The hydroponics farming industry in the Nordics is rapidly evolving, driven by a growing demand for sustainable food production solutions. It includes startups and established companies specializing in indoor farming, vertical gardens, and innovative growing technologies that use nutrient-rich water instead of soil. Trends such as urban farming and climate-resilient crop production are gaining traction, with firms investing in cutting-edge agricultural technologies to enhance efficiency and reduce environmental impact. Insights indicate that this sector is poised for growth as consumer interest in locally sourced, fresh produce surges, alongside governmental support for sustainable agricultural practices.


This article highlights 19 notable investors in the Nordic hydroponics farming sector. The group includes venture capitalists and corporate investors from Sweden, Norway, and Finland, with firm sizes ranging from small funds to large investment groups. Founded between 1978 and 2021, these entities reported varying degrees of activity in 2024, from single transactions to over thirty deals. Their investments reflect an increasing commitment to sustainable agricultural innovations and technologies, showcasing the Nordics' potential as a hub for hydroponics investment.


Top 19 Hydroponics Farming Investors in the Nordics


1. Katapult

  • Website: katapult.vc
  • Type: Venture Capital
  • Headquarters: Oslo, Oslo, Norway
  • Founded year: 2017
  • Headcount: 11-50
  • Number of deals in 2024: 8
  • LinkedIn: katapult-accelerator

Katapult is an impact investment firm based in Oslo, Norway, founded in 2017. They focus on tech startups that address global challenges, providing investment, accelerator programs, and mentorship to early-stage companies. Katapult has been active in sectors like climate-tech and ocean-tech, but they have also shown interest in sustainable agriculture. Notably, they invested in Johannas Stadsodlingar, which raised $374,037 in September 2022, indicating a commitment to urban farming initiatives. They also participated in the seed round for Complete Farmer, which aims to enhance farming practices. These transactions highlight Katapult's engagement in the agricultural technology sector, making them a relevant player in the hydroponics farming context.


2. Almi

  • Website: almi.se
  • Type: Venture Capital
  • Headquarters: Stockholm, Stockholm, Sweden
  • Founded year: 1994
  • Headcount: 201-500
  • Number of deals in 2024: 7
  • LinkedIn: almi-ab

Almi AB is a financial services company based in Stockholm, Sweden, that provides loans, risk capital, and business development support to small and medium-sized enterprises. Founded in 1994, Almi aims to enhance the growth and competitiveness of these businesses through tailored financial solutions and guidance. In recent years, Almi has been involved in several transactions relevant to the hydroponics farming sector. Notably, they provided financial support to Grönska, a startup specializing in indoor vertical farming, to help scale its GrowOff solution. Additionally, Almi invested in Spowdi, a manufacturer of energy-efficient, solar-powered water pumps for small-scale farming, and participated in funding rounds for Big Akwa, a land-based trout producer. These investments highlight Almi's commitment to supporting innovative agricultural technologies and sustainable farming practices.


3. EQT Group

  • Website: eqtgroup.com
  • Type: Private Equity
  • Headquarters: Stockholm, Stockholm, Sweden
  • Founded year: 1994
  • Headcount: 1001-5000
  • Number of deals in 2024: 30
  • LinkedIn: eqt-partners

EQT Group is a prominent investment firm based in Stockholm, Sweden, specializing in private equity, infrastructure, real estate, growth equity, and venture capital. Founded in 1994, EQT serves institutional investors by managing diverse investment portfolios across multiple sectors and geographies. Notably, EQT has made significant strides in the agricultural sector, exemplified by its recent acquisition of BLOOM FRESH International, which merges International Fruit Genetics with AMFRESH's SNFL Group to create a global breeding entity focused on table grape and cherry genetics. This move highlights EQT's commitment to agricultural innovation. Additionally, their acquisition of Plantasjen Group, a leading Nordic garden super-store chain, further emphasizes their interest in horticulture and related markets. These transactions reflect EQT's strategic focus on sectors that align with sustainable agricultural practices, making them a relevant player in the hydroponics farming context.


