrissjóður Starfsmanna Ríkisins – Pension fund
Lífeyrissjóður Verslunarmanna – Pension fund
Gildi-lífeyrissjóður – Pension fund
Arion Banki – Bank
Íslandsbanki – Bank
Landsbankinn – Bank
Birta lífeyrissjóður – Pension fund
Stapi-lífeyrissjóður – Pension fund
Söfnunarsjóður Lífeyrisréttinda – Pension fund
Frumtak II
Frumtak II started in February 2015. The fund builds on the legacy of Frumtak. The fund invests in early stage innovative companies that are post seed and show great potential for growth. The fund invests primarily in Iceland but is allowed to invest abroad as allowed by law in connection with its portfolio investments to ensure success in foreign markets.
Frumtak II emphasizes to invest in companies where growth and sales in foreign markets are the primary objective, but does not specialize in any particular industry. The fund wants to ensure that original ideas get a chance and thereby increasing the probability of creating growth and value. By doing this, it enforces the image that Icelandic innovation is profitable.
Frumtak II aspires to be a trusted and popular ally. The fund strives to have a good relationship and co-operation with all stakeholders within the start-up and innovation community. The fund puts a special emphasis on co-operating with stakeholders outside Iceland.
The board of Frumtaks 2 makes all investment decisions and decides on various aspects of the investments process, both, buy and sell, based on suggestions from the fund‘s investment managers.
Investment size is typically ISK 100-500 million. No one investment can exceed 15% of committed capital, unless specially approved by the board.
Typical holding time is three to five years and that the fund has divested all its assets within the seven year lifetime of the fund. Return on individual investments should be 30% p.a. at minimum.
Board of Directors
Ásthildur Otharsdóttir – Chairman
Gunnar V. Engilbertsson
Magnús Þór Torfason
LP Committee
Sigurbjörn Sigurbjörnsson – Söfnunarsjóður Lífeyrisréttinda – formaður
Björn Hjaltested – LSR
Davíð Rudolfsson – Gildi lífeyrissjóður
Anna María Ágústsdóttir – Lífeyrissjóður Verzlunarmanna
Margrét G Valdimarsdóttir – Landsbankinn
Shareholders
Lífeyrissjóður Verzlunarmanna – Pension fund
Gildi lífeyrissjóður – Pension fund
Lífeyrissjóður starfsmanna ríkisins – Pension fund
Birta lífeyrissjóður – Pension fund
Stapi lífeyrissjóður – Pension fund
Landsbankinn hf. – Bank
Söfnunarsjóður lífeyrisréttinda – Pension fund
Almenni lífeyrissjóðurinn – Pension fund
Lífsverk lífeyrissjóður – Pension fund
Íslenski lífeyrissjóðurinn – Pension fund
Brú lífeyrissjóður – Pension fund
Frumtak Ventures ehf. – Private limited company
Frumtak Ventures Investment Process
When we find an exciting investment project we discuss this at our partner meeting and decide whether to present this to the board, which decides on investments. Board meetings are usually once a month. The board presentation includes a 50 minute session with the entrepreneur where we expect at least 10-15 minutes for Q&A. It is important that the entrepreneur can clearly and effectively explain himself and the investment opportunity.
After the meeting, there is a decision to do one of three things, reject the project, investigate more or move to a term sheet. As paperwork takes time, especially due diligence, it is important that the company has done its homework in terms of preparing and collecting all the necessary documentation. If this is done properly it makes things go smoother. Frumtak has a policy of having the investment process, from board introduction to payment, stay within 90 days.
This would seem like the end of the process but this is only the start of a journey that is intended to reap results. That is why it is important that there is a mutual understanding of expectations and contribution from stakeholders. In particular the entrepreneur needs to understand that the investment fund can be an important ally with its advice and connections but is not responsible for day to day operations or funding. The investor has a strategic role where he supports the entrepreneur in achieving his goals. In the same way as the entrepreneur puts this support to good use, he needs to realize that the fund has a pre-determined time frame for the investment and may have to sell its holdings sooner than the entrepreneur. This ensures a win-win situation for all stakeholders.
Meet the Team
Svana Gunnarsdóttir
Managing Partner
Svana is Co-founder and Managing Partner of Frumtak Ventures. She has overseen several mergers and acquisitions internationally and has extensive experience founding and leading startups. Before returning to Iceland in 2009, Svana studied, lived and worked in The Netherlands, South Africa, Brazil and the United States. Svana has an international MBA from Nyenrode University in The Netherlands with program studies at the Kellogg School of Management in the US and at the Stellenbosch University in South Africa. She holds several Board of Directors positions in companies across the Frumtak portfolio.
Eggert Claessen
Partner
Eggert is the General Partner and co-founder of Frumtak Ventures. Being a serial entrepreneur, he has extensive experience in founding and operating start-ups in the IT sector from 1981-2006. He has promoted the IT industry in Iceland by serving on various boards and committees, among them being the chairman of the Icelandic IT companies Association. He has specialized in realizing intangible values in IT companies and participated in cross borders projects on the subject. He has a doctorate in Knowledge Management from Brunel University/Henley Management College in the UK where he specialized in the effects of managing intangible assets in order to improve performance in small IT companies. He sits on the board of the companies in the Frumtak portfolio and is very active in the start-up community.
Rakel Sigurðardóttir
Chief Financial Officer
Rakel is the Chief Financial Officer of Frumtak Ventures. She has a BSc. from Reykjavík University 2011 but before that she had worked for years with the courts and at a legal partnership and has also worked on accounting and other office related tasks. She handles the finances of the Frumtak funds and is responsible for the portfolio company reporting and also the reporting to Frumtak shareholders.
Board of Directors
News
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Talking to Frumtak
We at Frumtak encourage entrepreneurs to visit us for a “chat” because the conversation can deliver more value than an investment. As Frumtak is a growth fund, the companies we invest in need to have a product, a customer and turnover in order to be eligible for investment. Even though this is not often the case, the „chat“ enables us to get acquainted, which saves time later on if the company is considered for investment. The „chat“ establishes a foundation for a mutual understanding and to forming a band of trust which is the premise of working together in the future.
The simplest way to contact us is to send us an e-mail requesting the meeting. Please be advised that we only invest locally here in Iceland.
+ 354 510 1850
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