With a background as both an economist and a lawyer, and her entire career dedicated to new technology, Jenny Gustafsson will join LiU Invest as the new Investment Manager after Midsummer. With experience in venture capital, incubator activities, and industry-related investments, she aims to help more research-based innovations reach the market.
– What attracts me is the inherent technical depth; innovations with the potential to make a real difference in the world. Being part of shaping those journeys from the beginning is incredibly motivating, says Jenny Gustafsson.
Jenny Gustafsson began her career in venture capital in Stockholm but later returned to Östergötland to work as a site manager at LEAD in Norrköping. This was followed by over a decade at Saab Ventures, where she worked with industry spin-offs and was involved in initiatives like Ignite to connect startups with established large corporations.
Most recently, she comes from Almi, where she spent five years working as an innovation advisor and introducing new technology and working methods to established companies. She is also well acquainted with LiU Invest, having previously served on both the investment committee and the company’s board.
– I’ve had good insight into the operations for a long time, so it feels great to now step into an operational role. LiU Invest plays a crucial role in the very earliest stages, where the risk is often too high for other types of investors. We enable the first steps; allowing companies to move on to, for example, business angels, East Sweden Capital, or funding from Vinnova.
A central driving force for Jenny Gustafsson is to support companies through their various development phases, from idea to growth and exit.
– I am passionate about seeing the entire journey through. How do we ‘dress’ a company with the right conditions in each phase? It’s about capital and competence, but also about timing and structure.
At the same time, she points to challenges in the regional innovation system.
– Among other things, we see a lack of experienced entrepreneurial talent. Matching becomes important there, for example, between senior entrepreneurs and hungry talents. LEAD’s trainee program is a good example where we often see successful collaborations.
In her new role, she looks forward to working closely with the companies and following their development over a longer period.
– What I’m really looking forward to is the breadth and getting to dive into a portfolio again. To be involved from a very early stage and follow the companies all the way to a potential exit.
Johan Lilliecreutz, CEO of LiU Invest, sees Jenny Gustafsson’s broad experience as a great asset.
– Jenny combines a strong understanding of the situation of researchers and idea owners with extensive knowledge of the capital and competence needs in early stages. Her long experience working closely with technology-based startups, both in incubator activities and industry-related investments, makes her particularly well-suited to clarify LiU Invest’s role as a potential co-founder and support our portfolio companies in their growth journeys, he says.