4. Mudcake

  • Website: mudcake.com
  • Type: Corporate
  • Headquarters: Stockholm, Stockholm, Sweden
  • Founded year: 2020
  • Headcount: 1-10
  • Number of deals in 2024: 3
  • LinkedIn: trellisroad

Mudcake is an investment microfund based in Stockholm, Sweden, founded in 2020. They specialize in supporting startups in the food industry, providing investment in pre-seed and seed rounds to help founders innovate in food production, distribution, and consumption. In 2024, Mudcake participated in notable transactions such as a pre-seed investment in hexafarms, a German agtech startup focused on AI and machine learning for agriculture, and a growth round for OlsAro, a Swedish agtech startup aimed at scaling its technological and commercial efforts. These investments highlight Mudcake's commitment to advancing food technology, which may include hydroponics as part of their broader focus on innovative food production methods.


5. Kale United

  • Website: kaleunited.com
  • Type: Corporate
  • Headquarters: Stockholm, Stockholm, Sweden
  • Founded year: 2018
  • Headcount: 1-10
  • Number of deals in 2024: 2
  • LinkedIn: kaleunited

Kale United is an investment firm based in Stockholm, Sweden, founded in 2018. The firm focuses on sustainable food production through impact investments in plant-based and foodtech companies. They cater to both individual and institutional investors who are interested in supporting the transition to a plant-based lifestyle while achieving financial returns. Notable transactions include investments in Nordic SeaFarm, which aims to become a leading producer of plant-based crops from the sea, and Vevolution, a platform supporting vegan startups. These investments reflect Kale United's commitment to innovative and sustainable food production methods, which are relevant to the hydroponics farming sector.


6. Yara Growth Ventures


Yara Growth Ventures is a venture capital firm based in Oslo, Norway, founded in 2021. The firm focuses on investing in innovative startups and funds within the agriculture and clean hydrogen sectors. They provide financial support and strategic guidance to help their portfolio companies develop and scale their solutions. Yara Growth Ventures aims to facilitate significant advancements in sustainable agriculture and energy by leveraging their extensive network. Notable transactions include their investment in Tarfin, an agritech company that supports farmers, and Ecorobotix, which develops AI-powered smart sprayer systems. These investments reflect their commitment to enhancing agricultural practices, which can include hydroponics as part of their broader focus on sustainable farming technologies.


7. Nordic Foodtech VC


Nordic Foodtech VC is a venture capital firm based in Helsinki, Uusimaa, Finland, founded in 2019. The firm specializes in investing in early-stage companies that focus on deep foodtech innovations aimed at transforming the food system. Their portfolio includes investments in startups that develop sustainable and health-oriented food technologies. Notable transactions include their investment in NPHarvest, which raised $1,380,742 in a seed round in April 2024, suggesting a focus on innovative agricultural practices. They also invested in Tracegrow, a Finnish startup that raised €2.5 million, and Nordic Umami Company, which secured €2.6 million in seed funding. These investments reflect their commitment to supporting advancements in food technology, including potential applications in hydroponics farming.


8. Industrifonden

  • Website: industrifonden.com
  • Type: Venture Capital
  • Headquarters: Stockholm, Stockholm, Sweden
  • Founded year: 1979
  • Headcount: 11-50
  • Number of deals in 2024: 9
  • LinkedIn: industrifonden

Industrifonden is a venture capital fund based in Stockholm, Sweden, founded in 1979. The fund specializes in investing in early-stage companies, particularly in the fields of Deep Tech, Life Science, and Transformative Tech. Industrifonden provides financial support and strategic guidance to startups, helping them scale their innovative solutions. Notably, they have invested in Heliospectra, which raised $4,485,967 in Post-IPO Equity in 2011, focusing on advanced lighting solutions for controlled environment agriculture, including hydroponics. Additionally, they have participated in various funding rounds for companies like Gårdsfisk and Peafowl Plasmonics, which, while not directly related to hydroponics, indicate a broader interest in innovative agricultural technologies. Their focus on creating long-term value through partnerships with passionate founders aligns well with the hydroponics farming sector's need for innovation and sustainability.


