Flashpoint Rebrands from Buran Venture Capital and Launches a Venture Debt Fund
Flashpoint announced its new name, re-branding from Buran Venture Capital. Alexander Konoplyasty, Managing Partner explained: “Our business expanded significantly in the past few years, and we realized that our vision is to build a leading multi-product tech investment and asset management business aimed at Finland, Baltics, Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) and Israel, and not just a successful venture capital fund.”
“We started looking for a new name that would reflect this vision and also resonate with our core values and DNA. We think we found the right one. The flash point is the lowest temperature at which vapours of a material will ignite, when given an ignition source. We believe we create a flash point by providing capital and expertise to the startups we invest in.” — added Michael Szalontay, Managing Partner.
Flashpoint also announced the launch of a new product — venture debt, as part of its strategy to build a multi-product investment platform investing in software startups across Finland, Baltics, CEE and Israel. Venture Debt is a term loan aimed at helping startups finance their operations and access expertise without dilution to their cap table. Michal Jozwiak, formerly Senior Vice President for private debt, mezzanine and private equity at the CEE team of Darby Private Equity (Franklin Templeton Investments), will be the Managing Partner of Flashpoint Venture Debt. Michal shared his vision: “We are excited to be the first to launch a dedicated venture debt fund in our geography with a target size of EUR 50 million, offering technology companies an alternative option to fund their growth.”
Finally, Flashpoint announced that Edward Nicholson will join the group as a General Partner, and Chairman of Flashpoint advisory board. Edward was the CEO and Chairman of Brunswick Investment Bank, which was acquired by UBS, and built it to be one of the leading finance businesses in Eastern Europe. Edward added: “I am excited to join this talented team, that has been actively offering early-stage financing and expertise to an under-served market with brilliant technology entrepreneurs building international software companies.”
As Flashpoint announces its new brand, a strategic move to expand its offerings beyond equity financing, and strengthening of its executive team, it reinforces its position as a leading financial group in the technology sector in Finland, Baltics, CEE and Israel.
