IP Group is a London-based corporate firm that provides financial, strategic, and commercial expertise to clients internationally. Founded in 2001, the company focuses on creating value through the commercialisation of intellectual property derived from research-intensive institutions. It manages the end-to-end process of identifying viable IP, developing or partnering to build value, and establishing commercial arrangements that translate scientific advances into practical products and businesses. IP Group combines industry insight and financial experience to support science- and technology-based ventures, offering capital as well as strategic guidance to help companies grow and accelerate the impact of research. Its work spans clean technology, life sciences, and other deep technology sectors, with a track record of backing and developing ventures that aim to deliver tangible societal and economic outcomes.
Founded in 2008, Par Equity is a venture capital firm based in Edinburgh. It focuses on investing in early-stage, high-growth technology companies across Northern England, Northern Ireland, and Scotland.
Octopus Ventures is a London-based venture capital firm that backs technology-enabled startups across Europe, with a bias toward the UK. It invests across stages, from idea/concept through seed, Series A/B to growth, typically taking lead rounds and board seats. The firm targets sectors including health, fintech, deep tech, consumer, and B2B software, as well as climate and digital health, and provides hands-on support to help portfolio companies scale, not only capital. Annual activity amounts to several hundred million pounds, with equity investments ranging from relatively small rounds to tens of millions. It seeks to partner with founders for multi-year growth, and has backed notable companies such as ManyPets, Cazoo, Depop, Elvie, and WaveOptics. Operations span London and New York, aided by a network of partners in the US and Asia.
Parkwalk Advisors is a London-based venture capital firm that focuses on investing in early-stage to growth-stage technology companies, with a particular emphasis on spin-outs derived from UK universities and research institutes. It targets UK-based, often unquoted companies across sectors such as artificial intelligence, big data, life sciences, materials, cleantech, future mobility, medical technology, quantum computing and related fields, and operates with a stage-agnostic approach from seed through later rounds. The firm leverages academic networks, technology transfer channels and venture networks to access deal flow and support portfolio companies. Founded in 2009, it has been aligned with IP Group as part of its corporate structure, reinforcing its focus on intellectual property-backed innovation. The company is headquartered in London, United Kingdom.
SFC Capital is a United Kingdom-based venture capital firm founded in 2012 that makes early-stage investments in UK startups, including pre-seed and seed rounds. It backs companies across sectors such as software, technology, e-commerce, consumer, enterprise, green tech, medical technology, and hospitality, providing capital plus strategic guidance to support growth and product development. The firm operates a model that combines an angel network with seed funds to back SEIS- and EIS-qualifying businesses, aiming to offer exposure to a diversified portfolio while delivering hands-on support to portfolio companies.
Mercia Asset Management is a specialist asset manager based in the United Kingdom, focused on equity and debt investments to support the growth aspirations of regional businesses. The firm manages multiple funds, including venture capital funds dedicated to early-stage technology companies, particularly in the West Midlands. Mercia aims to provide a complete capital solution by investing across various asset classes, including venture and private equity. It emphasizes backing companies with strong growth potential and proprietary technology. The firm offers initial investments typically ranging from £50,000 to £250,000, with the capacity for follow-on investments up to £1 million per company. Mercia Asset Management also allows private investors to participate in high-growth technology companies through its Growth EIS Fund, benefiting from tax reliefs. Established in 1982, Mercia has established a reputation as a proactive partner for business owners, shareholders, and fund investors, aspiring to deliver superior returns.
YFM Equity Partners is an independent private equity and venture capital firm that provides growth capital, recapitalizations, development funding, and management buyouts for small and medium-sized enterprises in the United Kingdom and the United States. The firm targets growth-oriented companies across sectors such as energy, materials, manufacturing, consumer brands, healthcare, technology, information technology, software and services, financials, business services, retail, and telecommunications, with a preference for firms with proprietary technology or data capabilities. It typically invests in growth capital and management buyouts, deploying multi-million pound equity (examples include roughly £2–£6 million for growth deals and £3–£10 million for buyouts), often takes a board seat, and aims to hold a majority stake. YFM seeks to exit holdings within about five years through sale or listing. Founded in 1982 and headquartered in Leeds, the firm maintains offices in London, Manchester, Sheffield, and other UK cities to access regional opportunities and oversee cross-border investments.
Seedcamp is a European seed-stage venture capital firm based in London that identifies and invests early in founders tackling large global markets with technology. It supports a community of more than 400 startups, including publicly listed UiPath and Wise and unicorns such as Revolut, Hopin, Sorare, Pleo and wefox, as well as fast-growing companies like Grover, viz.ai and Ezra. The firm accelerates founders by providing smart capital, a lifelong community, and a global network built on more than a decade of backing exceptional talent.
