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Jane Walerud is a Partner and co-founder at Walerud Ventures, a prominent early-stage tech investment firm. She is also a serial entrepreneur known for her significant contributions to the European tech ecosystem as an investor and company builder.
Jane Walerud primarily invests in early-stage technology companies, with a strong focus on B2B SaaS (Software as a Service), deep tech, and other scalable business models that demonstrate global potential and strong innovation.
Jane Walerud works as a Partner at Walerud Ventures, an investment firm she co-founded. Walerud Ventures is based in Sweden, with a focus on the Nordic tech market and beyond.
Jane Walerud is the Executive Chair and Partner at Walerud Ventures, an early-stage family venture capital firm based in Stockholm, Sweden. After earning a degree from Stanford University, she co-founded and served as Chief Executive Officer of Bluetail, which was acquired by Alteon Networks for $152 million, and Teclo Networks, which was sold to Sandvine. As an angel investor, she has backed over 15 startups, most notably providing the initial €60,000 seed investment for a 10% stake in the fintech company Klarna in 2004. She has also held executive or board roles at Tobii Technology, Lensway, and Paebbl, and received an honorary doctorate from the KTH Royal Institute of Technology. Her investment strategy primarily focuses on deep technology, artificial intelligence, and climate innovation, though she recently announced her retirement from active venture capital to prioritize family commitments.
Jane Walerud stands as a pivotal figure in the European tech investment landscape, serving as a Partner at Walerud Ventures. As a co-founder of the firm, she brings an unparalleled depth of experience as both a serial entrepreneur and a seasoned early-stage investor. Walerud Ventures, under her guidance, has become synonymous with identifying and fostering groundbreaking technology companies with global potential.
Her investment focus at Walerud Ventures is primarily centered on B2B SaaS (Software as a Service), deep tech, and other highly scalable technology businesses. Jane Walerud is particularly drawn to companies that demonstrate strong innovation, a clear market need, and exceptional founding teams. She believes in providing more than just capital, actively engaging with portfolio companies to offer strategic guidance, operational insights, and access to her extensive network, helping them navigate the challenges of rapid growth and international expansion.
Jane Walerud's career background is marked by a series of successful entrepreneurial ventures before her full-time commitment to venture capital. She co-founded several companies, including OptiPack, a packaging material company, and PipeChain, a supply chain management software firm, both of which achieved significant success. This hands-on experience in building and scaling businesses from the ground up provides her with a unique perspective and empathy for the entrepreneurial journey. Her deep understanding of product development, market fit, and operational excellence makes her an invaluable advisor to the startups she backs.
Among her notable investments, Jane Walerud is widely recognized for her early belief in companies that have since become global household names. She was an early investor in Klarna, the leading global payments and shopping service, and Truecaller, the popular caller ID and spam blocking application. Other significant investments include Volumental, a 3D scanning technology company, Airmee, a logistics platform, and Sana Labs, an AI-powered learning platform. These investments underscore her consistent ability to spot disruptive technologies and visionary founders at their nascent stages, contributing significantly to the growth of the Nordic tech ecosystem and beyond.
Through Walerud Ventures, Jane Walerud continues to champion innovation, supporting the next generation of entrepreneurs in building companies that will shape the future.
