Invest in a later stage
The fund will operate independently from Rocket Internet, although its name Rocket Internet Growth Fund still suggests a strong link with the well-know investors. One of Rocket Internet’s founders, Oliver Samwer, will also become a partner of the investment fund, according to German WirtschaftsWoche.
The new fund should help Rocket Internet invest in companies that are already further along in their development, while up till now the company is mostly investing in startups that were just finding their feet. Nobody at Rocket Internet was available to deny or confirm those rumours.
The Samwer brothers not only have Rocket Internet, but they have also invested in companies through the European Founders Fund, which was turned into the Global Founders Capital. At the start of 2013, that investment fund had 150 million euro to invest.
HelloFresh
Rocket Internet already has an extensive range of brands and companies, valued at 2.3 billion euro according to the company itself. Late last month, it announced that the ten biggest companies it owns had a 200 % turnover increase in the first quarter.
Rocket Internet is also the majority shareholder for meal box delivery service HelloFresh, which will head to the Frankfurt stock exchange later this year. The move is designed to raise money to continue its international expansion and two business banks have valued the company at 1 billion euro.
