Tom March

You will never retain great companies when your stock market is perceived as unattractive. LSE has a chronic lack of liquidity. Of the $11.9 billion raised via IPOs in Europe this year, just over 2% was in the UK—the lowest in decades, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. This compares to an average share of 31% between 2012 and 2023, the data shows.

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I couldn’t be prouder to be a Venture Partner at Isomer Capital (aka the best European FoF - at least for me) as we just announced the launch of our pioneering £100m secondaries fund. This fund is dedicated to acquiring stakes from LPs in various VC funds, tapping into a massive and largely unexplored market. 🌟 Key Highlights: - Focused Investment: Primarily targeting stakes in VC funds, with selective investments in private companies. - Robust Funding: Already over 20% funded, thanks to strong support from Nordic family offices and a German foundation. - Market Potential: With a growing number of private tech companies and a VC liquidity crunch, Europe's VC secondaries market is poised for rapid growth. - Track Record: This isn’t Isomer’s first foray into the secondaries market. As a firm we’ve done several secondaries deals with portfolio companies and VC firms, including early-stage VC Seedcamp (in 2021) and mobility giant Bolt (in 2023). - Expert Team: Welcoming the amazing Omolade (Rachel) A., formerly of Coller Capital, as a principal to lead this initiative. 💡 Investment Strategy: - 65-75% of the fund will buy "LP interest" stakes in VC funds. - 15-25% will be directed towards stakes in companies. - Up to 15% reserved for flexible investment opportunities. 📈 Looking Ahead: We're targeting returns of 2-3x, with significant distributions expected in the next 4-7 years. As one of the few players in this space, we're not just participating in the market—we're driving it forward. Read all about it here: https://lnkd.in/dc7sbC3G #VentureCapital #SecondariesFund #EuropeanVC

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At the seed stage, the most exciting conversations occur when a founder conveys a clear and compelling vision of the opportunity they are pursuing. Although the path to get there is uncertain, they have an extraordinary clarity about the destination. Our role is to "see what they see." In 2016, Simon Phelan pitched us an "Amazon for energy," a one-stop shop for all energy needs enabled by technology. He described a future where, as the grid becomes more decentralized and closer to our homes (solar panels, heat pumps, etc), value would shift from traditional energy suppliers to those who can connect customers with multiple renewable solutions as well as finance them. He saw an opportunity to build a new type of energy company. Last week, Simon's vision came one step closer to reality with the announcement of a £250 million asset-backed facility with Barclays. It's amazing to see his original idea materialise after eight years of building the company step by step. Simon chose the unglamorous boiler as his entry point; then grew an installer network, both organically and through M&A; before expanding their product range to solar panels and heat pumps. The next stage was to bring in financing from one of the UK’s best known banks, as well as a debt facility from one of the world’s biggest asset managers, BlackRock. It's estimated that an investment of £250 billion will be needed to fully decarbonise UK homes by 2050. Who is going to finance this infrastructure upgrade? Hometree 's connection to the capital markets is a real milestone to get us there and signals the emergence of a new type of energy company that is just getting started.

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Not quite sure what to make of my appearance with Chris on stage yesterday at SuperVenture being described as the 'Morecambe and Wise of ESG'... Hopefully we weren't too slapstick, but it was great to represent ESG_VC and the British Private Equity & Venture Capital Association (BVCA), sharing the key findings from our latest research. It was also great to be joined on stage by Giulia and Grace to reflect on these findings and discuss how and where ESG is now being embedded throughout the venture ecosystem, particularly within portfolio companies. A few key takeaways for us all: 1️⃣ Don't let perfection be the enemy of progress... One that applied to both VCs and portfolio companies - quick and efficient solutions will be more impactful than long and detailed processes. Identify your objectives and move quickly to find a good solution, as you can always refine and improve over time. 2️⃣ Think about your 'ESG mindset'... Giulia shared an insight into Sofina's screening process for GPs, which includes an analysis of the firm's ESG mindset - how seriously are you embedding an ESG strategy and translating policies and processes into long-term progress? 3️⃣ The commercial case for ESG is strong, and growing... Grace highlighted the importance of stressing to portfolio companies - particularly those selling into large corporates - that regulation and reporting requirements are making ESG data and carbon accounting critical to winning contracts and customers. Ps: photo credit to Tony Greenham!

