News
Stockholm 23 October
Turbine Capital invests in Tribonex – tackling the 20% of industrial energy lost to friction and wear
Tribonex brings advanced surface treatment technology directly into existing production lines — helping industries cut friction, energy use and wear in critical components without costly equipment upgrades.
Stockholm, Sweden – 23 October, 2025 – Turbine Capital announces its first investment in Tribonex, a Swedish deeptech company based on research from Uppsala University. Tribonex has developed the patented Triboconditioning® surface treatment that reduces friction and wear in metal components for use in a broad range of products with moving parts. The process is easily integrated directly into standard mass-finishing equipment. This innovation allows manufacturers to achieve advanced surface performance without sending components to external coating suppliers. Instead, the treatment runs in-house using existing machines, avoiding transport and chemical waste while cutting both cost and lead time.
“Tribonex represents the kind of research-based, industrially relevant innovation we want to back,” said Karin Edström, Founding and General Partner at Turbine Capital. “The team has taken world-class tribology research and turned it into a drop-in process that fits seamlessly into how manufacturers already work. The ability to move from proof-of-concept to serial production using existing machines enables scalable, efficient and sustainable surface treatment.”
Tribonex has completed several proof-of-concept projects with leading OEMs and tier-one suppliers across multiple sectors, treating critical components in electric vehicles, hydraulic pumps, bearings, aerospace joints as well as heavy-duty engine, driveline and fuel systems. The result: measurable reductions in friction and wear, increased efficiency and extended component lifetime:
“The Triboconditioning® treatment has shown great potential in increasing the durability and lifespan of our hydraulic motors. By treating key components, we can reduce losses by more than 20% compared to traditional finishing methods and decrease wear several times over.” says Daniel Svanbäck, Senior Development Engineer, Bosch Rexroth AB
Excess friction in mechanical systems remains one of the most energy-intensive and high-cost challenges: tribological contacts account for roughly 20 % of global energy consumption. Wear and friction reduction at scale could unlock multi-billion-dollar value in efficiency, lifetime and sustainability across the automotive, aerospace, energy and other high-performance industrial applications.
“We enable our customers to apply advanced tribological treatments using the same finishing equipment they already have. The beauty of the process is that it brings high performance and efficiency combined with affordability” said Christian Kolar, CEO at Tribonex.
Tribonex combines strong research DNA with clear industrial relevance. The investment reflects Turbine Capital’s focus on deeptech ventures where scientific innovation translates directly into sustainable value creation at scale.
About Tribonex
Tribonex is a leading technology company providing advanced, cost-efficient surface treatments that reduce friction and wear in industrial and automotive applications. Designed to integrate seamlessly into existing production lines, Tribonex solutions enable significant gains in energy efficiency, component lifetime, and sustainability — making the treatment cost efficient and without the need for new machinery or process changes.
About Turbine Capital
Turbine Capital is an early-stage deeptech VC fund backed by multiple corporate investors and university affiliated incubators, marking a new model in Europe for industry-wide and cross-sector collaboration in venture capital. With a 15-year investment horizon, Turbine Capital combines financial backing with strategic industry partnerships to drive long-term innovation and global growth. For more information, visit www.turbinecapital.vc.
Press contacts
Turbine Capital - Karin Edström, Founding and General Partner, karin@turbinecapital.vc, +46 733225227
Tribonex - Christian Kolar, co-founder and CEO, christian.kolar@tribonex.com, +46 70738 48 49
Stockholm 14 april
Turbine Capital säkrar första stängningen av en riskkapitalfond för tidiga deeptech-bolag - den första i Europa med stöd från både industribolag och universitetsanknutna inkubatorer, med målet att stänga på 750msek
Stockholm, Sverige – 15 april 2025 – Turbine Capital har stängt en första investeringsrunda, motsvarande 40 procent av det totala målet, i en ny riskkapitalfond inriktad på tidiga deeptech-bolag. Det är den första fonden i Europa som backas av både ledande svenska industribolag, däribland SAAB Ventures, samt universitetsanknutna inkubatorer. Fonden syftar till att accelerera deeptech-startups till internationella tillväxtbolag och siktar på en slutlig stängning om 750 miljoner kronor.
