Investing in the Future
Vesna Deeptech Fund
Investing into breakthrough technologies that will solve world’s biggest problems
Meet Vesna VC
What is Vesna all about?
The Vesna’s mission is to invest into deep tech projects and startups that will help solve our planet’s most urgent problems or tackle them in a more efficient and innovative way. We start at TRL4 on and are not stopping when it comes to growth.
We will do this by accessing cutting-edge technologies through our core partnerships with research institutions, and transfer these technologies out to commercially viable products in companies/start-ups by our investment strategy that is in a light of our hands-on startup know-how and full investment lifecycles. Portfolio companies will closely work with industry partners and expert network, especially our Advisors to shape their best path to success.
Today, research institutions, professors and scientists are eager for project commercialisation and spinoffs, not only to catch up with the EU averages, but also to make a real-life difference rather than just shelved academic research.
Some key statistics
%
Of global public and private sector CEOs believe that AI is an essential tool in the fight against climate change
%
Of global electricity generation will come from renewables requiring advanced materials & other techs
Will be invested globally in distributed energy resources by 2030, supported by further $285b in battery storage
2024
Founded
$50M
Raised
Luxembourg
Headquarters
7
Team members
Our Team
Nina Dremelj
Managing Partner
“Driven by execution!”
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Nina Dremelj is Managing Partner at the deep – tech Fund, being established as the first Slovenian-Croatian deep tech fund, called Vesna and supported by European Investment Fund. Vesna VC objective si to invest in early-stage innovations and talents to successful commercial and scalable companies, intangible assets such as Intellectual Property and products…solving the planet’s most critical challenges.
She is also the president of Business Angels of Slovenia. Her greatest passion is to help entrepreneurs turn their ideas into real, successful businesses. In the last 5 years, she invested as a super angel in more than 18 companies with an average investment multiple above 5x. She also puts her energy and focuses on Alita Capital, an Investment company, investing smaller tickets but a lot of time and knowledge into extremely early stages or founding teams with a lasting will to bring innovative projects to life. In the past, she co-owned and successfully managed the Swiss seed fund AlpVent AG.
In 2021, under the auspices of business angels, she helped set up the first daFUND venture capital fund, supported by business angels and also invested in it.
Maja Križan
Operations Manager
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I’m partnering with investors and startups and help them connect and grow their business. After spending over a decade working in business sales development for largest Slovenian companies, I’ve learned what truly drives partnerships between companies and how to harvest collaboration to grow innovation. I also provide consultancy in the areas of product lifecycle management, customer experience management, customer behaviour and journey and product development.
With my passion for work and eagerness to learn, I’m passionate about driving new ideas and turning them into successful, profitable ventures. My knowledge, experience and energy are my key contributors to drive progress from start to finish.
Dalibor Marijanović
Partner
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Creation of the conditions where existing processes are challenged and where new one can be created in order to improve quality and increase efficiency.
Specialties:
- People, processes and funds management
- Excellent knowledge of the innovation ecosystem
- Very good understanding of the government or the EU administration.
- High knowledge of programming (Basic, Pascal, Fortran, C / C + +, Unix Shell, Applescript)
- Creation and implementation of new IT tools,
- Work in interoperable environment
Srdja Iveković
Partner
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Versatile investment executive with a strong venture & impact footprint: ‘expert-generalist’ financier, business developer & dealmaker principal investor with a track-record of full VC–PE investment life-cycles experienced alternative investment fund manager non-exec & interim exec searcher, researcher & analyst
Karlo Kukec
Venture Associate
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My professional career started in 2007 in a software development company. In 2008 I took the role of an assistant manager at TECH_PARK Varazdin to write project proposals, manage projects and mentor startups. My international project management experience includes the implementation of over 40 EU funded projects.
In 2015 I participated in a US Department of State’s and WorldChicago’s Professional Fellows Program. The program brings emerging leaders from around the world to the United States for intensive fellowships designed to broaden their professional expertise. In April 2017 I won the Ignite pitch competition held at the International conference on business incubation in Seattle, Washington.
In January 2018 I took the role of TECH_PARK Varaždin managing director to manage the TECH_PARK 4040 sqm reconstruction project and implement new initiatives such as Voogle accelerator, TECH_PARK TrepDays, MakerSpace Varaždin and WorldChicago in-country partnership. In November 2022 I joined the Invento Capital Partners team where I am working on the ideation and implementation of projects and business support solutions in the field of urban mobility and deep tech. I am PMP® certified, using this knowledge at Vesna deep tech Fund for supporting potential iinvestments as Venture Associate.
Portfolio
Vesna aim is advancing earliest tech deal flow with disruptive market potential
The pandemic has pushed speedier deep tech conversions to useful products that create value to our society. We focus on the following three key sectors, supported by ESG criteria:
- Technology transfer from public or private institution
- Capability to establish the team
- Positioning within the sectors from Invest EU program (listed below)
Climate & Environment Tech
Learn More about the sectors
• EnergyTech
• BioTech
• Water & Marine
• Circular Economies
• AgriTech
• Smart Cities
• TouristTech
• Mobility &
Transportation
• Waste Management
• Hydrogen
• Supply Chains
Advanced Materials & Enabling Tech
Learn More about the sectors
• Polymers
• Biomaterials
• Smart Materials
• NanoTech
• Semiconductors
• Life Sciences
• SpaceTech
• Big Data
• Robotics
• Additive Manufacturing
• IndustrialTech
Artificial Intelligence & ICT
Learn More about the sectors
• End-use applied AI
• Edge AI
• DeFi / Fintech AI
• Machine learning
• Natural language
processing
• ICT powered life
sciences
• IoT
• Augmented reality
• Quantum computing
• Cyber Security
• Other Digital
Investments
Get in touch with us
FOR STARTUPS
Are you a startup looking to present your idea and seek out a potential investment? Apply to our Dealum Channel through the link below:
FOR PARTNERS
Are you a Univerity, an Incubator, Technological Park etc. and would like to work together on bringing amazing innovations to life? Click on the link below to find out more:
FOR THE GENERAL COMMUNITY
If you have any other questions or would just like to get in contact with us, then feel free to fill out the form below: