TLDR:
- Shilling, the VC arm of Draycott SCR, has launched a €50 million fund to support growth-stage startups.
- The fund aims to address the lack of VC investments in growth stages in Portugal and support high-potential startups in scaling globally.
Shilling, the VC arm of Draycott SCR, has launched the Shilling Opportunity Fund, a €50 million fund to support growth-stage startups with investments of up to €5 million for Series A and beyond. With backing from three major national and international institutional investors, over 90 per cent of the fund target was raised at the first close. Portugal has one of the lowest venture capital investment-to-GDP ratios in Europe, which has led to a significant gap in funding for growth stages. Shilling aims to bridge this gap by providing capital, mentorship, and expertise for sustainable growth to high-potential startups, fostering an entrepreneurial economy in Portugal.
The Opportunity Fund has already invested in Coverflex and plans to support technologically advanced ventures in sectors such as healthtech, SaaS, e-commerce, marketplaces, cybersecurity, Fintech, and Insurtech platforms. Shilling has a track record of successful investments in companies like Unbabel, Bizay, Uniplaces, and Best Tables, and operates on a profit-sharing model, distributing fund returns with portfolio founders and founder LPs.
