Approach
Wanted: Focused Plans, Global Mindsets.
Our mission is to spot the brightest enabling technologies and help in turning them into global winners.
We believe in building businesses that grow and succeed as leaders in their categories. We value niche solutions for a specific global market over more general offerings with limited geographical reach.
Our approach is best suited for ambitious entrepreneurs with a global mindset: As opposed to building references in neighborhoods close by, we will push you to go directly to the ideal customers, wherever in the world they are.
Investment Philosophy
At Conor, innovative technology is the heart of everything.
We look for early stage businesses with protectable core technology and global ambition. Our investments are typically within ICT, electronics, embedded systems, and new materials & optics.
If your company fulfills the below criteria, we are interested:
– Large international market opportunity
– Compelling value proposition and scalable business model
– Stellar and hungry core team
– Disruptive technology and sustainable competitive advantage
– Ability of Conor team to add value to business design and execution
In contrast, we are likely not interested in ventures with lower ambition levels, limited scalability and regional or local target markets. We aim high, and we want you to have the same ambition.
Our initial investment is typically in the range of 0,5 – 1,5 million Euros, and we can go all the way up to 8 million Euros over the investment lifetime. You will not be left alone with a check: We are very closely involved with our portfolio companies and actively syndicate with leading international VCs to ensure speed of growth.
Conor Funds and Operations
Founded in 2005, Conor Venture Partners is owned and operated by partners Jari Mieskonen, Manu Mäkelä. Please click through to the team section to read more of their experience and expertise.
The Conor team regularly participates in technology and investment events across the Nordic and Baltic countries and visits key events in other areas as well – please come talk to us or contact us via phone or email to discuss. We look forward to hearing from you!
Conor Venture Partners currently manages two investment funds: Conor Technology Fund I, raised in 2006 and totaling 20 million Euros, and Conor Technology Fund II, raised in 2010 and totaling 50 million Euros.
Conor Technology Fund I Ky
Investors in the fund are all from Finland and include Finnish Industry Investment, a government owned investment company; Etera Mutual Pension Insurance Company, a pension fund; Pension Fennia, a mutual pension fund;
AI-Partners, a private fund-of-funds; Technology Industries of Finland Centennial Foundation, a foundation; as well as the general partner Conor Venture Partners.
The fund’s investments include Aito Technologies, Crystalsol, Eniram, Imbera Electronics, Neo Technology, Plexpress, and Supponor. The fund has exited from investments in Concilio Networks and Helmi Technologies.
The fund is currently not making new investments but instead concentrates on follow-on investments in the current portfolio.
Conor Technology Fund II Ky
Investors in the second fund include the European Investment Fund, a Luxembourg based European Commission investment vehicle, under the Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Programme (CIP); Finnish Industry Investment, a government owned investment company with its own funds and ‘Kasvurahastojen rahasto’ funds; Etera Mutual Pension Insurance Company, a pension fund; Veritas Pension Insurance, a Finnish pension fund; AI-Partners,
a private fund-of-funds; as well as the general partner Conor Venture Partners.
The fund is actively looking for interesting ventures and making new investments.
Please click through to our portfolio to read more of our investments.
