Gorillacapital

Gorilla Capital is a Helsinki-based venture capital firm investing at the pre-seed and seed stage, with directory listings also citing late seed, early growth and Series A/B participation. Typical ticket sizes are reported as €50,000–€1 million by one directory and €100,000–€1.5 million by another, and the firm commonly co-invests alongside local angel investors. It is described as sector-agnostic with emphasis on software and enterprise software, and listed investment areas include edtech, eCommerce, gaming, fintech and compliance.

The firm's stated strategy rests on probability and statistical diversification rather than concentrated bets: it targets a portfolio of around 100 companies and pursues several mid-sized exits instead of chasing unicorn outcomes. Gorilla Capital describes its target founders as "camels" — companies that use resources efficiently, adapt to changing market conditions and navigate varied environments — in contrast to unicorn-oriented startups. It has publicly characterised itself as the most active Nordic early-stage investor and as the region's only "industrial angel."

Gorilla Capital was founded by Risto Rautakorpi and Petri Lehmuskoski; Rautakorpi serves as Managing Partner. In November 2023 the firm announced the addition of partners Kirsi Vine-Haaparinne, a founding partner of Taaleri and long-time private banker and angel investor, and Minna Isotalus, who has startup, growth-company and corporate finance experience.

Founding story

Gorilla Capital was established in Finland by Risto Rautakorpi and Petri Lehmuskoski as a pre-seed and seed venture capital fund; partners joining later cited the founders' rational approach to startup risk and respect for founders as reasons for participating.

Business model

Gorilla Capital operates as a venture capital fund manager, deploying capital from its own funds into early-stage companies in exchange for equity and targeting returns through exits. Its third fund is planned to allocate €50 million across roughly one hundred early-stage companies, with the strategy built on broad diversification and multiple mid-sized exits rather than outsized single outcomes.

As a fund manager, the firm's economics derive from managing committed fund capital and equity stakes in portfolio companies realised through exits; specific fee or carry terms are not disclosed.

Traction

Third-party data lists an average investment of roughly $948,000 per round and about 11 deals per year, with annual deal counts of 8 (2022), 11 (2024), 20 (2025) and 13 (2026) recorded; portfolio names include Apukuski, Valigent and Workify. Fund III has been reported to have made 63 investments, and the firm's third fund targets €50 million across about 100 companies.

Latest developments

In November 2023 Gorilla Capital launched its third fund, sized at €50 million for roughly 100 early-stage companies, and added Kirsi Vine-Haaparinne and Minna Isotalus as partners. Fund III subsequently made its 63rd investment, in Apukuski, a platform standardising second-hand logistics for big and bulky goods.