AlbionVC

2️⃣0️⃣2️⃣4️⃣ has been a transformative year for us at AlbionVC, marked by: ✨£84m in capital raised, ✨11 new investments (Gridcog, INSTINCT DIGITAL, Mondra, OpenDialog AI, OpenTrade, Oriole Networks, Stanhope AI, Treefera, trumpet 🎺), ✨1 significant exit (Egress, a KnowBe4 company), ✨4 Partner promotions (Adam Chirkowski, Cat McDonald, Nadine Torbey, Paul Lehair). ❇️ Our companies also performed strongly, with a combined ARR of over $500m. Highlights include Quantexa reaching $100m ARR and forming a partnership with Microsoft, multiple companies advancing to Series A (Gaussion, Oriole Networks, tem.) ✴️ A significant ecosystem impacts like creating 5,170+ jobs, improving 780,000+ patient outcomes, and supporting 14 women founders via the #Radiaccelerator program. Looking to 2️⃣0️⃣2️⃣5️⃣, we see tremendous potential for UK tech to produce a trillion-dollar company, leveraging a maturing entrepreneurial ecosystem, university-led innovation, and favorable market conditions. We’d like to say a big thank you to all our founders, co-investors and friends. Here's to a year of bold ideas, meaningful impact, and shared success. Read the full winter newsletter here: https://lnkd.in/e_p6TnU7 #goodbye2024 #welcome2025 #VC #venturecapital #founders #entrepreneurs #investors #startups #universityspinouts #ecosystem #impact

What does DeepSeek AI mean for European venture capital? The rise of Chinese AI startup DeepSeek has sent ripples through the AI ecosystem, redefining cost structures, accelerating adoption, and prompting a strategic shift for startups, investors, governments and Big Tech. AlbionVC deeptech investor Sebastian Hunte explores the far-reaching implications of DeepSeek’s innovation for our ecosystem. While many questions still remain, it is clear that the #AI race is far from over—but with DeepSeek’s approach, the rules of the game may be changing faster than we anticipated. Read Seb’s full insights here: https://lnkd.in/eXYJuGiR #AI #DeepSeek #TechInnovation #VentureCapital #Startups #tech #ArtificialIntelligence #MachineLearning #StartupEcosystem #TechInnovation #DeepTech #GenerativeAI #VCInsights

IONATE, a pioneering deeptech company transforming the future of smart electricity grids, has announced today a $17m Series A to drive the modernisation of global power infrastructure. The funding round led by us at AlbionVC was joined by an exceptional syndicate of investors, including IQT (In-Q-Tel) (IQT), JGC MIRAI Innovation Fund, Santander InnoEnergy Climate Fund, and Antares Ventures, alongside existing backers IQ Capital, Zero Carbon Capital, and Cycle Group. With electricity demand projected to double by 2050 and aging grid infrastructure requiring urgent modernisation, IONATE is positioned at the forefront of this critical transformation. Its Hybrid Intelligent Transformer (HIT) and Aurora software platform provide a first-of-its-kind, full-stack solution—enabling real-time power control, increased grid efficiency, and AI-driven smart grid capabilities. The company is already working with industry leaders such as EDP and scaling its solution to data centers, while also receiving prestigious recognition from NATO’s DIANA program. Dave Grimm, Partner AlbionVC said: “IONATE is pioneering grid technology that supports the energy and environmental requirements of modern grid infrastructure. Matthew and the team have quickly gained traction with utilities and strategics, showcasing the potential of their innovative full stack hardware-software solution. Their patented technology and first-mover advantage position IONATE to deliver a transformative, long-term product that brings the promise of clean electricity alongside performance requirements.” Congratulations to Matthew Williams, Founder & CEO, and the whole team at IONATE — together shaping the future of clean, intelligent electricity. Sifted has more here: https://lnkd.in/ed-fw_wH #Deeptech #SmartGrids #EnergyTransition #Innovation #startups #funding #SeriesA #VC #venturecapital

