Einride founders launch venture firm with €450M target for European deep tech investments

Two co-founders of Swedish autonomous truck startup Einride have launched a new venture capital firm that plans to invest around €450 million in European startups over the next three years.

Named Navisalma, the firm was founded by Einride co-founders Robert Falck and Linnéa Kornehed Falck, who are married, alongside former McKinsey partner Robert Westerdahl. The firm plans to focus on European deep tech startups, including companies working in areas such as robotics. The €450 million target has not yet been raised, according to reports.

Navisalma plans to raise an initial €40 million within the next month, with most of that amount already secured from the founders and other investors. This initial capital will cover the fund’s operating costs and support some seed-stage investments.

The firm will then aim to raise a further €450 million specifically for investments in startups, although it has not disclosed details about potential investors.

Navisalma says it aims to build “10 new global leaders over the next 10 years” by backing ambitious European technology companies.

Rather than copying Silicon Valley’s investment model, the firm plans to focus on Europe’s existing strengths in deep technology and innovation.

Robert Falck, CEO, Navisalma, said: “Europe is exceptional at creating technology, but we have not been equally good at turning that technology into value. We don't need to replicate Silicon Valley. We need to combine frontier technology with Europe's strengths in engineering, design, industrial excellence and quality to build global leaders.”

The fund has already invested in Swedish startup Abundry, which uses AI to optimise the performance of energy systems.

Westerdahl, founding partner, said: “Europe already has an exceptional capital ecosystem. Our opportunity is not to replace it, but to add another capability. Our Venture Platform connects technological ambition with execution and value-creation discipline, allowing us to work alongside existing owners and investors to help frontier technology reach industrial scale.”