Fort Knox

Fort Knox Förvaring AB stands as a dynamic entrepreneurial investment firm deeply committed to the growth and development of Umeå, Sweden. With a strategic focus on businesses with scalable ideas, the company has established a significant presence in the hospitality sector. Their impressive portfolio encompasses a diverse range of establishments including Gotthards Krog restaurant, Sävargården, Stora Hotellet, Grand Hotel, U&Me hotel, Fika!, Kulturbageriet, and P5 conference facilities. These ventures reflect Fort Knox's dedication to enhancing the cultural, culinary, and hospitality landscape of Umeå while adhering to their established core values.

As a venture capital entity, Fort Knox maintains minority stakes in an extensive array of innovative companies spanning multiple sectors. Their investment portfolio showcases remarkable diversity, including financial services (Relese Finans), healthcare (ProTest Diagnostics, Umecrine Cognition, Lipigon), food and beverage (Brännland Cider, c/o Mathantverkarna), technology (Sift Lab, Amplifier, Hikki, Sportswik), and tourism (Ice Hotel). Additional investments extend to Future Ordering, Mitigram, Voady, Brain Stimulation, Vitala, Coeo, Haldor, Nordprofil, Polskenet, Disruptive Ventures, and Impactpool, demonstrating their broad investment approach across industries and stages of development.

The firm has demonstrated considerable success with several notable exits that validate their investment strategy. These include the sale of Ventura Next to AMP Capital, ÅLÖ to Jost, and perhaps most prominently, the acquisition of Limes Audio by Google. Additional successful exits include Bioresonator, Goodeye, and Sourcevoide. Fort Knox's investment philosophy appears to balance support for local entrepreneurship with a keen eye for innovations that have global market potential, particularly in technology, healthcare, and consumer services sectors.

Beyond venture investments, Fort Knox has established itself as a significant property developer and owner in Umeå. Their flagship development is Väven, a 25,000 square meter cultural center developed in a 50/50 partnership with Umeå municipality. This mixed-use complex houses a library, two hotels with 250 rooms, restaurants, cafés, a bakery, and conference facilities, with Fort Knox controlling all commercial elements within the development. Their property portfolio extends to Arts Campus/CampusX, another 50% ownership venture that hosts prestigious educational institutions including Umeå School of Architecture, Umeå Institute of Design, and Umeå Academy of Fine Arts, alongside Bildmuseet, the university's contemporary art museum. Additionally, Fort Knox manages 1,409 student apartments, further cementing their role as a pivotal force in Umeå's urban development and cultural infrastructure.