05
February
2019
|
12:00
Europe/Amsterdam

KPN Ventures invests in Portuguese Technology Transfer Fund

Summary

KPN Ventures, the venture capital investment arm of KPN, has invested in the new tech-transfer fund of Armilar Venture Partners, an independent fund manager focused on technology investments. The fund aims to find, invest in and help develop companies that seek to commercialize innovations from university research centers.

Armilar Venture Partners can support technology-based companies in different industries and through different stages of maturity, from proof-of-concept to later stages of commercial development. The supported start-ups will often stem from leading European academic and research institutions, including spin-outs, participants of acceleration or incubation programs, and companies founded by former researchers. The Armilar Venture Partners TechTransfer Fund has a target size of €60 million and will build on the firm’s 19-year experience in investing in start-ups internationally and most particularly in Portugal.

Herman Kienhuis, Director of KPN Ventures: ”Partnerships with tech-transfer funds help expand KPN’s network of potential technology partners. KPN has build-up valuable experience in working with universities, research centres and technology investors, supporting the commercialization of technological innovations. Through the investment in Armilar’s TechTransfer Fund we aim to extend this approach to new geographies, creating more opportunities to partner with innovative technology companies to bring value to KPN customers.”

This is KPN Ventures’ fourth investment in a tech-transfer fund, which focuses on early-stage financing of commercial spin-offs from university research centers. Previously, KPN Ventures invested in Enschede-based Cottonwood Technology Fund, Paris-based PSL Innovation Fund and Leuven-based imec.xpand.

About KPN Ventures

KPN Ventures is the venturing arm of KPN, The Netherlands’ leading telecom company. KPN Ventures aims to build value-creating partnership with innovative technology companies, providing access to capital, infrastructure, expertise, network and customer channels. It focuses on direct and indirect (fund-in-fund) investments in early growth-stage European companies in the segments: Internet of Things, Smart Home, Digital Healthcare, Cyber Security, OTT Services, Cloud Computing, Data/AI and Networking Technology. KPN Ventures has its main office in Rotterdam and has invested in 5 funds and 13 direct investments in startups, such as Actility, EclecticIQ, Viloc, Sensara, CardioSecur and Nello. For more information see KPN Ventures.