KOMPAS VC closes second fund of 160 million euros for industrial technologies

The venture capital company KOMPAS VC has announced the final closing of its second fund in the amount of 160 million euros. With Fund II, the company intends to invest specifically in technologies that drive productivity, resilience and decarbonization in key industries.

The focus remains on so-called "physical industries", including manufacturing, construction, energy, logistics and materials. These sectors are characterized by complex infrastructure, regulatory pressure and often outdated systems, which makes their transformation particularly challenging.

New investors and growing confidence in the strategy

The fund's investors include existing backers such as VKR Holding as well as new institutional partners, including Realdania. Realdania in particular brings additional expertise in sustainable development and the built environment.

The successful fundraise underlines the growing importance of specialized investors who have an understanding of the industry and can actively support industrial transformation processes.

Technologies for real operating conditions

KOMPAS VC invests specifically in solutions that can be used directly in existing industrial environments. These include, among others:

• Industrial AI (incl. agent-based systems)
• robotics
• Cybersecurity for critical infrastructures

The aim is not only to develop innovations, but also to successfully integrate them into existing processes and systems.

Focus on feasibility instead of pure innovation

According to KOMPAS VC, a key problem in the industry is not a lack of innovation, but its implementation. Complex procurement processes, regulatory requirements and existing infrastructure often slow down the scaling of new technologies. The fund therefore focuses on start-ups that can implement their solutions under real conditions and are designed for rapid market penetration.

With Fund II, KOMPAS VC plans to expand its investment and platform teams in order to provide more intensive support to portfolio companies. In addition to capital, the investor offers access to industrial networks, strategic partnerships and operational expertise.

Investments in up to 25 companies

The fund plans to invest in up to 25 early-stage start-ups in Europe and North America. The first investments have already been made, including companies such as

• Array Labs (earth observation by radar)
• Arvist (AI-supported warehouse monitoring)
• Backslash (cybersecurity)
• Epoch Biodesign (sustainable materials)
• Tibo Energy (energy optimization)
• UMH (industrial data infrastructure)

Industrial change as a key growth driver

KOMPAS VC sees the industry facing a structural change in which efficiency increase, risk management and emission reduction must be addressed simultaneously. Technologies that combine these requirements are seen as the key to future competitiveness. With the new fund, the VC wants to invest precisely in this area of tension and build a new generation of industrial technology companies.