Octopus Ventures, part of Octopus Group, today announces it has assets of over €1billion targeted at the UK’s fastest-growing tech businesses, following the largest fundraise in its history.
Founded in 2007, Octopus Ventures has invested in 89 portfolio companies to date with 199 subsequent funding rounds.
Investments over the years include a number of household names and tech innovators including Big Health, Digital Shadows, Eve, Graze, Magic Pony, Swiftkey, Secret Escapes, and Zoopla. Identifying and taking a risk on talented entrepreneurs has led Octopus Ventures to successfully back and exit 10 businesses in recent years, several to some of the largest corporates in the world, including Microsoft, Google, Amazon and Twitter.
Octopus Ventures, which added 16 new companies to its portfolio in the last 12 months, will use the latest €230m fundraise to focus on supporting seed and early-stage businesses throughout their growth journey.
In recent years, the early stage investor has opened offices in New York, Shanghai and Singapore to support portfolio companies as they expand internationally and gain a foothold in new markets. During this period, the firm has also built a global network of Venture Partners – former executives and entrepreneurs – who advise on building long-term growth strategies that incorporate product development, marketing tactics and international expansion, to help the businesses scale quickly and effectively.
Alliott Cole, CEO, Octopus Ventures commented:
“We’ve always believed that the most talented and ambitious entrepreneurs choose their backers and not the other way around. By investing in our bench of Venture Partners in London, San Francisco, Singapore and Shanghai, as well as our US office in New York, we are increasingly well placed to offer a compelling mix of knowledge, expertise and network to entrepreneurs as they start and grow their businesses.
“This year’s fundraise of €230 million, following €150 million last year, offers us the opportunity to continue to invest in the most ambitious founders, often from Seed when it is just a founder with a bold idea and the makings of a team.’
“The UK’s entrepreneurial network has evolved rapidly over the past 11 years and the resources we now have at our disposal will better equip us to support the tech disruptors of the future. The pipeline of high potential, fast growth businesses has never been so strong and we are excited about the seed and early-stage ventures we can help scale.”
Alex Saint, CEO, Secret Escapes added:
“Octopus Ventures backed our team from the start and supported us with investment rounds throughout our growth journey. They demonstrated confidence in us from a very early stage and added value every step of the way with their connections, infrastructure and team. The assets now at their disposal will undoubtedly help nurture our entrepreneurial ecosystem and support the next generation of entrepreneurs.”
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For journalists in their professional capacity only. (Personal opinions may change and should not be seen as advice or a recommendation.) We do not offer investment or tax advice. Issued by Octopus Ventures. Octopus Ventures is part of Octopus Investments Limited, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Registered office: 33 Holborn, London, EC1N 2HT. Registered in England and Wales No. 03942880. Issued: April 2018.