Wallonie Entreprendre (WE) and the Herstal Group (FN Herstal-Browning) announce the launch of FNX Ventures, an investment fund dedicated to security technologies.
With a capital of 20 million euros, FNX Ventures aims to support young innovative companies active in the Benelux, France and Germany in various fields such as cybersecurity, dual technologies and new materials.
As a minority shareholder, FNX Ventures will offer the companies it supports a degree of flexibility in terms of capital investment and/or convertible loans, or a role in the development of their projects.
FNX Ventures is positioned as a key growth partner for companies seeking significant expansion in their early stages of development. With an initial commitment of at least 200,000 euros for pre-seed (early commercialisation) start-ups and up to 500,000 euros for those in the more advanced commercialisation phase (seed), the fund aims to support around twenty early-stage start-ups. These investments could reach up to 2 million euros per company, depending on their development.
Olivier Vanderijst, CEO of WE: “Our objective is to support young technology companies, particularly in cutting-edge sectors related to security and sustainability. The contributions of WE and the Herstal Group to FNX Ventures are complementary and particularly relevant. They will provide companies with a decisive financial contribution to their growth, but also, depending on their needs, concrete industrial and commercial support.”
Julien Compère, CEO of the Herstal Group: “Innovation is at the heart of the DNA of our FN Herstal and Browning brands. With FNX Ventures, we are pursuing our diversification strategy by supporting entrepreneurs who anticipate tomorrow’s challenges in cybersecurity, electronics and infrastructure protection. In addition to providing financial support, we aim to integrate them into our ecosystem and enable them to benefit from our commercial network and our R&D, engineering and industrialisation capabilities.”
About WE
Wallonie Entreprendre is the economic and financial instrument at the service of Walloon businesses. WE provides the necessary resources for the development of economic activities in various sectors such as agri-food, biotech, deeptech and many others. WE’s investments and financing are always aimed at the creation, growth, transfer or revitalisation of businesses. WE ensures compliance with social and environmental standards and advocates the sustainability and circularity of economic approaches.
About the Herstal Group
With its FN, Browning, Winchester* and Noptel brands, the Herstal Group is a world leader in small arms. With products recognised worldwide for their reliability and innovation, the Group equips armed forces, law enforcement agencies, hunters and sports shooters.
Headquartered in Herstal and owned by Wallonie Entreprendre (Walloon Region, Belgium), the Group employs 3,000 people through its subsidiaries in Belgium, the United States, Portugal, the United Kingdom and Finland.
*Winchester Firearms is a brand owned by Olin Corporation and marketed by the Herstal Group through its Browning division.
Useful link : www.fnx.vc