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🌍 Innovating How We Spend and Access Health and Wellness: The Global Scalability of Mentwell 🌍 As the Chairman of Mentwell, I’m excited to share the innovative strategies that will set us apart and enable us to scale globally with ease. At Mentwell, our mission is to revolutionise how people spend on health and wellness around the globe. By providing personalised, accessible, seamless experiences, we are able to truly created a distinguished offering for consumers who want to gift wellness to businesses who want their employees at their best. 🔧 One Innovation Behind Mentwell: Our platform leverages advanced merchant codes, which means we don’t need to sign up each individual supplier separately. This is a game-changer because it allows us to: ·     Streamline Integration: Quickly and efficiently incorporate a diverse array of services and products without the usual lengthy onboarding processes. ·      Enhance Accessibility: Provide our users with a broader selection of health and wellness resources from the best providers worldwide. ·      Maintain Flexibility: Adapt and expand our offerings based on emerging trends and user needs, ensuring we stay at the forefront of mental health innovation. 🌟 Why Mentwell Can Scale Globally: 1.    Universal Application: Mental wellness is a universal need, and our platform is designed to cater to diverse cultures and lifestyles. 2.    Scalable Technology: Our use of merchant codes allows for rapid and scalable integration with suppliers across different regions without extensive administrative overhead. 3.    Global Network: By not being tied to individual supplier sign-ups, we can leverage local card networks, ensuring our users have access to the Mentwell ecosystem, no matter where they are. Join us on this journey to make pay for health and wellness accessible to everyone, everywhere. Together, we can build a healthier, happier world. #Innovation #MentalWellness #GlobalScalability #TechInnovation #MentalHealth #Mentwell #HealthTech

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Great insights from Adam Agius on what to consider when raising debt for a search fund buyout. Most relevant to the UK market, but a worthwhile read for all searchers. There's more debt capital keen to support search acquisitions than ever before, but approaching it naively can be very costly...

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Its's a deal flow time! We are about to share the details of 637 start-ups who joined Rare Founders London's largest #demoday 2 weeks ago with all the investors (only verified ones) in our community. If you are a #founder who is #fundraising and want to get more exposure to investors (IT'S FREE) - submit your details following the link in comments. If you are an #investor interested in pre-seed to series A start-ups join our community (link in comments) to get access access to the monthly deal flow. Please tag #investors and #founders who this might be applicable for.

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🎉 Exciting time with the incredible team at Isomer Capital 🎉 Super thrilled about the news we shared with the world last week. It has us all buzzing with excitement. At Isomer, we've long been dedicated to providing liquidity in the European VC space. And now, we're taking it to the next level with the launch of our dedicated fund. What is it, you ask? A fund that will invest in secondaries at all levels within the European VC ecosystem—LPs, GPs, companies, founders, angels, and even employees. And because there is limited liquidity solutions to LPs that have invested in European VCs, around 70% of our fund will go towards LP stakes. With the support of our Cornerstone investors, we've reached this significant milestone in our journey. But the work has only just begun, which myself and my incredible team have already started smashing through ... first 2 deals closing in a matter of weeks. Watch this space! 😉 #Isomer #VentureCapital #Secondaries #EuropeanVC #Investing #Liquidity #ImpactInvesting #Teamwork #Milestone

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Great to speak at Alma College: Lessons on Due Diligence today alongside the fantastic Rupa Ganatra Popat of Arāya Ventures. This is one of a series of events run by Alma Angels to help angel investors who want to learn more about investing. If you are an angel investor interested in supporting female founders, please check out Alma. Link in comments shortly. #founders #startups #venturecapital #buildinginpublic #investinginpublic More at unbundled dot vc.

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There are many untold success stories where PE has transformed undervalued and underperforming companies, generating substantial returns. In the UK, PE supported nearly 1,500 businesses in 2023, empowering management teams with long-term strategies and access to new markets. Unlike traditional public companies burdened by short-term profit pressures and regulatory demands, PE-backed firms focus on growth and operational improvements. This approach allows for streamlined decision-making and reinvestment in core strategies, fostering a culture of purpose and entrepreneurial innovation. PE's success lies in strategic clarity, operational focus, and a supportive partnership with management, contrasting with the constraints often faced by publicly traded companies. Read More Here: https://lnkd.in/eEnYudDj The Times Richard Harpin Branded Hospitality Ventures #hospitality #restaurants #technology #finance Noah Stern Matthew Lerner Kim Karmitz Derrek Ross Tarek M.

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Liquidity or exit planning is often taboo leading to many companies being ill prepared. Successful outcomes are years in the making - they start and end with proactive prep (e.g. getting your house in order, developing strong relationships with strategic partners, potential investors and advisors). With Scott Colvin & Paul Perrett we lay out some key actions you should embed now that can set you up for exit success and also make you a better run business today Big thanks to Bree Fedele 🖋

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To achieve outsized returns in a maturing and increasingly crowded private markets space, investors should start leveraging all dimensions of diversification when building their portfolios! That comes with building the right teams to unlock differentiated sources of dealflow 🔔

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🔥 VNXD Private Equity 🔥 If I had a pound for every time someone suggested this (included many of the M&A Advisers we deal with), I'd have.... a lot of pounds! But seriously, in the last 5 years, we've amassed 20,000+ board advisers, many of whom have built and exited their own companies. Nearly 5,000 members have also indicated they're open to investing in companies, whether actively as Board Advisers or passively, if the right opportunity arises. So.... We’ve got 20,000+ highly connected members, advising tens of thousands of boardrooms, with over 80% of our members telling us they were appointed specifically to help with strategic and exit planning strategies. Hmm... And let's talk about the level of funds – those indicated investment sums are now in excess of £450,000,000. Imagine if we decided to do something.... The potential impact is enormous. We could drive significant strategic growth, create more successful exits, and provide substantial investment opportunities. The possibilities are truly limitless. 🚀💼 But that's not in our plans and we are not a regulated vehicle so this post, as they say, is pure parody. Or is it? 😜 #StrategicGrowth #BoardAdvisers #InvestmentOpportunity #BusinessPotential #NextLevel #InnovateToGrow #ecosystem