9. Nefco - the Nordic Green Bank

  • Website: nefco.int
  • Type: Corporate
  • Headquarters: Helsinki, Uusimaa, Finland
  • Founded year: 1990
  • Headcount: 51-200
  • Number of deals in 2024: 6
  • LinkedIn: nefco

Nefco - the Nordic Green Bank is a not-for-profit organization established in 1990, headquartered in Helsinki, Uusimaa, Finland. It focuses on financing green projects and sustainable development, providing loans and equity funding to Nordic SMEs and municipalities in Eastern Europe to implement environmentally friendly solutions. Nefco plays a crucial role in supporting the growth of green initiatives and addressing climate change challenges through its financial services. Notably, Nefco has been involved in significant transactions within the hydroponics farming context, such as providing financial support to Grönska, a Swedish startup specializing in indoor vertical farming, to scale up its GrowOff solution. This transaction highlights Nefco's commitment to advancing technology in the hydroponics sector. Additionally, Nefco has participated in various other funding rounds, including support for companies like Baseload Capital, which, while primarily focused on geothermal energy, reflects Nefco's broader investment strategy in sustainable and innovative technologies.


10. Chalmers Ventures


Chalmers Ventures is a venture builder and tech investor based in Sweden, founded in 2015. They focus on deep tech innovations and support researchers and entrepreneurs in commercializing their technology through various programs, providing business guidance, financing, and community networking. Chalmers Ventures has been actively involved in funding Swedish Algae Factory, which has raised significant amounts in multiple funding rounds, including a total of over $3 million in 2025, 2022, and 2021. Their participation in these funding rounds highlights their commitment to supporting sustainable and innovative solutions in the aquaculture and hydroponics sectors, showcasing their active ownership and investment strategy aimed at helping startups scale and succeed in the market.


11. Lifeline Ventures


Lifeline Ventures is a venture capital firm based in Helsinki, Uusimaa, Finland, founded in 2009. The firm specializes in early-stage investments in startups across various sectors, providing financial backing and advisory services to entrepreneurs. Lifeline Ventures focuses on supporting resilient founders from the inception of their ventures. Among their notable transactions, they have invested in Solar Foods, which raised significant funding rounds (including a €18.5m Series A round and a $8.8M Series B round) aimed at developing sustainable food production methods. This investment highlights Lifeline Ventures' commitment to innovative agricultural technologies, which are crucial for the future of food production, including hydroponics. Additionally, they have been involved in funding Ductor, a company that may have implications for sustainable agriculture, although it is not directly related to hydroponics. Overall, Lifeline Ventures demonstrates a clear interest in supporting ventures that align with sustainable food production and agricultural innovation.


12. Almi Invest

  • Website: almiinvest.se
  • Type: Venture Capital
  • Headquarters: Stockholm, Stockholm, Sweden
  • Founded year: 2009
  • Headcount: 51-200
  • Number of deals in 2024: 3
  • LinkedIn: almi-invest

Almi Invest is a venture capital firm based in Stockholm, Sweden, founded in 2009. It specializes in providing loans and risk capital to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Sweden, along with business development support and strategic guidance to help these businesses grow sustainably. In recent years, Almi Invest has participated in several funding rounds for companies that align with sustainable agricultural practices. Notably, they were involved in the funding of Saveggy, which raised $1,869,963 in a Seed Round in April 2024, potentially indicating a focus on innovative food production. Additionally, Almi Invest participated in a funding round for the Swedish Algae Factory, which secured 53 MSEK, showcasing their interest in sustainable aquaculture and related technologies. Their investments in Ecohelix, which raised significant amounts in both a Convertible Note and a Venture Round, further demonstrate their commitment to supporting innovative companies in the agricultural sector.


