Unrest
Unrest is a B2C Impact Accelerator focused on supporting the next generation of founders determined to leave the world better than they found it. They operate a 16-week program offering 100+ hours of custom content delivered by experts in finance & fundraising, branding, and impact. A key aspect of their program is collaboration with Uncommon Creative Studio to develop mission-driven brands, building consumer trust from day one. Unrest's investment strategy centers around taking an equity stake in participating businesses, aiming for the lower of a 2% equity share or £33k worth of equity. This approach underscores their commitment to aligning their success with that of their portfolio companies, fostering a shared vision for positive impact. The firm believes in the power of brands to drive rapid societal change and aims to unleash a collective force of purpose-driven companies on pressing global issues, spanning from LGBTQIA+ mental health to sustainable food solutions and carbon removal. Their portfolio showcases ventures addressing diverse challenges and highlighting their commitment to supporting ventures that contribute to a better world. Unrest also publishes a newsletter providing monthly updates on impact events, programme news, and portfolio success stories. This demonstrates a commitment to building a community around impact-driven entrepreneurship and fostering collaboration among founders.
V3 Ventures
V3 Ventures is a venture capital firm that focuses on backing founders building the consumer brands of tomorrow. They invest in fast-growing early-stage consumer businesses with purpose-driven brands and innovative technologies. The firm emphasizes building communities of fanatical customers and focuses on long-term investments to support founders in realizing their vision. They bring a founder-centric approach, leveraging their own experiences as consumer business builders to guide portfolio companies. Their global perspective, with dedicated teams in the US, Europe, and India, enables them to invest in brands across the globe. V3 Ventures believes that strong brands have long-term competitive advantages. They leverage a proven legacy of building iconic brands, supported by Verlinvest, a family-backed global investment fund with nearly 30 years of experience. Portfolio companies gain access to a world-class network of consumer brand experts, receiving unwavering support from early stage through growth and beyond. The firm aims to empower visionary entrepreneurs to redefine industries and create a lasting impact, indicating a commitment to supporting founders through various stages of their growth.
VGC Partners
VGC Partners is an early-stage private equity investor focused on the Attention Economy – industries where human attention is the primary driver of economic value. They specifically target B2B companies that are shaping how attention is acquired and monetized. VGC combines the discipline of private equity with the potential of early-stage ventures, employing a highly selective and hyper-focused approach. The firm invests in companies across three key sectors: Sports & Entertainment, Content & IP, and Marketing Services. Within Sports & Entertainment, they look at businesses that excel at engaging audiences and monetizing attention, including fan engagement platforms, sports data analytics, talent representation, event technology, gaming, and merchandising. In Content & IP, they target companies creating, owning, or distributing content and intellectual property, such as podcasting platforms, video production studios, creative agencies, and IP licensing platforms. The Marketing Services focus encompasses agencies and platforms that help businesses capture attention effectively, like creative automation tools, performance marketing agencies, analytics platforms, influencer marketing solutions, and brand strategy firms. VGC aims to operate in the "overlap" – the intersection of network and know-how. They provide access to a wide network of industry contacts and offer operational expertise to support the growth of their portfolio companies. The firm recognizes the increasing importance of capturing and retaining attention in today's noisy world and seeks to back companies that are at the forefront of this trend.
Venture Studio from Crisis
Venture Studio from Crisis is an investment initiative dedicated to supporting startups that are developing innovative solutions to address homelessness and the housing crisis. Established in 2020, this venture studio aligns with Crisis's broader mission of driving long-term, systemic change through policy, research, and frontline services. Recognizing the significant increase in households in temporary accommodation and the critical need for more social homes, the Venture Studio aims to prevent or end homelessness for up to 1 million people by backing scalable, sustainable solutions that improve access to quality, affordable housing. The investment strategy focuses on providing equity funding to businesses with the potential to drive efficiency and affordability in the housing sector. Crisis actively co-designs solutions with individuals who have experienced homelessness, ensuring that the startups' efforts are grounded in real-world insights and needs. They leverage Crisis's expertise to help founders create greater impact. Moreover, the Venture Studio nurtures a community of innovators and entrepreneurs, reinvesting any returns to tackle the underlying drivers of homelessness over the long-term. Crisis is deeply involved in advocating for policy changes, conducting research to understand homelessness, and providing direct support to those at risk or experiencing homelessness. The Venture Studio operates alongside these efforts to create a holistic approach to ending homelessness. By convening stakeholders across public, private, and third sectors, they aim to foster collaboration and drive meaningful change. The organization reinvests returns from their portfolio to further support new companies and projects, creating a sustainable funding cycle for tackling homelessness. Their work extends to influencing legislation, as seen in their contributions to the new homelessness law in Wales, and providing comprehensive support through Skylight centers across Great Britain.
