Tradeworks.VC
Investment Thesis
Tradeworks.vc invests in Digital Trade Enablers – early-stage supply chain & logistics technology startups.
Expertise with Maritime
9 years with Maersk – procurement, liner agency (Benin/Niger), vessel portfolio management (chartering, S&P, newbuildings). 6 years with Costamare – strategy & business development. 5 years with Tradeworks.vc – early-stage venture investing.
Sector focus
Mostly sector agnostic – we focus on the founders and problem/solution, with a strong preference for capital efficiency.
What attracted you to this space?
It’s the only space we really understand!
Challenges that you resonate with
The best people are too good for grunt work and bad technology. Perverse incentives, not least driven by perverse politics.
What types of companies or business models have done well in your portfolio?
NexusOcean.ai – AI-native operating system.
Prima.Trade – “Cash Against Data” supply chain finance platform. AdvancedWingSystems.com – wind assistance as a service.
Geography focus
Global – most portcos in UK, India and Singapore.
Long-Term Vision
What’s your outlook for the next 5–10 years in this category?
Constant trade/kinetic wars. Cash is King – fuel efficiency over decarbonisation and energy transition. AI will go from tools and chatbots to sovereign orchestration layers that perform 90% of the work, turning people into SuperHumans.
What do you think a successful exit might look like for you (structure, ROI etc)?
IPO, trade sale, dividends. 3-10x for most. 100x+ for the best.
Do you find this aligns with the interests of the businesses you have invested in?
Hopefully the founders + aligned investors will still be in a position to decide.
Strategy
What size is your current fund, and where are you in the fund cycle?
We are a deal-by-deal holding structure, not a fund. $8m deployed. Mostly in the portfolio maturation and follow-on phase.
What stage and check size do you typically invest in (pre-seed, seed, Series A, etc.)?
Mostly Angel and preSeed, anywhere from $50k - $1m, depending on investor appetite.
What is the typical duration you hold an investment for?
Depends on the exit opportunity.
Do you lead rounds or follow?
Both.
How many deals do you do per year at this stage?
Potentially one or two.
Do you reserve capital for follow-ons?
No, we don’t reserve capital – we raise for every deal.
How often do you help your portfolio companies with future fundraisings (or exits) and under what circumstances?
We always try – sometimes succeed!
How do you manage potential conflicts between portfolio companies?
With transparency and cooperation, to the extent possible.
Track record
No exits yet.
16 investments
four will be <1x
four will be unicorns
Decision Process
What’s your typical investment process and timeline?
A warm introduction – first conversation – due diligence – fundraising – decision. Can take between 1 and 12 months.
Who signs off deals?
Always based on specific investor interest.
Support & Involvement
What makes for a great founder–investor relationship?
Shared vision, transparency and alignment of incentives.
How do you typically support your portfolio companies post-investment?
By listening!
How often do you check in with your portfolio founders?
At least once a quarter, sometimes daily.
Do you take board seats? If not, how do you stay involved?
Preferably – otherwise we just try to help with what they ask for.
Can you share examples of how you've helped companies with hiring, strategy, or fundraising?
Upon request ;-) (note from the editor > reach out and ask!)
What’s your style when things go wrong — hands-on, advisory, or hands-off?
Preference for hands-on – if we can add value.
Are you founder-first or investor-driven?
Both, at the same time – if we aren’t aligned, something is wrong.
What’s something you wish more founders asked you in meetings?
“Are you up for dinner & drinks?”
Contact
Niklas Holck - Founder & CEO - LinkedIn
Tom Whitby - Partner - LinkedIn
Rose Omari - Operations - LinkedIn
This article was written by a third-party business or organisation. marinn.ai has not conducted due diligence on the company or organisation. This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice or a solicitation.
