TLDR:
- Sune Stilling, a former Maersk executive, is building an investment firm called Nine Realms backed by the super-rich to focus on early-stage technology companies in Europe and North America targeting supply-chain issues.
- Nine Realms aims to raise €200 million for its debut fund and has already secured about half that amount, with a primary close of the fund expected by the end of March.
A former A.P. Moller-Maersk A/S executive, Sune Stilling, is establishing an investment firm named Nine Realms with backing from the super-rich to invest in technology companies focusing on supply-chain solutions in Europe and North America. The Copenhagen-based venture firm is seeking to raise €200 million for its first fund and has already secured about half of that amount from major family offices and institutional investors. The fund is set to have a primary close by the end of March. Supply chains have become a critical focus for businesses and lawmakers globally due to disruptions caused by factors like the pandemic lockdowns, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and attacks on ships in the Red Sea by Iran-backed rebels. Despite these challenges, venture capital funding for supply-chain startups saw a significant decrease in the first half of 2023, with fewer first-time venture funds reaching their fundraising targets. Stilling, who worked at Maersk for about two decades and led Maersk Growth’s venture unit, set up Nine Realms in 2020 to continue investing in the logistics sector. Maersk Growth’s initial fund made successful investments in companies like Forto and Loadsmart, showcasing the potential for growth in this space. Nine Realms, with a global team of about a dozen staff, plans to allocate capital from its first fund later this year, focusing on trends like artificial intelligence, digitization, and sustainability.