13. Munters

  • Website: munters.com
  • Type: Corporate
  • Headquarters: Stockholm, Stockholm, Sweden
  • Founded year: 1955
  • Headcount: 1001-5000
  • Number of deals in 2024: 4
  • LinkedIn: munters

Munters is a corporate investor based in Stockholm, Sweden, founded in 1955. The company specializes in climate control solutions, providing energy-efficient products for various industrial and agricultural applications. Their offerings include dehumidifiers, air cleaning systems, and cooling solutions, which are essential for maintaining optimal growing conditions in hydroponics farming. In 2024, Munters has made significant moves in the agricultural sector, including the acquisition of Hotraco, a Dutch company that develops control systems and sensors for agriculture, enhancing their FoodTech portfolio. They also acquired Reventa, a German company focused on climate control systems for livestock, and MTech Systems, which integrates advanced data analytics with climate control solutions. These transactions reflect Munters' commitment to improving agricultural productivity and sustainability, making them a relevant player in the hydroponics farming industry.


14. LRF Ventures

  • Website: lrfventures.se
  • Type: Corporate
  • Headquarters: Stockholm, Stockholm, Sweden
  • Headcount: 1-10
  • Number of deals in 2024: 1
  • LinkedIn: lrf-ventures

LRF Ventures is a corporate investment firm based in Stockholm, Sweden, dedicated to supporting innovative startups within the agtech sector. Founded under the auspices of LRF, an organization that champions the interests of green industries, LRF Ventures provides capital, consulting, and networking opportunities to help businesses grow sustainably. In 2024, LRF Ventures participated in a seed round for Saveggy, which raised approximately $1.87 million, indicating their active involvement in the agtech space. Additionally, their investment in Gårdsfisk, which raised nearly $5 million in a Series A round, further demonstrates their commitment to innovative agricultural solutions. While specific transactions related to hydroponics are not detailed, their focus on agtech suggests a potential alignment with hydroponics farming initiatives.


15. Investinor

  • Website: investinor.no
  • Type: Venture Capital
  • Headquarters: Trondheim, Trøndelag, Norway
  • Founded year: 2008
  • Headcount: 11-50
  • Number of deals in 2024: 4
  • LinkedIn: investinor

Investinor AS is a venture capital investment company based in Trondheim, Trøndelag, Norway, founded in 2008. It specializes in providing funding to promising startups and companies, helping them grow and achieve market leadership. Investinor collaborates with entrepreneurs and other investors, managing state interests in seed and venture funds. Among its notable transactions, Investinor has invested in Farmforce, which raised $3,965,171 in a venture round in 2020, focusing on agricultural technology solutions. Additionally, they have invested in Planktonic AS, which raised $1,051,451 in a seed round in 2019, indicating their interest in innovative agricultural practices. While not exclusively focused on hydroponics, their investments in agricultural technology suggest a broader interest in modern farming solutions.


16. Indutrade Life Science

  • Website: indutrade.se
  • Type: Corporate
  • Headquarters: Stockholm, Stockholm, Sweden
  • Founded year: 1978
  • Headcount: 1001-5000
  • Number of deals in 2024: 14
  • LinkedIn: indutrade-life-science

Indutrade Life Science is a corporate investor based in Stockholm, Sweden, founded in 1978. The company is part of an industrial group that focuses on developing and acquiring companies with high technical expertise across various sectors, including technology and industrial solutions. Indutrade emphasizes long-term relationships with its customers and operates through a decentralized structure, allowing its subsidiaries to maintain independence while benefiting from the group's resources. Notably, Indutrade has made strategic acquisitions that are relevant to the hydroponics farming industry, such as Crysberg A/S, which specializes in electronic control solutions for irrigation systems. This acquisition highlights Indutrade's commitment to enhancing agricultural technologies, particularly in irrigation, which is crucial for hydroponics. Other acquisitions, such as Senmatic A/S and ES Hydagent, further demonstrate Indutrade's focus on innovative solutions that could support the hydroponics sector.


