Estonian fintech secures $40 million investment to transform access to global venture market

Funderbeam, a Tallinn-based fintech startup that connects ambitious companies with smart capital and creates unique liquidity for investors, has secured $40 million in an investment round led by VentureWave Group. As part of the deal, VentureWave will take a strategic majority stake in Funderbeam and contribute capital, global networks, leadership and Vestiver platform capacity. The round also included co-investors such as Mistletoe, Draper Associates and Funderbeam founder Kaidi Ruusalepp.

The partnership will enable Funderbeam to serve institutional investors and angel networks globally, accessing venture deals and secondaries with a strong methodology and assessment process. With its unique platform, Funderbeam has created a transparent, accessible and fair exchange. The company’s goal is to shape the future of venture markets, and disrupt traditional venture markets.

VentureWave Group is an Irish-based venture private equity group committed to impact investing and supporting high impact entrepreneurs. Following the completion of the transaction, the group will target the full lifecycle of global venture capital investments and secondaries, from early angel funding to pre-IPO secondaries. The partnership will allow the group to scale Funderbeam’s cutting-edge technology across venture assets and enter the US market through Vestiver, the institutional venture platform.

“This transaction creates a powerful platform to accelerate Funderbeam’s vision of serving venture capital across borders and creating a unique secondary market for private equity. The timing of the transaction could not be better – we are strong at a time when the market is ready for the solution spring,” said Kaidi Ruusalepp, founder and CEO of Funderbeam.

“VentureWave’s investment in Funderbeam is a game-changer for the industry, shaping the future of venture markets and providing access to global venture deals and secondaries. Together, we have the necessary assets, technology and capital to take on the entire venture investment life cycle. This represents a transformative moment to put impact at the center of the investment industry,” said Alan Foy, Chairman of VentureWave.

“Private venture capital companies have a long history of difficult liquidity. Our portfolio company, Funderbeam, together with VentureWave allows venture-backed start-ups to be liquid. This is a major breakthrough and the new liquidity will make it easier for GPs and LPs to trade otherwise illiquid positions, says Tim Draper, founder of Draper Associates.

“Mistletoe supports impact companies. Companies that introduce changes for the better in a way we live and do business. Funderbeam has been a pioneer in changing the way the venture market works – democratizing investment in startups and enabling exits when necessary. Solution that puts entrepreneurs first in their mission It takes persistence and resilience to introduce new models in the financial sector, and we are very happy that the second impact investor, VentureWave, is joining,” said Taizo Son, founder of Misteltein.