Många tidiga deeptech-startups har svårt att få tillgång till tillräckligt mycket riskvilligt kapital samt tillgång till de företagsrelationer som krävs för att kunna skala upp. För att möta detta behov har ledande industribolag, som SAAB Ventures, tillsammans med universitetsanknutna inkubatorer i Sverige, gått samman för att stödja en ny typ av deeptech-fond. Genom sin unika struktur erbjuder Turbine Capital kapital, industriell expertis och tillgång till företagsnätverk för att accelerera tillväxtresan för deeptech-startups. Detta ligger i linje med EU:s bredare ambition att stärka Europas konkurrenskraft inom deeptech. Med dagens första stängning, motsvarande 40 procent av det totala målet, är fonden redo att börja investera och arbetar vidare mot en slutlig stängning på 750 miljoner kronor.
Turbine Capital erbjuder sina investerare tillgång till ett noggrant utvalt flöde av banbrytande startups, med möjlighet att följa deras utveckling och göra väl avvägda, riskminimerade uppföljningsinvesteringar. Utöver tillgång till relevanta innovationsbolag får investerare tillgång till värdefulla marknadsinsikter och djup förståelse för framväxande teknologier. Turbine Capital fungerar som en bro mellan deeptech-startups och etablerade bolag och möjliggör högkvalitativa samarbeten som främjar strategisk innovation och tillväxt.
Turbine Capital initierades av Pär Hedberg från Sting och grundades av Sting, Karin Edström och Anders Ösund, alla med lång erfarenhet av investeringar och bakgrunder från bland annat Almi Invest, Investor Growth Capital och Combient.
“När ledande industribolag och universitetsanknutna inkubatorer går samman skapar vi mer än en fond, vi bygger en kraftfull plattform för samverkan över branschgränser kring skalning av deep tech-innovationer. Med ett starkt stöd redan på plats välkomnar vi fler svenska och europeiska investerare att bli en del av denna resa”, säger Pär Hedberg, Turbine Capital.
Med ett långsiktigt perspektiv planerar fonden att investera i 30-40 tidiga deeptech-startups under de kommande 15 åren.
"Innovation är en kärnkomponent i Saabs framtida utveckling. Investeringen i Turbine Capital kommer att komplettera Saabs befintliga innovationsarbete genom att ge ett bredare perspektiv på tidiga deeptech-bolag i Sverige," säger Jonas Lundeberg, chef för Saab Ventures.
Fondens ankarinvesterare är Saminvest, Sveriges största investerare i tidiga riskkapitalfonder, och stöds av sex av landets främsta universitetsanknutna deeptech-inkubatorer samt Sting. Detta säkerställer ett starkt inflöde av nya lovande bolag, samtidigt som Turbine Capital också aktivt letar startups med banbrytande innovationer i hela landet. Fonden välkomnar ytterligare industriföretag som vill engagera sig i Europas nästa våg av deeptech och bidra till en framgångsrik slutlig stängning.
Om Turbine Capital
Turbine Capital är en riskkapitalfond för tidiga deeptech-bolag, backad av flera ledande industribolag och universitetsanknutna inkubatorer, en ny modell i Europa för bred industriell och sektorsöverskridande samverkan inom venture capital. Med ett 15-årigt investeringsperspektiv kombinerar Turbine Capital finansiellt stöd med strategiska partnerskap för att driva långsiktig innovation och global tillväxt. Mer information finns på www.turbinecapital.vc.
Om Saminvest
Saminvest är ett statligt riskkapitalbolag som investerar indirekt och tillsammans med privat kapital. Genom att investera i nya fonder förvaltade av team med tillräckliga kvaliteter och långsiktighet bidrar Saminvest till att utveckla den svenska riskkapitalmarknaden. www.saminvest.se.
