First Fellow Partners

First Fellow Partners is a private investment firm based in Helsinki, Finland, founded in 2016 by Risto Siilasmaa and Kim Groop. The firm focuses on early-stage investments in technology-driven companies with global leadership potential, emphasizing sectors such as fintech, cybersecurity, AI, and healthtech. Their investment approach is grounded in values of entrepreneurship, trust, and integrity, aiming to partner with strong and ambitious technology entrepreneurs driven by a mission to address significant global issues.

The firm's investment strategy encompasses seed, early-stage, and later-stage venture investments, with an average investment size ranging from €100,000 to €1 million (approximately $117,000 to $133,000). They have invested in over 30 companies since their inception, including notable portfolio companies like Pipedrive, Funderbeam, and MakerBot. Their geographical focus includes Finland and broader European markets, reflecting a commitment to fostering innovation within the region.

First Fellow Partners operates as a family office, managing the wealth of its founders, and is known for its patient, long-term investment horizon. This approach allows them to support entrepreneurs through various stages of growth, from seed funding to later-stage investments, contributing to the development of enduring technology businesses. Their portfolio spans multiple industries, including technology, software services, AI, cybersecurity, healthtech, fintech, digital health, robotics, cloud computing, and IoT, showcasing a diverse and strategic investment portfolio.