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📰 Great to be featured on the latest Sifted article by Amy Lewin Joe Schorge, Maria Rotilu and I share our thoughts on the topic of ''How many new #VC funds does Europe need?'' and the ''rise in solo GPs across Europe'' 💭 TLDR: In my opinion, Solo GPs are fantastic! They truly do care and are super useful with great networks, hunger and high-speed. However many solo GPs don’t lead deals at pre-seed, and the European ecosystem could do with a few more funds that do. But there are exceptions, such as Germany’s Gloria Baeuerlein, Finn Murphy, and Max Claussen, to name a few. Full article here: https://lnkd.in/dWXUFsWb

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Great interview with one of the best VCs out there. Lot's of good stuff in this article. One point worth highlighting on the eternal debate whether there is enough growth capital in Europe: great companies will always manage to raise money, no matter where they are based.

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Please consider following Periodic Ventures and check out our offering for startup companies in the link below!

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Did you know that a number of private equity firms request their incoming non-executive or chair to commit some capital as a show of commitment, often referred to as having "skin in the game"? At Virtualnonexecs.com, we make sure to understand the appetite and ability of our chairs and non-executives to co-invest, should the need arise. 📈 To date, over 4,700 of our members have indicated they can and will invest, with the aggregate total reaching an astonishing £400,000,000! In June alone, this figure increased by £12,000,000. 💼 This collective firepower and the vast sums of indicated funds highlight the strength and commitment of our network. 👼 💸 Are we the largest Angel Network in the UK by accident? #Virtualnonexecs #AngelInvestors #PrivateEquity #Investment #NonExecutiveDirectors #Leadership #SkinInTheGame #BusinessGrowth

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We have a long track record of co-investing with Corporate Venture Capital (CVC) partners. Throughout our journey, we've encountered a range of approaches, from amateurs who mistake minority investment positions for M&A, to state-of-the-art professionals who excel beyond most commercial venture firms. Agriculture is a sector under disruptive pressure from various angles. Chemistry is shifting towards biotech, input financing is evolving from paper and Excel barter transactions to AI-powered fintech solutions, and brick-and-mortar distribution is moving online. CVC is a critical tool for large organizations to understand and anticipate these sea changes, serving both defensive and offensive strategic purposes. Over the past five years, SP Ventures has had no better mentor and colleague than Syngenta Group Ventures Managing Director David Pierson. David brings decades of experience in leadership roles across Pharma, Commercial VC, and CVC. His unwavering values, wholehearted commitment to founders, and passion for the industry are unmatched. At SP Ventures, we have the honor of having David as a hands-on LP and co-investor in multiple transactions. His mentorship has significantly elevated our capabilities and approach. We sincerely believe Syngenta Group Ventures is the most professional corporate venture investor in agriculture. We proactively seek their partnership for syndicate building and knowledge sharing. It was an honor to have David Pierson and the Syngenta Group Ventures at our annual flagship event, Harvesting Innovation II. David has been an invaluable friend and unwavering partner to our firm for the past five years, anchoring our Fund II—our first offshore Latin America agtech fund. Thanks to his mentoring and advice, we have solidified our position as the leaders in the Latin American agtech venture scene. Agrofy Arado Traive #agtechbrazil #agtechlatam #agtech #agfintech #spventures #harvestinginnovation #harvestinginnovationii #harvestinginnovaton2024

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A HUGE thank you to everyone involved in publishing the latest report from ESG_VC and the British Private Equity & Venture Capital Association (BVCA) today! The report is packed full of useful insights into how start-ups are actually performing across their work on environmental, social, and governance issues. There's also a brand new roadmap for ESG in start-ups with specific guidance on the initiatives to implement from Pre-Seed through to Series C and beyond. A particular shout out to everyone involved in the production including Suzi Gillespie and Ewa Skornas at the BVCA, David Strong and Dianne Skurray at Marriott Harrison, and Susannah Philipson and Nadeem Muzaffar at Seven Hills, who designed this beautiful report. I'm also massively grateful for all of the hard work that our VC contributors put into compiling data from 587 portfolio companies across the UK, Europe, and around the world - a few names to mention include Ashleigh, Shanice, Lauren, Laure, Michelle, Jason, Hessel, Emily, Beth, Joe, James, Eugenia, Alex, Grace, Emma, Emily, Lucy, Cordelia, Nina, Raj, and Rob. Thank you to you all! And thanks as ever to the remaining members of our steering group for their ongoing support of ESG_VC - Antonia at Seedcamp, Leslie at Astanor Ventures, Natalie at Lakestar, Andrew at Par Equity, and of course Karen McCormick for all of your support at Beringea! Check out the full report via the link in the comments! And let us know what you think about it! #ESG_VC #sustainability #venturecapital

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