Verge Healthtech Fund
Verge HealthTech Fund focuses on investing in transformative healthtech companies that aim to extend healthspan and improve healthcare accessibility, quality, and efficiency. They believe that healthtech can amplify the current health system by connecting traditional sectors with non-health sectors, reaching billions of people. The fund supports visionary founders who are creating transformative healthtech companies and addresses large unmet needs in health through platforms that can reach millions. They provide active expertise, access to a global ecosystem, and portfolio synergies to help companies scale from early to growth stage.
Wayra UK
Wayra UK is the Corporate Venture Capital (CVC) arm and open innovation platform of Telefónica. Their primary mission is to foster innovation and drive progress in startups by facilitating their collaboration with Telefónica and other organizations. They achieve this through a 'venture-client' approach, which provides startups with access to Telefónica's extensive network of 380 million customers, thereby accelerating their entry into global markets and facilitating scaling. Wayra also builds bridges between corporations and startups by investing in startups for other companies based on custom-designed investment theses. Wayra has evolved from a startup accelerator into a CVC fund with over 15 years of experience in the global entrepreneurial landscape. They operate hubs in Europe and Latin America, allowing startups to achieve a global presence. Since 2018, Wayra has played a significant role in open innovation, not only investing in startups, but also offering innovation services directly to Telefónica and other corporations through their open innovation platforms. Wayra focuses on identifying and supporting disruptive projects within the startup ecosystem. They aim to incorporate these innovations into Telefónica's operations, generating impactful results. Their open innovation services are designed to help other corporations enhance their own innovation strategies, further extending Wayra's influence on the entrepreneurial landscape. Their investment strategy is underscored by a set of core values, namely: 'Think Big,' encouraging ambition and challenging the status quo; 'Trust,' emphasizing honesty, integrity, and accountability; 'Bias for Action,' promoting determination and implementation focus; 'We Are One Team,' valuing collaboration and mutual support; and 'Have Fun,' highlighting the importance of enjoyment, empathy, and care throughout the venture journey.
1818Venturecapital
1818 Venture Capital focuses on backing the next generation of FinTech founders who are reshaping the financial services landscape, primarily in the UK and the Middle East, but extending beyond. They provide capital and expertise to companies from the first cheque to scale, supporting product innovation, business model reinvention, and technology-driven execution. The firm aims to invest early in people, technologies, and models that challenge the status quo, offering deep insight, strategic support, and long-term alignment to help founders navigate complexity, refine strategy, and unlock opportunity. They focus on building true partnerships with their portfolio companies, working shoulder to shoulder with founders from initial investment to exit. They aim to deliver exceptional returns while driving meaningful, lasting innovation. 1818 Venture Capital acts as a bridge connecting capital and innovation between the UK and the Middle East. The firm prides itself on being more than just a capital provider, emphasizing the value of their strategic guidance, market access, and network of sector specialists and institutional partners. The firm's partners have extensive experience in both public and private markets, with a focus on consistent performance and low failure rates, which contributes to their ability to provide a higher level of strategic oversight. The firm supports bold entrepreneurs who are transforming financial services, helping turn visionary concepts into realities through expert guidance. They also appear to value a strong operational approach from the internal team.
Air Street Capital
Air Street Capital is a venture capital firm focused on investing in AI-first companies. They aim to invest as early as possible, actively participating in the iteration of product, market, and technology strategies from the initial stages of a company's development. The firm is driven by the goal of creating enduring companies that have a lasting impact on their respective markets.
Aviva Ventures
Aviva plc is a UK-based diversified insurer with operations spanning insurance, wealth, and retirement. They also have significant operations in Ireland and Canada. The company's strategy is centered around Growth, Customer, Efficiency, and Sustainability. Aviva aims to be a strategic partner for national and regional growth in the UK, investing in homes, jobs, and regeneration. They plan to invest £25 billion over the next decade to support national growth and long-term economic resilience, building upon their existing £22 billion in UK real assets. Their investments are designed to drive local growth and back the UK's policy agenda, particularly in areas like decarbonizing housing, power, and transport, as well as supporting innovation and competitiveness through R&D hubs and skills investments. Aviva is focusing on markets where they operate at scale, with leading positions and profitable operations, leveraging their trusted brand and broad product offering to serve customers' needs. The company also emphasizes sustainability as a fundamental part of its strategy.
Change Ventures
Change Ventures focuses on backing ambitious Baltic founders at the pre-seed and seed stages. They provide initial investments ranging from €100k to €500k, offering hands-on support to help startups achieve product-market fit. A crucial aspect of their strategy involves leveraging a deep network of later-stage investors and partners to facilitate follow-on funding and scaling opportunities for their portfolio companies. They seek teams with the potential to build globally scalable businesses and prioritize investments in founders with the grit and determination to succeed. Their primary investment criteria center around the team's capabilities and resilience. They target local Baltic founders in Estonia, Latvia, or Lithuania, as well as those from the Baltic diaspora globally.
