Enveda
"The people at Kinnevik are some of the smartest and most long-term investors I've ever met. It's a privilege to partner with them."
Viswa Colluru, Founder & CEO
Who we are
We're in business to make people's lives better, challenge established norms, and support solutions to the most pressing issues of our time. The ideas, founders, and companies we back are a manifestation of our ambition, and the value we create together is made to last.
We search for ideas that can redefine industries and create generational businesses. When we find them, we mobilize our resources and put our machinery in motion to scale them for impact.
We are active partners
We are active partners to every company we back. We provide them with capital and operational support to ensure they have the right focus, strategies, and capabilities to become tomorrow's market leaders.
We have a history of making remarkable things happen. We have shattered unfair monopolies, made information accessible to everyone, and delivered transformative solutions to millions of homes. We have no intention of slowing down, yet we're never in a rush.
We're in it for the long run
We're in it for the long run and focus on building and growing businesses in health & bio and software sectors. Guided by our legacy and entrepreneurial spirit, we're committed to facilitating and supporting the ideas, founders, and companies creating impact and value for our shareholders, our planet, and people everywhere.
Cityblock Health
"The team at Kinnevik has been fantastic. They offer incredible support, insights, and real collaboration as we seek to scale and grow this iconic business."
Dr. Toyin Ajayi, Co-Founder & CEO
Perk
"I'm delighted that Kinnevik has backed our vision, and that our existing investors continue to support our thoughtful approach to long-term growth and AI innovation."
Avi Meir, Co-founder & CEO
Strand Therapeutics
"They understand the value of building enduring companies that lead entire categories, not just single products. Kinnevik's network, track record, and alignment with our mission makes them an ideal partner for our next phase of growth."
Jacob Becraft, Co-Founder & CEO
Pelago
"They have been so supportive of our mission. Kinnevik joining our board has been really helpful in terms of introductions and strategic insights"
Yusuf Sherwani, MD, Co-Founder and CEO
Parsley Health
"The team at Kinnevik is proactive, kind, interested, thoughtful and true domain owners with deep expertise wherever they invest, which for us is healthcare"
Dr. Robin Berzin, Founder & CEO
Spring Health
"Kinnevik really stand out because of their deep and comprehensive experience in healthcare, which is an extraordinarily complex market. They've been really great partners to us as we've been thinking about which markets to enter, which products to offer and what initiatives we should invest in."
Adam Chekroud, Co-Founder & President
Mews
"For a long time, we searched for investors with a true long-term mindset. With Kinnevik, we found an investor who helps us think 10 years ahead and plan the steps we need to take to reach our long-term goals"
Matthijs Welle, CEO
Investment focus
Software
Backing companies that have the potential and ambition to become platforms and generate large outcomes. Our approach focuses on exceptional operational metrics while being flexible on the nature of the business model.
Health & Bio
Backing innovators that can deliver the trifecta of a better patient experience, improved healthcare outcomes and an ability to drive sustainable reductions in healthcare and life science costs.
History
Founded in 1936, our journey began with strategic investments in the bedrock of Sweden's industries, including iron, paper, and woodworking. Through strategic investments, our portfolio expanded, always remaining true to our ethos of backing ideas that dare to disrupt the norm. This visionary approach has played a key role in Sweden's progress to the present day and has positioned Kinnevik over generations as an enduring partner to entrepreneurs. Today, we operate on a global scale and partner with founders who are committed to building sustainable, transformative, and generational businesses that make people's lives better.
1936–1940
Kinnevik was founded as an investment company in 1936 by Hugo Stenbeck, Wilhelm Klingspor and Robert von
Horn. At the beginning, the company's key assets were in agriculture, candy and forestry through shares in
Mellersta Sveriges Lantbruks AB, Lidköpings Konfektyr Industri AB and Korsnäs Sågverks AB.
1940–1970
Kinnevik's acquisition strategy of Swedish industrial companies continued during the company's first
decades. In 1954, Kinnevik was listed on the Stockholm stock exchange. A few years later, Kinnevik
together with Korsnäs acquired a controlling stake in Sandviken Jernverk (today Sandvik AB).
1970–1980
The shareholding in Sandvik AB increased steadily during the late 1970s, while Kinnevik also increased its
position in Fagersta AB. A major holding in the insurance company Atlantica was acquired in 1978.
1980–1990
In the early 1980s, Kinnevik founded Comvik AB and launched a new mobile telephony system. On New Year's
Eve 1987, TV3 sent its premier broadcast from London. In 1990, Kinnevik founded Millicom International
Cellular S.A. (MIC).
1990–2000
Tele2 was founded in 1993 and listed on the Stockholm stock exchange in 1996. MTG was incorporated as a
subsidiary of Kinnevik and was spun-off to shareholders in 1997. By the turn of the century, Millicom was
expanding in Africa, Asia and Latin America.
2000–2010
Kinnevik divests most of its forestry assets and increases its focus on mobile telephony and media. The two
investment companies Invik and Kinnevik merged in 2005. In 2010, Kinnevik made its first investment in
German fashion e-tailor Zalando.
2010–2020
Kinnevik's focus on e-commerce and internet companies was further strengthened in the 2010's with
significant investments in Zalando, Avito, Rocket Internet and Global Fashion Group, among others. In 2019,
Kinnevik distributed Millicom to its shareholders as a result of a strategic pivot to focus on unlisted
growth companies.
2020–
At the start of the new decade, Kinnevik accelerated its strategic transformation towards becoming a
leading European growth investor. Today, Kinnevik has completed its transformation into a fully-fledged
growth investor with a key focus on health & bio, software, and a set of emerging companies.