Investments at an early stage.
LiU Invest invests in companies built on projects and ideas derived from Linköping University. Our focus is investing at an early stage, either we work as a single investor or we co-invest with others. The Investments range between a few hundred thousand and up to a couple of million SEK, where LiU Invest will contribute between a quarter and half a million SEK.
Investment Philosophy
LiU Invest invests in companies oriented toward commercializing ideas and results connected to Linköping University. This means we contribute to innovative companies in ways that bring added values to the University as well as in strengthening the attractiveness of the region.
LiU Invest is a public actor that operates in a very early phase where there is a lack of access to capital. With each investment, the possibilities to generate returns are assessed, among other things, in accordance with LiU Invest's return requirements. The investment horizon is three to seven years, i.e. there must be a reasonable chance of an exit for LiU Invest within three to seven years, but the holding can be kept longer than that.
Our Process
LiU Invest normally invests 500.000 SEK in a first investment round and may add another investment of equal size in another round. The investment is offered as a public issue, primarily and preferably as a new shares issue. If new investors are added, LiU Invest will in some cases make additional investments in order to keep a corresponding level of ownership.
It is desirable, but not a requirement, that other parties co-invest in the company in cooperation with and on equal conditions as LiU Invest. These other parties may be founders of the company, private investors or angel investors, as well as public venture capital.
Should the investor be a private individual, LiU Invest offers to take care of legal and administrative issues concerning the investment process. This makes it easier for a private individual or an angel investor to make a smaller investment at early stages.
The investment process is simple and as follows:
- The company gets in touch with LiU Invest, and during the first meetings the company, with support from LiU Invest, works out an investment offer (which should contain a description of the company, company values, and a plan for what the investment is meant to be used for.)
- The offer is presented to LiU Invest’s investment committee which will either accept or decline the offer.
- In case the committee accepts an offer, a formal decision is then taken by the LiU Invest AB board.
The presentation for the LiU Invest investment committee should be around 20 minutes long and contain the content usually found in an investment pitch.