What does it take to be an exceptional CEO? At 𝐀𝐥𝐛𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐕𝐂 𝐒𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐢𝐨, we bring together our top founders and leadership teams with experienced operators and advisors to tackle the toughest challenges of scaling a business. This week, we hosted a CEO coaching roundtable with Tim Jackson—CEO Coach and General Partner at Walking Ventures—who shared invaluable insights on what it takes to lead effectively today and stay exceptional over the next two years. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝟑𝐱𝟑 𝐂𝐄𝐎 𝐬𝐤𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐬 𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐱 🔹 Personal Effectiveness ✅ Focus – Knowing what to do (and what not to do). ✅ OKRs – Setting objectives and measuring results effectively. ✅ Time Management – Handling constant inbound priorities. 🔹 Team Leadership ✅ Hiring & Firing – Recruiting, motivating, and replacing talent when necessary. ✅ C-suite Relations – Managing evolving executive roles as the company grows. ✅ One-on-Ones – Mentoring and guiding direct reports effectively. 🔹 Company-Wide Impact ✅ Building Culture – Reinforcing company values. ✅ Board Skills – Using governance and directors’ expertise effectively. ✅ Fundraising – Crafting a compelling investment narrative and closing deals. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐲? 𝐏𝐢𝐜𝐤 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐤𝐧𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐩𝐞𝐧 You don’t have to be great at everything. The best CEOs sharpen a few key skills and build a team to complement their strengths. A huge thank you to Tim for leading such a thought-provoking session and to all the founders who joined us. If you're a CEO looking to sharpen your leadership edge, we'd love to hear from you. #FoundToLead #Leadership #CEO #Startups #VentureCapital #StartupLeadership #FounderTips #ScalingStartups #CEOCoaching #ExecutiveLeadership

We’re thrilled to see Runa featured in TRAC’s "30 Early-Stage Startups in 2025 Most Likely to Become Tech’s Next Unicorns"! Runa is revolutionizing payments infrastructure in fintech, enabling embedded payouts, rewards, and incentives. Founded in 2016 by CEO Aron Alexander, the company has grown tremendously with £58.8m raised to date. At AlbionVC, we believed in Runa’s vision early on, leading their Series A round in 2020. Watching their growth since then has been inspiring, reinforcing our belief in their innovative approach and potential for unicorn status. As Runa continues to redefine the way businesses approach payouts and rewards, we're proud to be part of their journey. Business Insider has more here: https://lnkd.in/duTwgn96 #FintechInnovation #VentureCapital #techstartups #embeddedfinance #PaymentsInfrastructure #VC #startups #founders

We are proud to share that AlbionVC backed Peppy and Gravitee have been recognised in #TheSundayTimes 100 list of Britain’s fastest-growing private tech companies. Peppy (#4) Founded in 2018 by Evan Harris, Max Landry and Dr Mridula Pore, Peppy has been a leader in transforming employee benefits through personalised support during life’s critical health stages. Notable milestones include: ⏫ Achieving 10x growth since their Series A in 2021 🤝 Partnering with over 250 enterprise businesses, including Google, Adobe and JP Morgan Gravitee (#36) Gravitee, led by Rory Blundell, enables organisations to efficiently manage, secure, and govern APIs across their operations. Notable milestones include: 💰 $66m raised to date 🌎 Serving over 215 customers globally 🚀 Delivering near 100% annual sales growth over three years Congratulations to both teams on this recognition. At AlbionVC, we continue to be inspired by the determination and vision of UK founders tackling critical challenges and driving innovation forward. Full list of companies from The Times: https://lnkd.in/eutHt7Je #startup #TheSundayTimesTech100

🔒Non-Human Identity Management: The New Frontier of Secure Identity. Automation, AI, and IoT are rapidly reshaping the digital landscape, with non-human identities (NHIs) – think machines, applications, APIs, and devices – set to outnumber human users by 50 to 1. Yet, securing these identities is often overlooked. Valérie Aelbrecht, Investment Manager at AlbionVC, dives into the growing significance of Non-Human Identity Management (NHIM)   Why NHIM Matters: 🧫Rising Automation: With NHIs performing autonomous tasks, their secure operation is vital. 🧫Evolving Threats: Cybercriminals increasingly target NHIs due to weak security protocols. 🧫Expanding Attack Surfaces: Driven by IoT, cloud computing, and complex IT infrastructure. 🧫AI's Role: AI tools like FraudGPT simplify bot creation, necessitating stricter controls. 🧫Overprivileged NHIs: Excessive permissions often go unchecked, posing significant risks. 🧫Regulatory Compliance: Frameworks like GDPR demand robust controls for NHIs. Innovations in NHIM are driving progress across industries. From Identity and Access Management (IAM) to Digital Twin Identity Management, innovators like Gravitee, Panaseer, and Innerworks are making strides. These solutions manage API access, monitor security controls, and enhance Zero Trust architectures, ensuring NHIs operate securely and efficiently. 🦾 Other trailblazers in the space are Cofide, Periphery, Tracebit, Cakewalk and several other innovative European players. If you’re working on something exciting in this area, we’d love to hear from you!   Special thanks to Marc Moesse from Panaseer for his insights.    Read more here: https://lnkd.in/eiM-TSvE #NHIM #Innovation #Cybersecurity #IoT #AI #Automation #CloudComputing #APISecurity #IdentityManagement #TechInnovation #VentureCapital #StartupEcosystem #EmergingTechnologies