Om Turbine Capitals partnerinkubatorer
ABI i Luleå, Uminova i Umeå, UIC i Uppsala, Sting i Stockholm, LEAD i Östergötland, GU Ventures i Göteborg samt IDEON i Lund.
För pressförfrågningar, vänligen kontakta:
Contact@turbinecapital.vc
Stockholm April14
Turbine Capital announces first close of an early-stage deeptech VC fund – the first fund backed by industrial corporates and university-affiliated incubators, targeting a €75M closing
Stockholm, Sweden – 15 April, 2025 – Turbine Capital has secured the first close, representing 40% of its target, of its early-stage deeptech venture capital fund, the first in Europe to be backed by both leading Swedish corporations - including SAAB Ventures - and university-affiliated incubators. Aiming to accelerate deeptech startups into high-growth international businesses, the fund targets a €75M final close.
Early stage deeptech startups struggle to access sufficient risk-willing capital and corporate collaborations necessary for scaling. To address this, leading industrial players including SAAB Ventures, together with university-affiliated incubators in Sweden, have united to back a deeptech VC fund. Through its unique structure, Turbine Capital will provide capital, corporate access, and industrial expertise to accelerate deeptech startups, transforming them into high-growth international businesses. This approach aligns with broader EU initiatives to enhance Europe’s deeptech competitiveness. With today's first close, representing 40% of its target, the fund is ready to start investing, aiming for a final close of €75 million.
Turbine Capital offers its investors access to a curated dealflow of cutting-edge startups, allowing them to engage with, track developments, and make well-timed, de-risked follow-on investments. Beyond deal flow, they benefit from valuable market insights and a deep understanding of emerging technologies. Turbine Capital bridges deeptech startups and corporates, facilitating high-impact collaborations and unlocking opportunities for strategic innovation and growth.
Turbine Capital was initiated by Pär Hedberg from Sting, (Stockholm Innovation & Growth) one of Sweden’s most established startup incubators, and founded by Sting, Karin Edström and Anders Ösund, all of whom bring extensive investment experience with backgrounds at Almi Invest, Investor Growth Capital, Combient among others.
“When leading corporations and university-affiliated incubators join forces, we create more than just a fund - we build a cross-sector collaboration powerhouse for scaling deeptech innovations. With strong backing already in place, we welcome additional Swedish and European corporate, and private, investors to be part of this journey,” says Pär Hedberg, Turbine Capital.
Taking a long-term perspective, the fund plans to support 30-40 early-stage deeptech startups over the next 15 years.
“Innovation is a core element of Saab’s future development. The investment in Turbine Capital will complement Saab’s existing innovation efforts by providing a broader perspective on early deeptech companies in Sweden,” says Jonas Lundeberg, Head of Saab Ventures.
The fund is anchored by Saminvest - Sweden’s leading VC fund investor - and supported by six of Sweden’s deeptech university-affiliated incubators, as well as Sting, ensuring a strong pipeline for emerging ventures, while Turbine Capital also taps into groundbreaking innovations nationwide. Turbine Capital welcomes additional corporate partners looking to engage in Europe’s next wave of deeptech innovation and support the fund's successful closing.
About Turbine Capital
Turbine Capital is an early-stage deeptech VC fund backed by multiple corporate investors and university affiliated incubators, marking a new model in Europe for industry-wide and cross-sector collaboration in venture capital. With a 15-year investment horizon, Turbine Capital combines financial backing with strategic industry partnerships to drive long-term innovation and global growth. For more information, visit www.turbinecapital.vc.
About Saminvest
Saminvest is a venture capital company, founded by the Swedish Government in 2016. Saminvest works actively for the establishment of new venture capital funds with sufficient qualities and long-term ability to develop the Swedish venture capital market, giving innovative and fast-growing companies access to both capital and ownership skills. https://www.saminvest.se.
About Turbine Capital’s Partner Incubators
ABI in Luleå, Uminova in Umeå, UIC in Uppsala, Sting in Stockholm, LEAD in Östergötland, GU Ventures in Gothenburg and IDEON in Lund.
For media inquiries, please contact:
Contact@turbinecapital.vc