17. Summa Equity

  • Website: summaequity.com
  • Type: Private Equity
  • Headquarters: Stockholm, Stockholm, Sweden
  • Founded year: 2016
  • Headcount: 51-200
  • Number of deals in 2024: 6
  • LinkedIn: summa-equity

Summa Equity is a private equity firm based in Stockholm, Sweden, founded in 2016. The firm specializes in thematic investments that address global challenges, focusing on sustainable investment solutions across various sectors, including resource efficiency and technology. Their clients include institutional investors and companies seeking capital for growth, emphasizing a commitment to aligning financial returns with positive societal impact. Recently, Summa Equity acquired a majority stake in Nutris, a Croatian factory that specializes in sustainable plant-based protein sources from fava beans, highlighting their interest in sustainable agriculture. Additionally, they have made investments in companies like STIM, which operates in the aquaculture sector, and Nofitech, which may have relevance to sustainable farming practices. These transactions reflect Summa Equity's commitment to investing in sectors that promote sustainability and resource efficiency, which are key components of hydroponics farming.


18. Heartcore Capital

  • Website: heartcore.com
  • Type: Venture Capital
  • Headquarters: Copenhagen, Denmark
  • Founded year: 2007
  • Headcount: 11-50
  • Number of deals in 2024: 17
  • LinkedIn: heartcorecapital

Heartcore Capital is a venture capital firm based in Copenhagen, Denmark, founded in 2007. The firm specializes in investing in early-stage technology companies, with a strong emphasis on building long-term relationships with entrepreneurs. Heartcore Capital has been actively involved in various sectors, including food technology and agriculture. Notable transactions include investments in Gourmey, a cultivated meat startup, and WayCool, which raised $20 million in a Series A round and focuses on improving food supply chains. Their recent investment in La Fourche, a company that promotes sustainable food sourcing, further highlights their commitment to innovative solutions in the food industry. While they primarily focus on technology, their involvement in food-related startups positions them as a potential player in the hydroponics farming space.


19. Nordic Alpha Partners


Nordic Alpha Partners is a private equity firm based in Hellerup, Denmark, founded in 2017. The firm specializes in investment management and advisory services for green technology companies, aiming to connect ambitious hard-tech companies with the necessary skills, capital, and business modeling to accelerate their growth and sustainability transformation. They focus on enabling visionary founders to scale their businesses effectively. Notable transactions include their co-lead investment in Agrointelli, a Danish agricultural robotics company, which raised €14.5 million to scale production of autonomous agricultural equipment. Additionally, they invested in AquaGreen, which raised $8.67 million in a seed round, indicating their interest in sustainable agricultural technologies. These transactions highlight their engagement in sectors that could intersect with hydroponics and sustainable farming practices.



Hydroponics Farming Insights: Key Investors in the Nordics


InvestorHeadquarterSizeFoundedDeals 2024
KatapultOslo, Oslo, Norway11-5020178
AlmiStockholm, Stockholm, Sweden201-50019947
EQT GroupStockholm, Stockholm, Sweden1001-5000199430
MudcakeStockholm, Stockholm, Sweden1-1020203
Kale UnitedStockholm, Stockholm, Sweden1-1020182
Yara Growth VenturesOslo, Oslo, Norway1-1020214
Nordic Foodtech VCHelsinki, Uusimaa, Finland1-1020197
IndustrifondenStockholm, Stockholm, Sweden11-5019799
Nefco - the Nordic Green BankHelsinki, Uusimaa, Finland51-20019906
Chalmers VenturesSweden11-50201526
Lifeline VenturesHelsinki, Uusimaa, Finland1-10200914
Almi InvestStockholm, Stockholm, Sweden51-20020093
MuntersStockholm, Stockholm, Sweden1001-500019554
LRF VenturesStockholm, Stockholm, Sweden1-101
InvestinorTrondheim, Trøndelag, Norway11-5020084
Indutrade Life ScienceStockholm, Stockholm, Sweden1001-5000197814
Summa EquityStockholm, Stockholm, Sweden51-20020166
Heartcore CapitalCopenhagen, Denmark11-50200717
Nordic Alpha PartnersHellerup, Denmark11-5020170


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