Saari Partners announces a new EUR 40 million fund for growing service SMEs through marketing and digitalisation

The fund will make majority investments in small and mid-sized service companies with the aim of growing them into sector leaders through focused development of their branding, marketing and digitalisation.

Saari Partners Oy raised EUR 40 million in commitments to the new Saari I Ky fund in the first closing. The fund will make majority investments in small and mid-sized service companies with the aim of growing them into sector leaders through focused development of their branding, marketing and digitalisation. A promising investee company has committed entrepreneurs who aim to raise the company to the next level. It has a positive cash flow, an established foothold in its chosen sector and generates net sales of some EUR 4-7 million. During the investment period, the fund will invest in a base of 4-6 companies and grow them both organically and through consolidation.

“Finland has plenty of SMEs doing great work that have excellent growth potential. However, they do not have all the resources they need to pursue growth,” explains Saari’s CEO Ben Wrede. “We want to be a competent and capable partner to such companies, and help them take the next successful step on their growth path,” he continues.

The founding partners of the Saari I Ky fund are Mikael Lönnroth, Pirjo Kiiski, Mia Sirkiä and Ben Wrede.
Mikael Lönnroth was previously IT director at Turvatiimi and Oral Hammaslääkärit. Pirjo Kiiski, formerly Lumene’s CFO, is also joining the fund. Mia Sirkiä, formerly a partner at advertising agency Hasan & Partners, comes from a brand-building background. Ben Wrede was previously Atine Group’s CEO.

The largest investors in the fund are Tesi, KRR III, Ilmarinen Mutual Pension Insurance Company, Elo Mutual Pension Insurance Company, AI-Partners Oy, Elo Mutual Pension Insurance Company and The Trade Union for the Public and Welfare Sectors JHL.

“We are delighted to get a new entrant in Finland’s investment market, especially a player of such a diversified composition and background. The new fund’s investment focus encompasses plenty of potential investee companies with businesses that would benefit greatly from digitalisation,” says Tesi’s Investment Director Riitta Jääskeläinen.

Saari I Ky started operating on 31 January 2018, and its second and final round of fund-raising will close on 31 January 2019 at the latest.

For more information:

Ben Wrede, CEO, Saari Partners Oy,
 tel. +358-40-5105940, ben.wrede@saaripartners.fi

Riitta Jääskeläinen, Investment Director, Tesi, tel. +358-50-3092733, riitta.jaaskelainen@tesi.fi

Saari flourishes on the strengths of its community. On capability, experience and commitment. The companies in our portfolio are our partners who will benefit the most from our competence and experience. By providing the required resources and complementing the company’s strengths we serve as pilots over the next critical phase of the company’s growth. Saari creates the framework for strengthening a company and piloting it to the next level of success. For more information: www.saaripartners.fi

Tesi (Finnish Industry Investment Ltd) is a venture capital and private equity company that accelerates companies’ success stories by investing in them directly and via funds. Tesi always invests together with other investors, providing them with access to high quality deal-flow in Finland. Our investments under management total €1.2 billion and we have altogether 700 companies in portfolio. www.tesi.fi / @TesiFII

Finnish startup investments break new record €383M in 2016

Year 2016 in review:

Finland is becoming a strong startup nation in Europe. The total amount invested in Finnish early stage companies in 2016 was 383 million euros made in over 400 startups. Investments in Finnish early stage companies grew 42 % in 2016 and records were broken also in business angel investments.

Aboa Advest Oy and Timo Ketonen personally reported 6 new startup investments in the period.

For more information please refer to the FiBAN report.

Inspirational Butterfly Feeder enlivens your garden and supports butterflies

Belightful Butterfly Feeder brings nature closer to our everyday lives by attracting butterflies, and this way enhancing the wellbeing of both people and butterflies. Belightful Butterfly Feeder combines form and function into unique design and user experience providing innovative decorative element for any outside space.

Belightful Design is a design company specializing in wildlife feeder products and ecological design. Founded in Finland by two friends, Belightful Design seeks to bring happiness and positivity to outside spaces with ‘belightfully’ designed products. The first product of Belightful portfolio is a Butterfly Feeder, which can be placed outdoors to attract butterflies with its’ nectar, resulting in opportunity of embracing the the delight of butterflies. “We want to offer people an easy and visual way to experience something beautiful and support the nature at the same time”, says Miia Liesegang, CEO of Belightful Design and the Designer of Belightful Butterfly Feeder. There is a variety of different butterfly feeders on the international markets. “Our Belightful Butterfly Feeder differentiates with its’ design; it is designed for butterflies only with its’ enclosed nectar source.” Liesegang adds.

Belightful Design highlights the desire to use materials that enhance our environments. Many studies are showing the health benefits of the nature for people, and Belightful Design aims to bring nature closer. The world’s butterfly population keeps decreasing due to narrowed habitat and challenging environmental conditions, like urbanization and air pollution. “In Europe alone, the butterfly population has gone down by 50% during our lifetime. With Belightful we want to support biodiversity and enable a fun way of supporting butterflies” says Taina Tallala, Head of Sales and Marketing.

Recently Belightful Butterfly Feeder was awarded by Formex (Stockholm, Sweden) for Best Sustainable Business Idea. Formex is the largest yearly interior design event in the Nordics. Company will also represent Finland in International finale of Creative Business Cup.

The female founder duo has ambitious goals to conquer international markets with their delightful design. The feeders are on pre-order at IndieGoGo 

Belightful Design is showcasing next week in UK’s biggest garden and outdoor living tradeshow, Glee (Birmingham, UK) at Stand 20A19.

For more information, please contact:

Outside US:

Taina Tallala

Head of Sales & Marketing, Co-Founder

taina(a)belightfuldesign.com

+358 40 169 6722

US only:

Annina Pierson

annina(a)belightfuldesign.com

Belightful Design company website