Robin Klein

London, UK based growth investor Copilot Capital recently launched a fund 💸 $200M fund seeded by an investment division of The Friedkin Group. 💡 Investing up to $40M in European software start-ups looking to scale and help founders drive further growth and profitability, with a specific focus on go-to-market strategy, internationalisation, acquisitions, and data & AI. 🌍 #Europe 📈 Alongside the fund’s launch, Copilot Capital has made its first investment into Danish-based Relesys, an all-in-one employee app for frontline workers in the retail industry. 💭 “There are 60,000 SaaS companies across Europe. Our goal is to identify businesses with market-leading products and proven revenue models and equip them with the capital and expertise to scale into software champions.” - John Messer, Copilot Capital’s co-founder 🗞️by Tech Funding News https://lnkd.in/dSjYtXgY 👏 For the #AudaciousInvestors unleashing innovation and empowering tomorrow🚀 John I Charlie I Charlie I Dave I Alba I Kitarack I Zerxis I Kemar I Zarosh I Hannah I Team Copilot … #growthcapital #pe #funds #startups #entrepreneurs #uk #funding #tech #entrepreneurship #technology #innovation #venture #london

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"Funding Collapse sends investment in start-ups to six year low" The Times today covering the shocking stats that VenturePath uncovered, with our partner Beauhurst. Great quotes from supporters Michael Moore CEO, BVCA and Julian David CEO, techUK. * UK VC funding at Series A is -44% from last year, and worsening * Q3 24 is down a staggering 57% from Q2, itself down from Q1 * 9 in 10 seed funded startups cannot access Series A VC funding, the next 'rung on the funding ladder' * Just 32 future scaleup companies across the whole of the UK were able to access their first VC funding round in Q3...a 6 year low * Half a billion less capital is going in to UK scaleups at Series A, than just 2 years ago! As the UK scaleup funding gap widens, we are losing ground against other countries, at both startup stage (a position the UK worked hard to achieve, since 2011), and for scaleup support. OECD data: 13th in the world for scaleup support, and that's before Series A funding access dried up. I get that its confusing. Another report (BBB, Nations & Regions) released this week spoke of positive trends in private investment, stating "The data for Q2 2024 shows that investment value has continued to grow". Great, I love to see optimistic data. But under analysis that bundles venture with private equity (later stage), where a few megadeals skew the numbers. Otherwise the exact opposite is true. Our independent research here, for the UK ScaleUp Investment Mission, is laser beam focussed on Series A. The funding round where companies move from the c.1m startups launched each year, through the 2,179 that access seed funding, into the rarefied category of being recognised as future scaleups, attracting Series A funding (£2-10m). The UK venture landscape is currently funding just 248 pa of these companies, and declining. We've been sharing this urgent call for support with the new Government since the day after the election. I've personally met with several Ministers, and spoke to all the relevant Government departments. I will shamelessly repeat loudly what is at stake. UK scaleup funding at Series A has nearly halved in a year, and continues to decline steeply, more than halving in the last quarter. VenturePath developed The UK ScaleUp Investment Mission to convene the scaleup support ecosystem and £7bn of funders to help address this problem, to improve nationwide access to VC investment, and create more venture-backed successes. We have clear support, clear recommendations to reverse this decline in UK scaleup investment, and have made a clear ask of Government for participation in this, to ensure immediate action is taken to create the conditions for success for UK scaleups, ensuring the focus on growth isn't undermined by lack of capital, or equitable access to it. Government decision makers, we'd love your interest, to progress to action. HM Treasury: Rt Hon Rachel Reeves Spencer Livermore James Murray & CC Poppy Gustafsson (welcome to the debate).

