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Standout Capital
Erik Wästlund and Klas Hillström co-founded Standout Capital in 2016 to scale Nordic B2B software and services companies through buyout and co-investment...
Standout Capital
Standout Capital launched in 2016 in Stockholm, founded by Erik Wästlund and Klas Hillström to concentrate on the Nordic region's deep bench of founder-led B2B software and services companies. The firm taps into a generation of entrepreneurs who built subscription businesses on modern infrastructure but now face scaling bottlenecks. Standout's model is not venture speculation; it targets proven platforms with established revenue and then folds in smaller add-ons to accelerate market reach. The firm invests across buyout, co-investment, and growth structures, with a portfolio concentrated in enterprise software, IT services, and healthcare technology. Confirmed positions include Axel Health, a Finnish care‑pathway platform (per Standout Capital, 2019), BCB Medical, a clinical data analytics company (2017), and Exsitec, a Nordic ERP integrator divested in 2021. The portfolio also spans customer‑service SaaS via Kundo (divested in 2025), cloud enablement through Redeploy (2022), and digital signage with Smartsign (2026). Geographic focus remains Sweden, Finland, Norway, and Denmark. Standout operates with an 11‑person investment team in Stockholm and describes its investor base as first‑class Nordic and international institutions capable of co‑investing directly alongside the fund in specific situations. In 2024, the firm acquired Inspirit365, a Microsoft Dynamics services partner, and Tjekvik, an automotive after‑sales SaaS platform. The following year, it added Resights, a Danish real‑estate data startup, and a controlling position in Smartsign, a Swedish digital signage software provider. These moves extend a sector‑agnostic IT thesis across new verticals without abandoning the core Nordic B2B mandate. Standout's structural differentiator is its blend of a concentrated regional mandate with active institutional co‑investment optionality. Unlike traditional Nordic buyout houses that raise large blind‑pool funds, Standout invites LPs into specific deals at the point of execution — creating a flexible capital base that can write equity checks beyond a fixed fund size. That architecture lets the firm compete for assets that require a tailored capital stack while still providing the operational muscle of a dedicated buyout team.
General information
Firm type
Private Equity
Year founded
2016
AUM
Undisclosed
Location
Region
Europe
Country
Sweden
City
Stockholm
Corporate office
Stockholm, Sweden
Principals
Erik Wästlund
Investment Professional & Co-founder
Klas Hillström
Investment Professional & Co-founder
Sector focus
Frequently asked questions
Who runs investment decisions at Standout Capital?
Co-founders Erik Wästlund and Klas Hillström lead the investment team from Stockholm. The firm operates with a flat, entrepreneurial structure where each investment professional sources and manages deals, but strategic and investment committee decisions center on the co-founders alongside senior team members.
How does Standout Capital source proprietary deal flow?
Standout leans on its local Swedish network and the reputation its co-founders built before 2016. The firm states that most of its time is spent out in the field with portfolio companies or meeting new prospects across the Nordics. Sector‑specific sourcing comes from tracking bootstrapped B2B SaaS firms that hit product‑market fit but need operational discipline to scale internationally.
Does Standout Capital participate in fund commitments or only direct deals?
Standout executes direct buyout, growth, and co‑investment transactions. The firm's investor base includes Nordic and international institutions that co‑invest directly alongside Standout in specific situations, effectively functioning as deal‑by‑deal capital partners rather than traditional limited partners in a closed‑end fund.
What investment stages does Standout Capital typically target?
Standout targets established B2B technology companies with proven business models and existing revenue — not pre‑revenue startups. Its deal history shows a pattern of acquiring controlling stakes in companies with existing market traction, then pursuing add‑on acquisitions to build scale and expand geographic reach.
Which sectors does Standout Capital explicitly avoid?
Standout's portfolio is concentrated in B2B software and IT services, with selective exposure to healthcare technology. The firm has not disclosed investments in consumer‑facing platforms, hardware, biotech, or industrial manufacturing. Its Nordic focus also implies it avoids jurisdictions outside Northern Europe.
How is Standout Capital structured as an investment firm?
Standout operates as a private equity firm backed by institutional investors, not a single‑family office. The co‑founders control the investment strategy, but the capital base comes from external Nordic and international institutions that can also co‑invest deal‑by‑deal, giving the firm flexible deployment capacity beyond a traditional blind‑pool fund.
Is there a philanthropic structure or foundation associated with Standout Capital?
No philanthropic foundation or separate impact vehicle is disclosed on Standout's website or in its public materials. The firm's activities appear confined to its core private equity strategy in Nordic B2B technology.
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