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SmartFin

Europe, Brussels Hoofdstedelijk Gewest, Belgium, Brussels

Description

SmartFin Capital is a Brussels-based private equity firm specializing in growth equity investments within the B2B technology sector. Established with a clear focus on scaling innovative European companies, SmartFin targets businesses that have demonstrated product-market fit and are poised for significant expansion. Their investment philosophy centers on providing not just capital, but also strategic guidance and operational expertise to accelerate portfolio companies' growth trajectories. The firm primarily seeks opportunities across Europe, with a particular emphasis on the Benelux, DACH, Nordics, and UK regions.

SmartFin's investment strategy is geared towards scale-up companies, typically those with proven products and initial traction. They are active investors, often taking significant minority or majority stakes, and are committed to partnering closely with management teams to unlock value. The firm looks for companies with strong management, disruptive technology, and substantial market potential. Their hands-on approach involves leveraging their extensive network and operational experience to support strategic planning, international expansion, and talent acquisition.

SmartFin manages substantial capital, with their current fund, SmartFin Capital II, targeting a size of €250 million. This significant fund size enables them to make meaningful investments that can truly fuel growth. Typically, SmartFin's first cheque sizes range from €10 million to €50 million per company. This translates to approximately $10.8 million to $54 million, based on recent exchange rates, positioning them as a key player in the European growth equity landscape for B2B tech.

Beyond financial backing, SmartFin emphasizes its role as a strategic partner. They aim to help portfolio companies navigate the complexities of rapid scaling, including market entry, M&A, and operational efficiencies. Their team comprises seasoned professionals with backgrounds in technology, finance, and entrepreneurship, offering a blend of perspectives crucial for high-growth ventures. SmartFin's commitment to long-term partnerships and value creation makes them a notable investor for B2B technology scale-ups in Europe seeking more than just capital.

Investor Profile

SmartFin has backed more than 42 startups, with 4 new investments in the last 12 months alone. The firm has led 17 rounds, about 40% of its total and boasts 6 exits across its portfolio.

Investment Focus Highlights

  • Concentrates on Series B, Series A, Seed rounds (top funding stages).
  • Majority of deals are located in Belgium, The Netherlands, United States.
  • Strong thematic focus on Software, Analytics, Information Technology.
  • Led 3 rounds in the past year.
  • Typical check size: $10.8M – $54M.

Stage Focus

  • Series B (29%)
  • Series A (21%)
  • Seed (19%)
  • Series Unknown (12%)
  • Series C (10%)
  • Series D (2%)
  • Secondary Market (2%)
  • Private Equity (2%)
  • Pre Seed (2%)

Country Focus

  • Belgium (62%)
  • The Netherlands (12%)
  • United States (7%)
  • United Kingdom (7%)
  • Turkey (5%)
  • Switzerland (2%)
  • Finland (2%)
  • Luxembourg (2%)

Industry Focus

  • Software
  • Analytics
  • Information Technology
  • Saas
  • Enterprise Software
  • Big Data
  • Fintech
  • Data Visualization
  • Open Source
  • Financial Services
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FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Learn who this investor regularly partners with—both firms and angels—and explore their latest activity.

Who does SmartFin frequently co-invest with?

Newion
Europe, Noord-Holland, The Netherlands, Amsterdam
Co-Investments: 4
NV
Europe, Brabant Wallon, Belgium, Mont-saint-guibert
Co-Investments: 3
Limburgse Reconversie Maatschappij
Europe, Limburg, Belgium, Hasselt
Co-Investments: 4
DN Capital
North America, California, United States, Menlo Park
Co-Investments: 2
OMERS Ventures
North America, Ontario, Canada, Toronto
Co-Investments: 3
Capricorn Partners
Europe, Vlaams-Brabant, Belgium, Leuven
Co-Investments: 3
Axeleo Capital
Europe, Rhone-Alpes, France, Lyon
Co-Investments: 2
Idinvest Partners
Europe, Ile-de-France, France, Paris
Co-Investments: 4
Fortino Capital
Europe, Antwerpen, Belgium, Antwerp
Co-Investments: 3
PMV
Europe, Brussels Hoofdstedelijk Gewest, Belgium, Brussels
Co-Investments: 3

Which angels does SmartFin often collaborate with?

JH
Europe, Oost-Vlaanderen, Belgium, De Pinte
Shared Deals: 1
JL
Europe, England, United Kingdom, London
Shared Deals: 1
AB
Europe, Oost-Vlaanderen, Belgium, Gent
Shared Deals: 1
Marc Vanderheyden
Europe, Antwerpen, Belgium, Antwerp
Shared Deals: 1
JV
Europe, The Netherlands
Shared Deals: 1
ZX
Europe, Oost-Vlaanderen, Belgium, Ghent
Shared Deals: 1

What are some of recent deals done by SmartFin?

Auditstage

Kampenhout, Vlaams-Brabant, Belgium

Auditstage is an AI based modular platform designed for auditors to collaborate with their clients.

Artificial Intelligence (AI)Financial ServicesFinTech
Pre SeedMay 27, 2025
Amount Raised: $855,080
Fimple

London, England, United Kingdom

Fimple is a fintech company that provides cloud-based core banking solutions through a platform with advanced technology.

BankingCloud ComputingFinancial ServicesFinTech
Series AFeb 4, 2025
Amount Raised: $12,000,000
emma

Luxembourg, Luxembourg, Luxembourg

Emma provides a cloud management platform to optimize and govern cloud environments.

Cloud ComputingCloud Data ServicesCloud ManagementDevOpsPaaS
Series ANov 25, 2024
Amount Raised: $17,000,000
Timefold

Ghent, Oost-Vlaanderen, Belgium

Timefold is a platform that optimizes complex scheduling and routing tasks.

Artificial Intelligence (AI)Open SourceSchedulingSoftware
SeedSep 17, 2024
Amount Raised: $6,673,273
Payflip

Deinze, Oost-Vlaanderen, Belgium

Saas that helps SMEs optimize and personalize their salary packages in a tax-friendly way.

SaaSSoftware
SeedSep 30, 2023
CrazyGames

Kessel-lo, Vlaams-Brabant, Belgium

CrazyGames is a browser games platform reaching over 20 million unique players every month.

Digital MarketingInformation TechnologyInternetOnline GamesSoftware
Series UnknownSep 30, 2023
Timefold

Ghent, Oost-Vlaanderen, Belgium

The OpsAI platform for complex routing and scheduling

Artificial Intelligence (AI)Open SourceSchedulingSoftware
SeedApr 7, 2023
Amount Raised: $2,199,252
Luzmo

Leuven, Vlaams-Brabant, Belgium

From data to decisions, rapidly fast. Embed beautiful, easy-to-use dashboards in your SaaS product in days, not months.

AnalyticsB2BData VisualizationInformation TechnologySaaSSoftware
Series AJan 17, 2023
Amount Raised: $10,791,561
Happeo

Helsinki, Southern Finland, Finland

Happeo is a next-gen intranet that keeps teams informed, aligned, and productive

Cloud ComputingGoogleHuman ResourcesOnline PortalsSoftware
Series BJul 7, 2022
Amount Raised: $26,000,000
Deliverect

Ghent, Oost-Vlaanderen, Belgium

Deliverect integrates online orders from food delivery channels into restaurants’ POS to improve their operational flow.

E-CommerceFood DeliveryRestaurantsSoftwareSubscription Service
Series DJan 24, 2022
Amount Raised: $150,000,000