London-based company backs European entrepreneurs

A London-based investment company has raised an additional £100 million to enable early-stage entrepreneurs across Europe to grow their companies.

Octopus Ventures, which is part of the Octopus Group, provides support for companies through all stages, from start-up stage to later growth. The company’s early stage funds are now in excess of £400 million.

News of the company’s additional fundraising comes after the launch of the £90 million Octopus Opportunities Fund, which provides growth capital to later stage companies across Europe.

Partnerships

In addition to investment, Octopus Ventures also builds long-term partnerships with entrepreneurs to help them achieve success.

The company invests over £75 million each year and is one of the most active investment companies in Europe. It has worked with a wide range of successful companies, including Zoopla Property Group, Property Partner and SwiftKey.

The company has invested in 11 new businesses in the past year and now has over 50 investments in its portfolio.

Opportunity

Octopus Ventures head Alex Macpherson stated that the company has been fortunate to back some “outstanding entrepreneurs” over the years and that many of them come back to the company “time and again” with new ventures or go on to introduce the company to other “exciting” businesses.

He added: “Adding a further £100 million to our early stage funds indicates the opportunity and belief we have in the developing European entrepreneurial ecosystem, and provides Octopus with the funds to continue to support these exceptional entrepreneurs. At Octopus, we want to be there supporting them from the beginning of their business journey to the later stages of growth.”