Rocket Internet, the Samwer brothers’ famous Berlin incubator, has received a $200 million investment from Access Industries, a US based industrial holding owned by Russian-American billionaire Leonard Blavatnik. The news was reported earlier this week by Berlin-based tech blog VentureVillage.com, which cited unnamed industry sources.
The amount has placed Access Industries second behind Swedish investment company Kinnevik, VentureVillage.com notes. The latter spent a record €300 million on Rocket Internet and its portfolio companies in the last quarter alone.
The new capital injection brings Rocket Internet to a total funding volume of over $1.1 billion. “Blavatnik is an especially attractive investor for the Samwer clan as he has access to a nine-figure fortune and would allow the three serial founders to operate in relative freedom,” VentureVillage.com believes, quoting its source as saying: “Blavatnik is attractive for the Samwers, because he sends money and keeps his mouth shut.”
Rocket Internet, which stands as one of the most significant incubators in Europe, is now focused on international expansion. Among its Russian portfolio companies are the online shoe retailer Lamoda.ru, the furniture website Mebelrama.ru, the interior design websites Bamarang.ru and Westwing.ru, as well as Bonsport.ru and the Russian branch of edarling.