Speedinvest is a venture capital firm based in Vienna, with offices in Berlin, Paris, London, Munich, and San Francisco, that focuses on early-stage technology investments across Europe, including Central and Eastern Europe. The firm backs seed to early growth rounds in areas including deep tech, fintech, health, industrial tech, marketplaces, consumer tech, software-as-a-service, and network effects, with a platform philosophy and hands-on support via an in-house Platform+ team that provides growth marketing, human resources, US business development, and networking assistance from day one. Typical investments range from a few hundred thousand euros up to about three million euros, with a preference for minority stakes up to around 20% and for taking co-entrepreneurial operational roles for six months to a year. Speedinvest was founded in 2011 and is known for combining capital with hands-on operational support to help portfolio companies scale.
Future Planet Capital is a London-based global impact-led venture capital firm that backs growth companies arising from leading universities and research ecosystems. It focuses on climate, health, education and sustainable growth technologies and seeks to commercialize university research. The firm manages about $380 million for institutional investors and has invested in more than 300 companies, with around 60 exits, reflecting its track record across early to growth-stage opportunities.
Northstar Ventures is a venture capital firm based in Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom, focusing on direct and fund of funds investments in technology‑driven startups and growth companies. It targets sectors including climate technology, healthy aging, digital media, data, entertainment services, telecommunications, healthcare, biotechnology, energy and related technologies, investing primarily in the United Kingdom with emphasis on the North East region (County Durham, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear). Typical direct investments range from £0.02 million to £0.75 million, with total commitments up to about £2 million, complemented by involvement in private equity funds, accelerators and incubators through fund of funds. The firm supports portfolio companies with resources such as a network of university partners, funders, non‑executive directors and talent to help generate talent, jobs and growth in the region. Founded in 2004, it operates from its Newcastle base.
JamJar Investments is a London-based venture capital firm that backs European consumer-focused startups across seed to later stages. It invests across consumer services and products, technology and non-tech sectors, including food and drink, and focuses on high-growth consumer brands in both digital and non-tech areas. The firm typically makes initial investments in the range of £0.15 million to £1 million, with the option to follow on, and prefers teams of more than one founder, often taking a lead or co-investor role. Its approach draws on operational, commercial and brand experience developed through the founders’ work with innocent, including scaling it into a major brand and sale to Coca-Cola, which informs its support for entrepreneurs navigating growth challenges. JamJar seeks to back European businesses with potential to scale, offering practical guidance alongside capital.
Index Ventures is a venture capital firm with offices in London, San Francisco, and Geneva that backs technology-driven startups worldwide. Since 1996 it has partnered with entrepreneurs to turn bold ideas into global businesses, investing across early and growth stages in sectors such as artificial intelligence, software, data, fintech, healthcare, media, mobility, security, and open source. The firm focuses on high-technology and life sciences and supports portfolio companies to scale internationally. Notable portfolio companies include Adyen, Deliveroo, Dropbox, Farfetch, King, Slack, and Supercell.
High-Tech Gründerfonds Management GmbH is a venture capital firm based in Bonn, Germany, specializing in early-stage investments in high-tech startups. Established in 2005, the firm focuses on technology-driven companies across various sectors, including information and communication technology, life sciences, healthcare, automation, and cleantech. HTGF typically invests in companies that have been operational for no more than one year, aiming to contribute up to €0.6 million in initial funding and up to €3 million in follow-on financing. The firm seeks a minority stake, generally around 15%, and provides a subordinated loan convertible into equity, with deferred interest for up to four years to support liquidity. With a total investment volume of approximately €895.5 million across three funds, HTGF has successfully supported over 500 startups and attracted more than €2 billion in follow-on investments from external sources. The firm's investors include notable public and private entities, underscoring its role as a key player in fostering innovation and growth within the German startup ecosystem.
Insight Partners is a global software investor that partners with growth-stage technology and software companies. Headquartered in New York City with offices in London, Tel Aviv, and Palo Alto, it concentrates on growth-stage software, internet, and data services, with notable focus areas including fintech, cybersecurity, AI/ML, DevOps, and healthcare. Founded in 1995, Insight Partners manages over $75 billion in regulatory assets under management and has invested in more than 750 companies worldwide, with over 55 portfolio companies achieving an IPO. The firm combines capital with hands-on, right-sized software expertise to support portfolio companies on their growth journey from first investment to IPO.