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🚀 DMG Ventures has a fresh £50M to invest in consumer startups! 💥 A game-changer in the VC world, dmg ventures is stepping up with two new funds targeting consumer-focused startups from seed to Series A. With their backing, businesses could soar with a mix of cash and media credits. 🌱 📈 Despite Cazoo’s challenges, dmg ventures believes the market is ripe for growth. Think generative AI, sustainable products, and unforgettable experiences—areas with immense potential. 🌍 💡 DMG Ventures offers unique opportunities, providing not just capital but media visibility through Daily Mail Group’s extensive reach. Visibility + funding = growth! 📣 🔥 A question to the team at dmg ventures -What emerging trends in start ups are you most eager to support? Taos Edmondson, CFA Susanna Williams Manuel Lopo de Carvalho William Shott Credit goes to Tim Smith for this article ❤️ #newfund #vc

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The fall of seat based & the the rise of usage based pricing is a major trend in SaaS. Hear more about it from the experts at m3ter at Money20/20.

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Tonight, Anna Sweetman is joining a Startup Fundraising & Investment Panel hosted by Entrepreneurs Collective alongside investors from Kavedon Kapital, 21x21 and MMC Ventures. The conversation will cover a variety of topics around navigating the UK's fundraising landscape, including: 💡 How to stand out to investors 💡 Key decision-making factors for investors 💡 What to expect at different stages of funding 💡 Navigating common fundraising challenges

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Venture debt can be a powerful tool for founders looking to scale without sacrificing ownership. But where do you start? Our new playbook, developed in partnership with Jonny Boyarsky of Literally Helping Startups, breaks down everything you need to know—from choosing lenders to structuring deals aligned with your growth goals. Explore how venture debt can: -Extend your runway -Fuel growth -Support strategic initiatives The best part is you can access these benefits without additional equity dilution. Download the full playbook here: https://hubs.ly/Q02YJXhT0 #venturedebt #growthstage #lenders #nondilutive

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Here at planD we know it takes guts and grit to navigate the founder journey. Adapting to the bumps on the road should be seen as a sign of strength - find out how planD can help below⬇️ planD.co #planD #investors #eis #startups #fintech #secondaries #exitviadiversification™ #ShEx #innovation #startupinvesting #lockedincapital #thefounderjourney #angelinvesting #founders #downround

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When the first alphabet in these conversations changes from 'M" to 'B', you know the funding winter is transforming into spring 🌱 #VC #VentureCapital #Earlystagefunding Read more about the latest monthly funding report for VC funding in July 2024 here: ttps://https://lnkd.in/dhdWF8fP

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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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✍️ In her latest article on Fast Company, our Executive Director, Caroline Winnett, dives into the art of crafting a fundraising pitch that not only grabs attention, but also stays grounded & realistic. 📊 Caroline highlights the power of storytelling, the importance of showcasing unique value propositions, & the necessity of backing claims with solid data. 🚀 "The VC Funding Pitch: Founders Need to Stand Out But Still Be Grounded" is a must-read for any entrepreneur looking to secure venture capital. 🔗Check it out here: https://lnkd.in/g8rx8wXb #Entrepreneurship #VentureCapital #StartupSuccess #PitchPerfect #FastCompany

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I've started to crowdsource questions for our interview series recently. This time, the magic question for Richard Hughes from Gutter Capital was "How should VC funds budget for their VC Platform offerings?" I asked this to Richard because Gutter focuses on Talent as their VC Platform offering, when instead they could be dabbling in several other services for their founders. And I know they excel at it because I've spoken to their founders - and they LOVE the Gutter team and the sizeable impact they've had on sourcing talent for their startups! So then should VC funds only offer one Platform service to be budget-conscious and do it exceedingly well? Or do a little bit of everything and split the budget equally so they cover more ground for their founders? In this snippet, Richard shares what he believes young VC funds should consider when building their Platforms from scratch. P.S. - A special thanks to Carly Martin for this question!

