Lena Apler

Lena Apler is a prominent Swedish angel investor focusing on e-commerce and early-stage companies. She is the founder and CEO of Collector Bank, a digital niche bank offering financing solutions to private and corporate customers. Under her leadership, Collector Bank has experienced significant growth, with annual organic revenue growth of 30% and earnings growth of 56% since 2005. The bank operates in Sweden, Norway, Finland, and Denmark, providing services such as lending to private individuals, invoice and payment solutions for e-commerce and retail companies, credit card services, and deposits. In addition to her role at Collector Bank, Lena Apler is actively involved in venture capital through Collector Ventures, the bank's investment arm. Collector Ventures focuses on investing in fintech startups, aiming to develop new digital products and technological solutions. The fund has invested in nearly 30 startups, including digital treasury service Nordkap, advisory service Betterwealth, digital accounting services Wint and Mr Shoebox, booking service Glamma, and price comparison service Matspar.se. Lena Apler emphasizes the importance of strategic value in these investments, seeking companies that align with Collector Bank's objectives and can benefit from its resources and expertise. Lena Apler's investment philosophy centers on supporting innovative and scalable business models with strong customer value propositions. She is particularly interested in companies that challenge existing norms and demonstrate potential for international expansion. Her approach combines financial acumen with a commitment to fostering entrepreneurship and technological advancement, contributing to the growth and diversification of the fintech sector in the Nordic region and beyond.

Innovative business models, Scalable operations, Strong customer value proposition, Potential for international expansion, Alignment with Collector Bank's strategic objectives