Top 50 Emerging Leaders 2021 continued (in alphabetical order by CVC unit): Jeppe Høier, partner, Maersk Growth
Jeppe Høier is a partner at Maersk Growth, the corporate venture capital (CVC) arm of Denmark-based shipping, transport and energy group AP Møller – Mærsk (also known as Maersk). He joined the unit in January 2018, a year after the unit was formed.
The ability to leverage the best from the VC industry with the best of a corporate was what drew Høier to the corporate venturing world. He said: “There where early indicators of an amazing set-up when I was introduced to Maersk Growth in late 2017 and the possibility to leverage my VC skills within a corporate is quite unique.”
Maersk Growth has been investing in areas including smart logistics, enabled trade and sustainable supply chain. Its portfolio includes logistics technology developer Forto and e-commerce fulfilment service Huboo.
Høier said: “Our investment in Forto is a great example of the value that we create together with our investments. For example, Forto was the first company to integrate the Maersk Spot product that secures a direct booking of a container on one of our ships for the benefit of both Maersk and Forto. Forto has significantly increased its valuation since we invested in 2018.”
Maersk Growth contributed to funding rounds for freight services portal Loadsmart and food distribution software developer Afresh Technologies in November 2020, and cloud and fabless semiconductor company Wiliot nine months earlier.
Høier holds board seats at portfolio companies including Forto, as well as Ofload, a freight services provider (formerly Loadsmile); Modifi, a supplier of trade finance for small and medium-sized businesses; Fliit, a food logistics service provider; and Onomondo, an internet-of-things technology developer.
Prior to Maersk Growth, Høier served as chief financial officer for nearly three years until 2016 at Heartcore Capital, an early-stage life sciences-focused venture capital firm then known as Sunstone Capital. He then joined a number of startups before becoming part of Maersk Growth.
