In a move highlighting its strategic ambitions, Rockaway Ventures, an investment arm based in Europe under the Rockaway Capital umbrella, has finalized its second funding round termed Rockaway Ventures II with commitments totaling nearly €55 million. This initiative seeks to harness transformative technologies across a spectrum of industries, thereby reinforcing the firm’s overarching mission to infuse innovation into traditional sectors. Rockaway Ventures’ goal remains steadfast—bolstering energetic founders and teams from Europe and the U.S. in reshaping industry landscapes through cutting-edge solutions.
Historically, Rockaway Ventures embarked on its investing journey in 2014, catalyzing the launch of Czech standout firms like Productboard and Storyous. Unlike its past investments concentrated predominantly in e-commerce and travel tech, this new fund targets sectors such as energy, defense, and dual-use technologies. This evolution in investment focus reflects broader global shifts, emphasizing resilience and strategic industry transformation.
What Drives Rockaway Ventures’ Strategy?
Dušan Zábrodský, a General Partner at Rockaway Ventures, asserts that present opportunities are increasingly influenced by global and geopolitical developments. By strategically allocating 60 percent of its investments to Central and Eastern Europe and the remaining 40 percent to Western Europe and startups initiated by Czech diaspora in the U.S., the firm demonstrates a calculated approach to engaging with diverse markets. The venture fund draws 25 percent of its capital from its parent entity, Rockaway Capital, with the remaining stake coming from private Czech investors.
How Are Technological Advances Reshaping Investments?
Petr Šmíd, another General Partner at Rockaway Ventures, identifies the reviving interest in venture capitalism, highlighting technological innovation as a significant contributor. He emphasizes artificial intelligence’s sector-specific impact which many investors previously underestimated. Rockaway Ventures’ continued investment showcases a commitment to fostering the application of such technologies across disciplines.
Over its current investment cycle, Rockaway Ventures plans to strategically grow its portfolio from its existing 11 companies. Noteworthy recent investments include Apaleo, a cloud-native hotel management platform based in Germany, CulturePulse, a U.S.-Slovak company focusing on AI-led behavioral modeling, and Gjirafa from Albania, an e-commerce and media platform. The fund aims to extend its influence throughout the company’s lifecycle, reinforcing a collaborative growth journey from seed to expansion stages.
Rockaway Ventures positions itself not only as an investment fund but as partners to founders, emphasizing their experience in entrepreneurship and strategic foresight to nurture their portfolio companies. In providing hands-on support such as in international expansion and scaling efforts, the fund seeks to leverage its broad expertise to benefits founders under its wings.
The closure of Rockaway Ventures II is a testament to a recalibrated focus demonstrating aligned interests across multiple partners and sectors, propelling technological integrations in industries that require innovation. In evaluating the evolving tech landscape, Rockaway Ventures serves as a conduit for nurturing transformative potentials and responding to dynamic economic trends effectively.
