Status
ACTIVE
Global HQ
Oslo, Norway
Countries of investment
- Ukraine
Investment stages
- Seed
- Series A
- Series B
Industries
- Defense Technology
- Dual-Use
- Drones
- Autonomous Systems
- Aerospace
- Cybersecurity
About
Gardar is an Oslo-based venture capital firm focused on backing Ukrainian defense technology founders. Their focus spans defense tech, drones, autonomous systems, and cybersecurity across Ukraine. The firm supports defense founders from seed through Series B stages.
Gardar is an Oslo-based venture capital firm focused on backing Ukrainian defense technology founders. Their focus spans defense tech, drones, autonomous systems, and cybersecurity across Ukraine. The firm supports defense founders from seed through Series B stages.
Investment Thesis
Gardar Venture Capital is a seed to Series B stage venture capital firm deploying capital across defense technology and dual-use sectors. They invest in early-stage defense tech companies rooted in the Ukrainian innovation ecosystem with technology proven under real operational conditions. The firm differentiates itself through Norwegian LP base and its Sandwater venture platform partnership.
Manager's Experience
Managed by Erlend Prestgard (Managing Partner) and Torkel Engeness (Partner at Sandwater providing platform support). Backed by Sandwater with $466M+ AUM and Ferd AS, one of Norway's largest family-owned investment groups. Grew out of Munkene, a Norwegian volunteer investor organization supporting Ukraine. LP base includes Norway's wealthiest family investors including Johan H. Andresen, Jens Ulltveit-Moe, Christian Ringnes, and Gustav Witzøe.
Team
Erlend Prestgard - Managing Partner
Torkel Engeness - Partner (Sandwater)
Birger Steen - Adviser
Ivar Søvold - Adviser
Portfolio
Buntar Aerospace
Lazr
Pai Defence (portfolio inherited from Munkene precursor initiative)