Leadblock Bitpanda Ventures
Leadblock Bitpanda Ventures (LBV) is a EU-based investment fund that concentrates on early-stage and pre-listing digital asset startups. They strategically target companies that drive the next crypto cycle, emphasizing the middleware and application layers that form the foundational infrastructure. Furthermore, they focus on user-oriented interfaces that are critical for facilitating mainstream adoption of Web3 technologies. By investing in these key segments, LBV aims to capitalize on the expanding digital asset ecosystem and its increasing integration into everyday life.
The49
The49 operates as both a venture studio and a corporate innovation partner. Their core thesis revolves around building and scaling innovative solutions with a focus on driving tangible impact and lasting value. They partner with established businesses to fuel growth through strategic initiatives, technological solutions, and creative approaches. Simultaneously, they collaborate with founders to validate, fund, and scale ventures, offering support from the initial concept to achieving significant traction. They don't view innovation as a mere buzzword but as a driving force for creating sustainable and positive change. The firm emphasizes a hands-on, execution-oriented approach, distinguishing themselves from traditional consultancies. They prioritize agile, focused teams, transparent processes, and flexibility for their clients. They aim to solve complex challenges and deliver measurable results by combining strategy, technology, and creativity. The49 is committed to identifying and nurturing bold ideas, empowering visionaries to shape the future across various industries. Their methodology is based on creating solutions that contribute to business growth while also making a positive impact on the world. Their dual approach – corporate innovation and venture studio – allows them to leverage insights and resources across both domains. They work with startups that disrupt and define industries, providing guidance and support to scale ventures. Additionally, they help corporate clients to rethink business models, identify opportunities, and take strategic leaps with confidence. Their focus is on helping businesses navigate the complexities of the modern landscape and seize opportunities for growth and innovation. The49's approach involves building digital products, platforms, and software to unlock new revenue streams, optimize operations, and create solutions that were previously unattainable. They have a deep understanding of the challenges faced by businesses, and they are committed to delivering practical solutions that drive real results. They aim to build lasting partnerships with clients and founders, helping them to achieve their vision for the future.
Initial Capital
Initial Capital partners with world-class entrepreneurial teams to build global category winners in the Bitcoin ecosystem, consumer products, and technology enablers. They provide active support beyond capital, leveraging their own entrepreneurial experience to guide companies through product, tech, recruitment, and growth challenges.
Jonathan Hollis
I invest in UK startups qualifying for EIS raising a late seed or A round.
Mountside Ventures
Mountside Ventures is positioned as a leading accelerator and advisory firm in Europe, focusing on optimizing the fundraising process for both startups and investors. They aim to be the first point of contact for founders and funds seeking capital, operating across the entire venture value chain from pre-seed to growth stages. Their approach involves offering accelerator programs, providing interim CFO and fundraising advice, and connecting startups with a network of venture capital firms, family offices, and corporate venture capital firms. They also work with venture capital funds, accelerating fund managers and identifying promising managers for Limited Partners, in addition to building connections for Family Offices. Mountside Ventures focuses on supporting ambitious entrepreneurs to become the next generation of technology leaders. Their model revolves around leveraging their experience from building early-stage startup propositions at Big 4 firms, indicating a deep understanding of the challenges faced by early-stage companies. They claim to have advised startups that have raised over £500m with a combined valuation of £3bn. The firm's strategy seems to be two-fold: direct support to startups through fundraising advisory, and also through acting as an intermediary between startups, VCs, LPs and Family Offices. They run free accelerator programs funded by corporates, VCs and government organisations. For more mature companies they offer interim CFO and fundraising support and growth equity advice and debt advice. The firm claims to have facilitated over £210m in funding for their clients. Mountside Ventures appears to be a hybrid model, combining accelerator, advisory and placement agency services, all focused on facilitating the flow of capital within the European startup ecosystem. They are also a B Corp.
Pario Ventures
Pario Ventures backs founders who are building real businesses, focusing on companies that demonstrate pragmatism and commercial execution rather than hype. They invest at Seed and Series A stages, prioritizing partners who understand what it takes to build, scale, and survive the challenges of early-stage growth. The firm values founders who are resourceful, respect capital, and are focused on getting to market and building strong foundations. They are sector agnostic but highly value the team, resilience, and execution capabilities of the founders. They aren't looking for quick IPOs but sustainable growth, profitability, or strategic exits through M&A.
