Prima Materia

Overview
Prima Materia is a Stockholm-based investment firm founded in 2020 by Spotify co-founder Daniel Ek and early Spotify investor Shakil Khan. It backs long-term, science- and technology-driven companies addressing foundational challenges, with a stated focus on European deep-technology ventures.
Why this entity matters
Prima Materia concentrates large, patient commitments on a small number of ambitious deep-technology companies. By anchoring major rounds, it helps European frontier-technology firms raise the scale of capital more often associated with US markets.
Role in the startup, technology, investment, or innovation ecosystem
The firm invests as a lead backer in deep-technology and science-led companies. It led the first major funding round of European defence-AI company Helsing in 2021 and, in 2025, led a 600 million euro financing in the company; Daniel Ek serves as chairman of Helsing in his professional capacity.
Selected relationships and affiliations
Prima Materia is the lead investor behind Helsing and has made further commitments in deep-technology and longevity-science companies. Daniel Ek acts as founder and Shakil Khan as co-founder.
Startuprad.io relevance
Prima Materia features in Startuprad.io's coverage of Helsing as the company's lead backer. Its role illustrates founder-led European capital financing defence and deep-technology ventures at scale.
Public source context
Investment details reflect Helsing's 2021 and 2025 financing announcements and contemporaneous business-press reporting; firm background reflects Prima Materia's public disclosures at https://primamateria.com/ .

Startuprad.io coverage of Prima Materia

Prima Materia appears in the following Startuprad.io interviews, news and analysis.

E 767 — Unicorn Atlas #1: Helsing — Europe's $18 Billion Defence AI Bet
Published: 30 July 2026
Last updated: 30 August 2026
Coverage type: Analysis
https://www.startuprad.io/post/e-767-unicorn-atlas-1-helsing-europe-s-18-billion-defence-ai-bet

Funding News and Rounds from Germany, Austria, and Switzerland
Published: 10 March 2026
Last updated: 27 August 2026
Coverage type: Analysis
https://www.startuprad.io/post/funding-news-and-rounds-from-germany-austria-and-switzerland

DACH Startup Funding 2025: Deep Tech, Defense, and Decacorns
Published: 3 July 2025
Last updated: 30 August 2026
Coverage type: Analysis
https://www.startuprad.io/post/dach-startup-funding-2025-deep-tech-defense-and-decacorns

Germany’s Alpha Unicorn: How Helsing Became Europe’s Defense-Tech Powerhouse
Published: 20 June 2025
Last updated: 30 August 2026
Coverage type: Analysis
https://www.startuprad.io/post/germany-s-alpha-unicorn-how-helsing-became-europe-s-defense-tech-powerhouse

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