Klein Group is discontinuing the Aurora3 brand and consolidating its investment in Web3 and the blockchain into Klein Group AS, integrated with AI & Technology, iGaming and Commerce. At the same time, Andre H. Johnsen, joins the role of General Manager of crypto lending company Norlend AS.
Pictured: Morten Klein (left). and Martin Bentzen of Klein Group.
- Web3 and the blockchain are so integrated with everything we do and will do going forward within iGaming, AI/Technology and Commerce, that it is not natural to focus on Web3 as a separate area or as a separate brand in the future. The consequence is therefore that the Aurora3 brand will no longer be fronted in the market,” Klein Group CEO Martin Bentzen told Kaupr.
It was in June last year that Klein Group launched the investment company Aurora3 as a clear commitment to Web3 under the direction of Andre H. Johnsen. Aurora3's web3 portfolio has consisted of K33, Finpeers, Kiip, Lingo and Vanir. Vanir was eventually sold to K33 for SEK 25.2 million, and now emerges as Norlend AS. Andre H. Johnsen has played a central role in the development of Vanir/Norlend all along, both before Aurura3 saw the light of day and before and after the sale of Vanir to K33. But now he is going 100% into Norlend, which is ahead of a stepped-up venture.
Martin Bentzen, CEO of Klein Group, rejects to Kaupr that the liquidation of Aurora3 means that Klein Group has less faith in Web3 and the blockchain. “Everything we work on has AI and the blockchain high on the agenda, but integrated into the strategy, development and operations of the portfolio companies. What is now changing is that these companies will be followed directly under Klein Group's core portfolio,” says Bentzen, who concludes: “The current strategy of being a leading player within the blockchain is firmly established, along with iGaming, A//Technology and Commerce,” Bentzen says.
Morten Klein, as one of the few business leaders for many years, has expressed a strong belief in blockchain as a disruptive technology. This view he also argued for in a video interview with Kaupr two years ago, which you can see footage of below.
- The blockchain is the most trusting thing we have, the most traceable thing we have and it cannot be cheated with. I am therefore confident that blockchain technology is going to be at the bottom of most of what we do. There's no way around it,” Klein said, among other things, in this video interview.