Ascension is a venture capital investment firm based in London, United Kingdom. Founded in 2010, the firm focuses on investing in deep tech, fintech, e-commerce, sustainability, new work, next-generation media, and health sectors.
Entrepreneur First is a London-headquartered platform and early-stage technology investor that helps ambitious individuals form technology startups by connecting them with potential co-founders, helping develop ideas, and accelerating funding from leading investors. The organization operates across six cities on three continents, supporting high-potential founders to build globally important tech companies. Since inception it has supported hundreds of ventures and built a network of thousands of alumni, with a portfolio valued in the billions. It is backed by prominent tech founders and investors who provide mentorship and capital to accelerate growth.
SOSV is a global venture capital firm that supports early-stage startups through active, founder-first development programs. Its flagship initiatives HAX and IndieBio provide facilities, engineering resources, services, and laboratory equipment to accelerate product development and prepare companies for subsequent funding rounds. SOSV focuses on deep technology across health, environmental, and cross-border software sectors, aiming to solve human and planetary health challenges. In addition to providing capital, the firm emphasizes intensive programmatic support to help portfolio companies move quickly from seed toward growth, including customer acquisition and scale. The firm operates globally with a bias toward startups targeting rapid international expansion, especially in Asia, and tends to back a small cohort of high-potential companies to accelerate their progress and attract leading investors.
Founded in Berlin in 2013, Global Founders Capital is a venture capital firm supporting entrepreneurs across various stages and global markets. It focuses on software and TMT sectors, investing based on potential impact and feasibility.
Accel is a venture capital firm founded in 1983 by Arthur Patterson and Jim Swartz and headquartered in Palo Alto, California, with additional offices in San Francisco, London and Bangalore. It funds early- and growth-stage technology companies across software, cloud, SaaS, consumer, enterprise IT and related sectors, and it supports portfolio companies as they scale internationally. With a global network and more than three decades of experience, Accel seeks to help entrepreneurs build world-class, category-defining businesses. Notable investments include Atlassian, Facebook, Dropbox, Slack, Spotify, Etsy, Braintree, Cloudera and Qualtrics, among others. Accel operates multiple funds and programs to back companies at different stages, continuing a long track record of backing ambitious technology founders around the world.
Founded in 2015, Oxford Science Enterprises is a venture firm that partners with the University of Oxford to build science-based businesses. It invests primarily in life sciences, AI and software, healthcare, and deep tech sectors, aiming to create companies capable of addressing global challenges such as infectious diseases and nuclear fusion.
The Development Bank of Wales is an independent company that provides commercial funding to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Wales. It invests private and public funds, including EU funds, across various sectors such as B2B, healthcare, technology, and life sciences.
Citi Ventures is the corporate venture capital arm of Citigroup that leverages the bank’s resources to identify, incubate, and invest in innovative ideas at the intersection of finance and technology. Headquartered in San Francisco with offices in New York, London, Palo Alto, Tel Aviv, and Singapore, Citi Ventures collaborates with Citi colleagues, clients, and the broader innovation community to discover new value and accelerate the development of transformative technologies. The firm focuses on fintech, data analytics and machine learning, the future of commerce, security and enterprise IT, marketing, property technology, distributed ledger technology, and digital assets, pursuing strategic investments that complement Citi’s business lines and risk management capabilities. Since its founding, Citi Ventures has sought to build partnerships and portfolios that support entrepreneurship and technological progress, helping individuals, businesses, and communities adapt to rapid digital change while expanding Citi’s ecosystem and capabilities.
Established in 2020, the European Innovation Council supports innovative startups and researchers with promising ideas, focusing on early-stage companies with positive environmental, social, or governance impacts. It co-invests alongside private investors.
IQ Capital Partners is a Cambridge- and London-based venture capital firm that backs early-stage technology companies in the UK, with a focus on deep tech, AI and machine learning, IoT, cybersecurity, SaaS and PaaS, data analytics, life sciences and other technology driven sectors. It typically invests between £0.3 million and £5 million upfront, with follow-on capacity up to about £30 million per company, and supports rounds with equity, debt and convertible instruments. The firm generally does not lead rounds, instead co-investing with angel investors from networks such as the Great Eastern Investment Forum, and it often seeks to appoint a board member at portfolio companies. IQ Capital operates across the UK, including Cambridge, Oxford and Bristol, and targets both early local ventures and opportunities in less developed areas in the East of England. Founded in 2003, it maintains a presence in Cambridge and London.