Ugly Duckling Ventures
Ugly Duckling Ventures (UDV) focuses on backing Nordic founders at the pre-seed and seed stages. Their investment strategy centers around providing capital, know-how, and real-world application to early-stage ventures. They aim to be active GPs, leveraging their experience as builders and business angels to help startups scale rapidly. UDV emphasizes building relationships with founders, valuing transparency, and offering straightforward communication. They take a hands-on, operational approach, actively engaging with their portfolio companies to prepare them for growth. A key differentiator is their GPs-only model, ensuring that portfolio founders work directly with experienced partners rather than junior account managers. Furthermore, their established network within the Danish startup community provides access to investors and resources that can assist portfolio companies.
Zero Carbon Capital
Backing visionary founders in Europe with pre-seed and seed investments in deep tech climate solutions that redefine industries by reducing costs and emissions.
7percent Ventures
7percent Ventures focuses on backing determined founders solving significant problems with the potential for 200x returns. They seek to invest in technologies and products that will become indispensable in ten years, aiming for breakthrough companies and technologies rather than incremental market iterations. The firm looks for moonshots, indicating a high-risk, high-reward investment strategy. They aim to invest in solutions to problems which impact a lot of people. With experience as ex-founders in both the U.K. and U.S., the firm provides expertise and capital through the networks they've co-founded. Their guiding principle is to help, not hinder, startups, empathizing with the challenges founders face due to their own operational backgrounds. They believe the venture capital journey is best for big risk, big outcome businesses – startups with exponential growth potential and sector-defining change. The firm name is based on the idea that a good early-stage growth rate is 5-7% a week.
Kohli Ventures
Kohli Ventures is the investment vehicle of entrepreneur and investor Tej Kohli. The firm focuses on exponential growth opportunities derived from the rapid technological progression by backing the founders of visionary growth-stage ventures. Their investment strategy centers around identifying and supporting companies in areas such as artificial intelligence, robotics, biotech, and esports. Additionally, Kohli Ventures practices a unique brand of ‘venture philanthropy’ by backing commercial ventures that have the potential to substantially improve human life. Kohli Ventures' investment criteria are unique in that Tej Kohli prefers to be the sole investor in a venture. This allows him to work directly alongside founders, providing not only capital but also substantial intellectual capital support. The firm is willing to fund all future funding requirements until an exit is achieved, ensuring consistent support throughout the company's growth journey. Tej Kohli's passion for deep tech drives the investments of Kohli Ventures. He leverages his experience as a successful entrepreneur to provide hands-on guidance and strategic insights to portfolio companies, helping them navigate the challenges of scaling and achieving their full potential. Kohli Ventures seeks to accelerate the growth of innovative companies and contribute to advancements in technology and human well-being.
Nesta Impact Investments
Nesta is a research and innovation foundation focusing on designing, testing, and scaling solutions to address significant societal challenges. Their strategy is driven by a mission to tackle issues such as inequality, obesity, and household carbon emissions. They leverage applied methods and innovation lifecycle expertise to create impactful solutions. Nesta's approach involves working across various stages of the innovation process. They aim to improve life chances by focusing on early childhood development, promoting healthier lifestyles by halving obesity rates, and fostering a sustainable future by reducing home carbon emissions. These objectives are targeted for achievement by 2030. Nesta extends its reach and impact through specialized units like BIT (Behavioural Insights Team) and Challenge Works. BIT utilizes behavioral science to improve public services and organizational effectiveness, while Challenge Works designs and manages challenge prizes to stimulate innovation in science, technology, and society. Equity, diversity, and inclusion are central to Nesta's operations. They actively work to reduce pay gaps, increase staff diversity, and ensure their projects deliver equitable outcomes for disadvantaged communities. They set specific goals, such as achieving representation of the UK's diversity in terms of ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, gender, and socioeconomic background by 2027.
6 Degrees Capital
Europe-based early-stage VC investing in Fintech, SaaS & AI startups
Bullhound Capital
Based on the limited information available, it's difficult to construct a comprehensive investment thesis. The website focuses primarily on showcasing portfolio companies and team members with links to their LinkedIn profiles. There's no explicit description of their investment strategy or the types of companies they look for. They likely focus on companies they believe are disruptive and have high growth potential, given the inclusion of companies like Revolut, Klarna, and Discord. They appear to be building with founders, suggesting a collaborative approach to venture capital.
Climate Investment (CI)
Climate Investment focuses on high-emission sectors (65%+ of global GHGs) underserved by innovation capital (<25%). It combines venture/growth equity with deep industry partnerships to accelerate market adoption of scalable, capital-efficient climate tech solutions. Emphasis on measurable GHG impact alongside financial returns, leveraging a methodology aligned with Project Frame for impact assessment.