🚀 Why We’re Bullish on London University Spinouts 🚀 At AlbionVC, we see immense potential emerging from the UK’s world-class research institutions. The foundations for success have never been stronger. Today, 90% of Russell Group universities have affiliated funds ( as reported by Sifted: https://lnkd.in/euZwWK7V ), tech transfer offices are proactively standardising spinout terms, and a growing number of students see entrepreneurship as their top career ambition. The UK is evolving into a powerhouse for transforming academic innovation into high-growth ventures. Nowhere is this more evident than in London. Since 2016, we've had the privilege of partnering with UCL Business Ltd through the UCL Technology Fund, witnessing firsthand the transformative power of academic spinouts. UCLTF has backed 24 spinouts, in Physical Sciences & Engineering and Life Sciences, that went on to raise over £2 billion in external funding while tackling some of the world’s biggest challenges. Fund 1 alone delivered four Nasdaq IPOs. What’s behind the untold story of London’s IP strength? 🌍 London is the startup capital of Europe – Between 2015-2024 London startups raised over $100 billion, far surpassing other European cities (Atomico report 2024) 💡 Research to rival the Bay Area and Boston – The UK and US each have four universities in the global top 10, with similar rankings in the Nature Index 🏙 Global leadership in tomorrow's tech – London institutions are at the forefront of quantum computing, photonics and biotech, turning cutting-edge research into fast-growing companies like Oriole Networks, Phasecraft and Quell Therapeutics 🧮 Unrivalled ecosystem for scaling – London offers access to top-tier talent and experienced leadership 🦄 A proven track record – UCL and Imperial have produced 12 unicorns and pioneering global companies, with DeepMind—one of Europe’s most successful startups—rooted in UCL research With the combination of London’s vibrant ecosystem, supportive government agenda, and highly driven academic founders, the opportunities to build and invest in IP-rich ventures have never been greater. The platform shifts we’re seeing today are operating at an extraordinary scale, and much of this innovation is coming from university research. We are firm believers that now is the time to harness this momentum and create the next wave of global tech giants. #Innovation #UKResearch #Spinouts #TechFunding #UniversityInnovation #DeepTech #LifeSciences #VentureCapital #Startups

The UK tech scene in 2025 is poised for transformative growth, with AI talent, government initiatives, and compute innovation at the forefront. Kai Nicol-Schwarz at Sifted asked VCs to share their forecasts for 2025. Dave Grimm, Partner at AlbionVC, highlighted the transformative potential of advanced computing technologies, including some key points below: 🌐 As Moore’s Law falters and AI's computational demands surge, next-gen computing technologies—like in-memory, neuromorphic, photonic/optical, and quantum computing—are becoming essential. These once-niche fields are now driving innovation, as evidenced by companies like Nvidia. 📈 The UK, with its world-class engineering talent and pioneering institutions like the London Centre for Nanotechnologies, is well-positioned to lead this revolution. However, to build globally significant companies, we must address scaling challenges and attract domain leaders from Silicon Valley. 💡𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝘂𝘁𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗱𝗲𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝘅𝘁 𝘄𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗴𝗹𝗼𝗯𝗮𝗹 𝘁𝗲𝗰𝗵 𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘄𝘁𝗵. 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝘀 𝗮 𝗽𝗶𝘃𝗼𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗺𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗨𝗞 𝘁𝗼 𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗲 𝗮𝘀 𝗮 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗶𝗻 𝗮𝗱𝘃𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗱 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴. We are going deep on the #topic and will be sharing more over the coming weeks, stay tuned! Read more on Sifted: https://lnkd.in/ea_Smqp7 #TechInnovation #FutureOfCompute #VCInsights #UKTech #AI #AdvancedComputing #deeptech #tech #uktech