Investor Profile: Maersk Growth — Thesis, Cheque Size & How to Apply

Who is Maersk Growth?

Maersk Growth is the corporate venture arm of A.P. Moller - Maersk, the Danish integrated container logistics company operating in 130 countries with around 80,000 employees. Founded in 2017 and headquartered in Copenhagen, Denmark, it is the group's global partner for external innovation, driving open innovation through venture investments and venture clienting. PitchBook tracks 80 investments by the firm.

Investment thesis

Maersk Growth invests to digitise, democratise and decarbonise logistics. It backs new business models and technologies that connect and simplify global supply chains, injecting what it calls its own rocket fuel to unlock portfolio companies' strategic potential. Investments cluster under the umbrella "Building the Future of Trade", and green fuels have become an explicit sub-theme as Maersk pursues shipping decarbonisation.

Sectors and stages

The firm invests from seed to Series A, plus go-to-market and growth and expansion rounds. Initial investments range from USD 0.5 million to USD 5.0 million, with a sweet spot in the USD 1-2 million range. It prefers companies with proven products and paid pilots or early revenue that are ready to scale with Maersk's global reach. Focus areas include next-generation logistics, supply-chain technology, IoT and connectivity, trade finance, e-commerce logistics and green fuels; stated themes include fighting food waste in the supply chain, enabling trade, and secure, transparent supply chains.

Notable portfolio companies

Portfolio highlights include Onomondo, the Danish IoT cellular operator whose connectivity Maersk is integrating across its global asset base; HUUB, the Portuguese e-commerce logistics startup Maersk acquired in 2021 after Maersk Growth first engaged in 2019; Vertoro, the Dutch developer of liquid lignin marine fuel; Captura (the firm's latest tracked investment, July 2026); Kvasir Technologies; ZigZag (returns logistics); and US seed-stage Sensortransport.

Key people

Sune Stilling is Head of Maersk Growth, supported by venture partners Thomas Hougaard, Betty Liu, Jeppe Hoier and Peter V. Jorgensen. The senior team claims more than 100 years of combined investment experience across venture capital, technology, trade, logistics, shipping and terminals.

Programs, credits and perks

Maersk Growth runs no public accelerator and lists no startup credits. Its distinctive value is operational: portfolio companies get to pilot with and scale through Maersk's fleet of 700+ vessels, 90,000+ annual port calls and 70+ container terminals, plus venture-clienting relationships across the group.

How to apply for funding

Maersk Growth's stated process starts with a pitch deck: the team reviews it, then holds a call with the founders to assess team, product-market fit and stage. A fit leads to a pitch to the investment committee and a fast evaluation, with decisions possible within days. There is no public submission portal; founders should reach out with a deck through the team's published channels.