
Ambient Sound Investments
Description
Ambient Sound Investments (ASI) is a private investment company established in 2005 by the four original engineers of Skype: Jaan Tallinn, Ahti Heinla, Priit Kasesalu, and Toivo Annus. Following eBay's acquisition of Skype, these founders channeled their wealth into ASI, creating a versatile investment vehicle based in Tallinn, Estonia. Unlike traditional venture capital firms with rigid mandates, ASI operates with a broad investment scope, encompassing venture capital, private equity, listed equity, and real assets, reflecting a diversified, long-term wealth management approach.
ASI's investment philosophy emphasizes long-term value creation and disciplined risk management across its varied asset classes. In the venture capital space, they are known for backing technology companies, particularly those originating from the Baltic region and Europe, though their portfolio extends globally. Their flexibility allows them to participate in rounds ranging from early-stage seed investments to more mature growth equity deals. This adaptability is a hallmark of their strategy, enabling them to support promising ventures at different points in their development.
Over the years, Ambient Sound Investments has built a significant portfolio, having invested in over 50 companies globally. Early on, the firm established an initial investment fund of approximately €50 million (around $60 million at the time), which laid the groundwork for their extensive activities. Notable venture capital investments include early participation in fintech giant Wise (formerly TransferWise), CRM software provider Pipedrive, and autonomous delivery innovator Starship Technologies.
As a sophisticated private investment entity, Ambient Sound Investments continues to play a quiet yet influential role in the global tech ecosystem, leveraging the entrepreneurial success and technical acumen of its founders. Their unique structure allows for strategic, patient capital deployment, making them a distinctive player in the investment landscape.
Investor Profile
Ambient Sound Investments has backed more than 31 startups, with 0 new investments in the last 12 months alone. The firm has led 7 rounds, about 23% of its total and boasts 11 exits across its portfolio.
Investment Focus Highlights
- Concentrates on Series A, Seed, Series Unknown rounds (top funding stages).
- Majority of deals are located in Estonia, United States, United Kingdom.
- Strong thematic focus on Internet, Software, Gaming.
- Typical check size: $1M – $10M.
Stage Focus
- Series A (32%)
- Seed (32%)
- Series Unknown (13%)
- Series B (10%)
- Angel (6%)
- Private Equity (3%)
- Series C (3%)
Country Focus
- Estonia (32%)
- United States (23%)
- United Kingdom (13%)
- Finland (10%)
- Hong Kong (3%)
- Israel (3%)
- Lithuania (3%)
- Russian Federation (3%)
- Thailand (3%)
- France (3%)
Industry Focus
- Internet
- Software
- Gaming
- Web Hosting
- Consumer Electronics
- Information Technology
- Electronics
- Semiconductor
- E-commerce
- Social Media
Frequently Asked Questions
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