Balderton Capital is a London-based venture capital firm that invests in European technology companies across early-stage and growth stages. It targets sectors including software, fintech, health technology, consumer and retail, internet, mobility, security, and related tech-enabled businesses. The firm supports portfolio companies throughout their lifecycle—from seed to exit—by providing strategic guidance, introductions to professional services, and access to a network of globally connected executives. It operates a founder-focused program with workshops and community events designed to help portfolio companies scale, hire, and navigate markets.
Established in 2002, The FSE Group is a venture capital firm based in Hampshire, UK. It focuses on investing in early-stage and growth-stage startups operating within the renewable energy and social enterprise sectors.
Techstart Ventures is a venture capital firm based in Belfast, United Kingdom, founded in 2014. It acts as a first-cheque investor for extraordinary founders pursuing uncapped global opportunities, with a focus on early-stage companies at pre-seed and seed stages. The firm provides capital and guidance to help these ventures scale from the earliest stages and pursue ambitious growth globally.
A Plus Finance, established in 1998 and headquartered in Paris, France, is an independent trust company that specializes in managing Common Investment Funds for Innovation and Proximity Investment Funds. The firm focuses on various innovative sectors, notably information technology, media, security, and the environment. With a team composed of financiers and entrepreneurs, A Plus Finance offers a unique blend of practical management insights and long-term strategic guidance to businesses. The firm manages funds totaling approximately €220 million and typically invests between €1 million and €4 million in individual projects. Additionally, A Plus Finance engages in real estate and private equity investments, further diversifying its portfolio.
HV Capital is a Munich-based venture capital firm supporting founders in developing internet companies. Established in 2000, it has invested in over 200 companies including Zalando and Delivery Hero, with fund sizes ranging from €500,000 to €50 million.
Amadeus Capital Partners is a London-based global technology investor and venture capital firm founded in 1997. It backs technology companies across stages, from seed to growth, across sectors including software, cybersecurity, healthcare IT, fintech, hardware and semiconductors, communications and networking, and clean energy. The firm also participates in secondary investments to provide founders with additional runway and partners with entrepreneurs to scale. To date it has backed over 130 companies and raised more than a billion dollars for investment, with a focus on Europe and selective opportunities in Israel.
Founded in 1994, the European Investment Fund operates as a venture capital and private equity firm specializing in incubation, direct, secondary indirect, and fund of funds investments. It focuses on disruptive early-stage technology enterprises and supports micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises across Europe, primarily at early stages. The fund invests between €0.25 million and €60 million per transaction, with a preference for investing €130 million into private equity and venture capital funds.
Wayra UK is the corporate venture arm and accelerator of Wayra, the global open-innovation program of Telefónica. It runs accelerator programs for early-stage technology startups across industries including health care, information technology, cybersecurity, smart transport and smart city, and 5G, providing investment and acceleration support. The unit connects startups with Telefónica’s networks and partners to enable collaboration and scale opportunities, aiming to generate joint business opportunities between innovators and Telefónica. As part of a worldwide network spanning multiple countries, Wayra UK positions itself as a bridge between entrepreneurs and corporate-scale opportunity, facilitating access to capital, mentorship, and business development.
Founded in 1986 and based in London, Downing is a diversified investment firm with a focus on infrastructure investments. It manages funds for investors and supports businesses across various sectors including renewable energy, healthcare, care homes, children's nurseries, and technology. As of 2021, Downing has raised and invested over £1.7 billion into businesses that make a difference.
Founded in 2015, FJ Labs is a New York-based venture capital firm focusing on stage-agnostic investments in marketplaces and consumer-facing startups. Their investment range varies from $50,000 to $5,000,000, typically at seed or series A stages.
MMC Ventures is a London-based venture capital firm that backs seed and early-stage technology companies, focusing on transformative software, AI and data science across sectors such as enterprise software, cloud and data infrastructure, fintech and data-driven health. Founded in 2000, the firm emphasizes a deep understanding of each company's technology and business model to act as a hands-on partner. It primarily invests in the United Kingdom, with a focus on Greater London, and tends to lead rounds or take a board seat while pursuing follow-on investments. Notable investments include Gousto, Interactive Investor, Copper, Signal AI and Synthesia. The firm seeks to support startups through initial rounds and extended growth funding, aiming to help founders scale through close collaboration and practical support.
Founded in 1999, LocalGlobe is a UK-based venture capital firm focusing on seed investments. It supports ambitious founders across various sectors, with notable portfolio companies including Citymapper, Improbable, Lovefilm, Moo, Tweetdeck, TransferWise, and Zoopla.
