Universal Robots
Country: Denmark
Region: Syddanmark
Investors: The Danish Growth Fund
The Danish Growth Fund's investment in robotic arm maker Universal Robots showcases how venture capital can take a start-up with a strong research-based idea and build it into a successful and fast-growing commercial enterprise. When the fund first invested in the company in 2008, Universal Robots’ staff consisted of just the two founders and one employee and the business had no sales revenue.
Today, thanks to The Danish Growth Fund’s support, the company is a recognised market leader in the field of flexible, easy-to-use, robotic arms for big business and small machine shops alike. It was acquired by US trade buyer Teradyne in 2015 for €230m, at which point the company employed 150 people and boasted revenues of €56m.
Enrico Krog Iversen
CEO - Universal Robots
Together with The Danish Growth Fund we have transformed our business and established ourselves internationally.
€56m
in sales, up from zero
150
jobs created, up from just 3 employees
What did the business need?
Capital for product development, sales and marketing
General strategic business guidance
Support to identify and tackle new markets
Help to build a commercial management team
How did private equity backing create lasting value?
Recruited a commercially-minded CEO
Helped identify and implement clear business strategy
Established a top-quality professional board of directors
Established own subsidiaries in the US and China
What outcomes did private equity investment achieve?
Built a revenue-generating company from what was primarily an R&D project
Took 12-month sales to over €56m from zero at acquisition
Achieved sales in all major markets
Brought company to profitability
Increased employee numbers to 150 from just three
Created a recognised leader in flexible, easy-to-use robotic arms
Investors
