Ugly Duckling Ventures
Venture capitalCopenhagen · Pre-Seed–Series A · 3 people tracked
Investment thesis
UDV invests in early-stage Nordic B2B software and technology companies with proven revenue traction and potential to scale into category-leading businesses. Its focus is concentrated on Medtech, Resilience Tech, and Business Services software. The firm looks for outstanding, complementary founding teams and takes an active, operational, GP-led approach, staying hands-on without being intrusive. It deploys smaller initial tickets while reserving the largest portion of the fund for follow-on investments as companies gain traction. Beyond capital, UDV offers strategic guidance, mentorship, and access to a network built over more than a decade in the Danish startup community.
Source: firm website, verified Aug 3, 2026.
Team · 3 people
from public directories
What they invest in
from 8 of 9 portfolio companiesSaaS ×4AI & Machine Learning ×2Climate Tech ×2Deep Tech ×2Enterprise Software ×2Future of Work ×2Cleantech ×1Cybersecurity ×1
HQs:Denmark×2Japan×1Netherlands×1
Investments · 9 tracked
founders shown can be your intro pathBy year:2025 · 12024 · 12 dated
Acadian Ventures is an early-stage venture capital firm focused on the Future of Work, investing in companies such as Nomi Health, Oyster, SmartRecruiters, Degreed, and Utmost.
Enterprise SoftwareFuture of WorkSaaS
Jason Corsello(Founder & General Partner)inThomas Otter(General Partner)
Co-investorsConnecticut InnovationsPeakEmblemFELIX CAPITALNotion Capital
BeCause operates a sustainability data hub for the travel, tourism, and hospitality industry, offering certification support, data management, ESG compliance, and open data sharing via a platform and API.
Climate TechSaaSTravel & Hospitality
Co-investorsSuperAngel
Curiosity VC is a venture capital firm raising a fund to invest in early-stage AI software companies, targeting a portfolio of around 30 companies.
AI & Machine LearningFintechMarketing TechBenelux, NL
Co-investorsPeakCuriosity VC
Copenhagen-based provider of temperature monitoring and calibration solutions, founded 2014.
Co-investorsSagitta Family Office
Kanda creates digital simulations and VR training courses for corporate learning in the maritime, renewable energy, and health sectors.
CleantechDeep TechEdTechEnergyEnterprise SoftwareHR TechAarhus, DK
Co-investorsTechstarsFJ LabsY Combinator
Moxso provides phishing simulation and security awareness training for employees.
CybersecurityCopenhagen, DK
Rune Boye Knudsen(Founder)in
Co-investorsDouble DownSEED Capital DenmarkSeed Capital Limited
Palette Cloud operates a housing/living platform for the real estate industry, offering services to real estate operators as well as tenants, unified through its "Palette ID" (OpenID) system.
PropTechSaaS
Co-investorsZ Venture CapitalAcadian Ventures Management, LlcEmblem
Palette is a project management and collaboration platform for creative and video production teams, offering frame-by-frame drawover, real-time boards, timelines, version tracking, and task management tied to assets and reviews.
Future of WorkMedia & EntertainmentSaaS
Co-investorsSTARTUP IGNITION VENTURESAcadian Ventures Management, LlcEmblem
Skyfora develops weather forecasting technology using AI-driven GNSS tomography and GPS-based radiosondes to close gaps in weather data.
AI & Machine LearningClimate TechData & InfrastructureDeep Tech
Co-investorsEviny VenturesVoima VenturesLumo Labs
Portfolio news
latest coverage across their companies
Skyfora · dispatcheseurope.com · Aug 18, 2026
Acadian Ventures · finsmes.com · Aug 12, 2026
Palette · finsmes.com · Aug 12, 2026
Palette · finsmes.com · Aug 12, 2026
Moxso · fintech.global · Sep 2, 2025
Frequently asked questions
- What stage does Ugly Duckling Ventures invest at?
- Ugly Duckling Ventures invests at the Pre-Seed, Seed, Series A stages.
- What is Ugly Duckling Ventures's typical check size?
- Ugly Duckling Ventures typically writes checks of $540K – $1.1M.
- What sectors does Ugly Duckling Ventures focus on?
- Ugly Duckling Ventures focuses on Enterprise Software, Medical Devices, SaaS.
- Where is Ugly Duckling Ventures located?
- Ugly Duckling Ventures is headquartered in Copenhagen, DK.
Media · Podcasts & interviews
featuring the teamWomen in Tech - At the forefront of innovation: Louise Lachmann, Ugly Duckling Ventures
Bird & Bird · Louise Lachmann
Images
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