Founded in 2003, Creandum is a Stockholm-based early-stage venture capital firm focusing on innovative technology companies across Western Europe and North America. The firm supports founders by providing not only capital but also operational expertise and a robust network built over years in the industry.
Molten Ventures is a London-based venture capital firm established in 2006. They focus on investing in deeptech, consumer tech, healthtech, SaaS, and enterprise software sectors, supporting visionary entrepreneurs with innovative ideas.
AlbionVC is a London-based venture capital firm that partners with UK early-stage to growth-stage companies across B2B software, healthcare and life sciences. Founded in 1996, it acts as the technology investment arm of Albion Capital Group and focuses on seed to Series B investments. The firm backs companies in sectors including artificial intelligence, climate tech, deep-tech, digital risk, fintech, health-tech and medtech, SaaS and digital health, providing long-term capital and scale-up expertise to support growth.
Founded in London in 2011, Passion Capital is a venture capital firm dedicated to supporting early-stage technology companies. They focus on fostering an ecosystem of innovation and collaboration in Europe, believing that the passion and ability of founders are key assets for success. Notable investments include GoCardless, Monzo Bank, and Marshmallow.
Force Over Mass Capital is a London-based venture capital firm founded in 2013 by Martijn de Wever. It targets early-stage technology investments in B2B sectors, including fintech, artificial intelligence, SaaS and Industry 4.0, with activity across the United Kingdom, Europe and the United States. The firm is FCA-regulated and supports growth through seed and scale-up investment programmes for startups.
Frontline Ventures is a venture capital firm headquartered in Dublin, Ireland, that backs business-to-business software companies targeting the United States and Europe. Founded in 2012, the firm maintains a global footprint with teams in Dublin, London and San Francisco, and focuses on helping globally ambitious B2B startups expand across the Atlantic. It leverages a hands-on approach and a broad network of founders, executives and advisers from leading tech companies to support portfolio companies through critical growth moments and international expansion.
Salica is an investment firm and venture capital investor headquartered in London, United Kingdom. Founded in 2014, it focuses on equity and debt investments across complementary sectors and stages, with a global reach. The firm aims to combine traditional values with a contemporary approach, balancing disciplined processes with agility to pursue commercial opportunities and attractive returns. Salica seeks to build a broad network of complementary opportunities and relationships across the private markets.
Praetura Ventures is the corporate venture capital arm of Praetura Group, based in Manchester, United Kingdom. It focuses on early-stage investments in technologies including artificial intelligence, gaming, health tech, life sciences, and cybersecurity, aiming to support startups beyond funding. The firm is known for a hands-on, proactive approach that provides strategic value and operational support to portfolio companies.
Fuel Ventures is a London-based venture capital firm that backs early-stage technology companies, with a focus on marketplaces, platforms, software as a service (SaaS), and fintech initiatives. The firm adopts a hands-on approach, providing mentorship, operational experience, and access to a broad network to help entrepreneurs scale and achieve international growth. It supports companies across seed and growth stages, aiming to build repeatable business models and accelerate product development, go-to-market execution, and customer acquisition in online and mobile markets.
Oxford Capital Partners is a United Kingdom based venture capital firm established in 1999 that concentrates on early-stage technology companies. It operates in Oxford and London and seeks to back a diversified portfolio of high-potential technology and technology-enabled start-up businesses across mobility, fintech, insurtech, retail, digital marketplaces, digital health, artificial intelligence and machine learning.
Partech is a global technology investment firm headquartered in Paris with offices in Berlin, Dakar, Dubai, Nairobi and San Francisco. It provides capital, operational experience and strategic support to technology companies from seed to growth stages. Founded in San Francisco about 40 years ago, Partech manages approximately €2.5 billion in assets under management and backs a portfolio of about 220 companies across 40 countries and four continents. The firm pursues investments across software, information technology services, cybersecurity, fintech, health tech, artificial intelligence and other tech-enabled sectors.
Picus Capital is an early-stage technology investment firm headquartered in Munich that pursues a long-term, flexible capital approach. It targets pre-seed, seed and Series A rounds across sectors including financial services, HR, energy and climate, healthcare, logistics and mobility, real estate and construction, crypto and web3, deeptech and e-commerce. The firm works closely with ambitious founders to help build category leaders by offering strategic guidance and operational support, including marketing and sales expertise, talent access, and connections to its broad B2B and investor network to assist fundraising. With a philosophy of staying engaged throughout the lifecycle of portfolio companies, Picus Capital has backed more than 50 ventures to date, combining disciplined investment thinking with entrepreneurial pragmatism.