‘Great necessity inspires great innovation’: Antler commits US$500K to fund startups tackling problems created by Covid-19

As part of Antler’s mission to chart the path to recovery, we want to support teams working on solutions to these problems by investing in their startups.

antler

Antler

The investor backing the world's most driven founders, from day zero to greatness. Enabling thousands of founders every year to launch and scale companies that move the world forward.

The Covid-19 crisis has brought to light a number of crucial problems across various industries, and Antler wants to be part of the solution to fix them.

As part of Antler's mission to chart the path to recovery, we want to support teams working on solutions to these problems by investing in their startups.

Our global team has committed US$500,000 in funding to startups tackling problems created by Covid-19.

This Covid-19 Call initiative is open to startups, and we will invest in up to five teams from any location in the world.

The verticals we're looking for ideas from include:

  • Mitigation (e.g. masks, contact tracing, surveillance, data infrastructure)
  • Medical Equipment (e.g. test kits, protective devices, ventilators)
  • Remote Health (e.g. telehealth, remote patient monitoring, symptom checkers)
  • Digital Tools (e.g. remote work, smart delivery, e-learning)
  • How it works

    After a screening process, selected teams will be invited to a video pitch session. Following that, the finalists will pitch to Antler Investment Committee (IC) remotely. The investment criteria will take into account the relevance towards mitigating COVID-19, as well as how the startup works in a post-COVID-19 era.

    Companies receiving the investment will gain access to Antler's global network of entrepreneurs, investors and industry experts, as well as coaching by Antler leadership. We will be bringing onboard specialist medical advisors for this initiative. Antler will help startups get their solutions off the ground and make them accessible to those who need them as quickly as possible.

    Great necessity inspires great innovation

    — MAGNUS GRIMELAND, CEO OF ANTLER

    "Great necessity inspires great innovation," says Magnus Grimeland, co-founder and CEO of Antler.

    "As the Covid-19 pandemic continues to disrupt human life around the world, now is a time when innovators need to come together for the greater good. That's why we believe it is our time to do our part at Antler."

    "This is the largest public health crisis of our lifetime," adds Jussi Salovaara, co-founder of Antler and lead of the Covid-19 initiative.

    "We all need to come together to create solutions for the global community to recover now and live in a post-Covid-19 world. I strongly believe we need to collaborate and build the right tech-backed solutions to ensure we create a path to recovery."

    Apply now!

    Applications are now open. So, if you, or someone you know, is working on a business or has an idea for solving a problem created by Covid-19, apply here. Due to the overwhelming amount of applications, we are still reviewing applications on a rolling basis, so get in before it's too late.

    In the meantime, if you're looking for other resources to address challenges you're facing right now, here are a few other initiatives we're recently launched to empower and support entrepreneurs.

    Subscribe to our newsletter

    Get the latest news and views from Antler’s global community

    Thank you! Your submission has been received!
    Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.

    Must-read articles from Antler

    Browse our collection of founder stories, industry insights and latest startup successes from Antler Australia

    See articles
    Insights
    5 min read
    Introducing Canada's Next Big Thing: A blueprint for future entrepreneurs

    Exciting news for entrepreneurs ready to leave their mark: We've launched a pivotal initiative that spotlights the diverse opportunities within Canada's thriving industries.

    Our report curates pivotal problem statements from Canada's leading tech visionaries, founders, and VCs, offering aspiring entrepreneurs a pathway to impactful innovation.

    Discover 20+ big opportunities pinpointed by top Canadian minds, spread across six fast-growing industries. Each challenge is an invitation to create and innovate—leading the way to the future.

    We hope it will serve as a roadmap for aspiring founders ready to build tomorrow's solutions today.

    Insights
    5 min read
    Invest in women: fast-track progress

    Making progress a certainty—our north star goal at Antler—can’t happen if driven and visionary people aren’t firing at all cylinders with the support they need to tackle the pressing problems of our time. We’re marking International Women’s Day by asking women founders and team members in Antler’s global community why women are essential to progress.

    Insights
    5 min read
    How to secure venture capital as an underrepresented founder

    There is growing recognition that diverse founders and diverse teams generate more innovative solutions, ultimately building stronger businesses in the long run. Read Antler in the UK portfolio director Sarah Finegan's recent article in Startups Magazine, offering 10 tips on securing venture capital as an underrepresented founder.

    Insights
    5 min read
    From day zero to greatness: Magnus Grimeland on the Capital Allocators podcast

    How can the world tackle the increasingly complex problems of our time? With a new global infrastructure backing the most driven founders. Listen to Antler founder and CEO Magnus Grimeland discuss this—and why we're building Antler—on the Capital Allocators podcast.

    News
    5 min read
    Antler expands into Queensland, Australia

    Antler is charting a new course for innovation by expanding our presence in Australia. We are launching in Queensland and partnering with the Queensland Investment Corporation (QIC).

    Supported by the Queensland Government's Queensland Venture Capital Development Fund (QVCDF), the partnership is poised to transform the state's innovation sector. With a focus on bridging the early-stage funding gap, Antler and QIC are committed to attracting and nurturing the nation's top talent, driving forward Queensland's position on the global innovation stage.

    Insights
    5 min read
    Bridging startups and industry leaders to drive purposeful innovation

    As Jeff Bezos once said: “What’s dangerous is to not evolve.” While most business leaders understand that stagnation is fatal, for a host of reasons established companies often struggle to innovate—purposefully and powerfully.

    Antler’s Business Development and Collaborations Group helps global corporates drive innovation excellence through high value-generating collaborations with Antler’s 1,000+ (and growing) global startup portfolio. In our collaboration with Investa, a leading Australian real estate investment manager and developer, we are connecting them to our global community of founders and the cutting-edge solutions they are building.

    Read more about the powerful outcomes that happen when ambitious startups and industry leaders come together.

    Insights
    5 min read
    The next wave of innovation: 27 industry trends set to define 2024

    What will innovation look like as we move deeper into 2024? What are the biggest industry trends that will define the coming year?

    We asked our global network of Antler Operators—founders, sector leaders, CxOs, and VPs from companies including Roblox, Airtable, Shopify, Spotify, Affirm, DoorDash, Uber, Hubspot, and more, who offer 1:1 advice to Antler portfolio companies, giving them extra firepower to help fast-track their growth.

    News
    5 min read
    Antler leads $5.1M pre-seed funding for 37 startups across Southeast Asia

    This marks the highest number of pre-seed deals completed in a single round in the region.