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Are you considering apply for VC Pitch Day 2024? Hear from Part3 co-founder, Jack Sadler who received funding through last year’s #VCPitchDay. Here’s what he has to say about the experience. Q. Can you give us your elevator pitch? Jack: Part3 is a platform that simplifies construction administration through automation and intelligence. We are a niche within a niche. Q. Can you share your experience participating in last year’s pitch event in Toronto? Jack: The event was great. The evening networking event before the pitch day was a bit of a surprise to me. It was really valuable as we got to mingle with other founders and all the investors and connect with a lot of other members of the ecosystem. I’ve stayed in touch with a lot of people I met at the event. As for the pitch day, it was great - it’s a much more intimate kind of event as opposed to a typical pitch event. Q. How has participating in the event impacted your business? Jack: As a direct result of this event, I received three offers to invest and participate in my seed round. I also had other referrals that led to other opportunities and investment. I met people I never would have met organically, which was fantastic. Q. What advice would you give to someone considering applying for this year’s event? Jack: There is nothing to lose and so much to gain. This is not your typical pitch event because it’s not built to be a competition that fuels an audience. It’s a meaningful event conducted with utmost respect for your time. Like the fact that you get 25 minutes with the investors means you can paint the full picture of your business and still get substantial Q&A time with investors. Q. What’s next for Part3? Jack: We’re going to keep growing. We have a big, ambitious mission to become the complete operating system for architects and engineers throughout the construction administration process. BDO’s #VCPitchDay gets scaling and emerging #tech companies in front of some of the top #VentureCapitalists in the country. Applications close Sep. 12, 2024, for Halifax, Toronto, and Vancouver, and Sep. 26, 2024 for Montreal. Apply now. https://direc.to/kHvV

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Recent review for Octopus Ventures 🗣️ This founder shared some reasons why Octopus Ventures was a stand out - Quick & responsive - Reliable and insightful - Genuinely helpful - Has fair terms Definitely a founder-friendly VC to look out for! 🌟 Check out more reviews in our review platform below. It’s where founders support founders by leaving helpful and insightful reviews to help navigate through venture capital fundraising. 🤝

#fundingalert 💼Company: Slip 💰Funding: €2.9 Million ⚡Round: Seed  👥Investors: Adjuvo, Haatch Ventures, unbundled vc, the Side by Side Partnership, and a range of angels including ASOS’ Executive Vice President of Customer & Marketing, Dan Elton, and former CIO at Frasers and former CTO at John Lewis, Julian Burnett. In 2022, Slip debuted its software, which allows businesses to access fresh insights and data about their customers and revolutionise their receipt process. Well-known businesses like JD Sports & Beyond Retro have already adopted the Slip software. With this investment, it's technology will become even more powerful and more shops will be able to use receipts to analyse customer activity. The business plans to grow from its present seven-person staff. Tash Grossman, Mark Foster-Brown, Myles Dawson Read more - https://lnkd.in/g5HJcYbG To share your startup story write us on - [email protected] #Slip #revolutionise #businesses #businesses #news #funding #startup #startupnews #startuprise

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🚀Getting your first investment pitch deck right as an early-stage founder can mean the difference between success and failure. Founders often struggle with a lack of interest in their pitch deck, even if the company generates early revenue. 💷In our latest blog, we asked Ian S Dixon, our Head of Access to Finance, to share his top tips to help you with your deck and successfully secure finance. Find out what Ian recommends 👉https://ow.ly/LhPh50TVAcW #Startup #Investment #Fundraising #EarlyStage #BusinessGrowth #FinanceTips #Funding #BusinessStrategy #PitchPerfect

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"Platform" in VCs often feels undefined, and different at every firm. But one thing is clear: firms with dedicated platform teams are seeing higher investment returns. What is 'Platform' in VC? Think of it as a support engine for portfolio companies. Platform teams accelerate growth by providing: 1) Strategy & Growth 2) Talent Partner 3) Marketing & Brand Partner 4) Business Development & Partnerships Lead 5) Community Manager 6) Operations & Scaling Partner 7) Fundraising & Capital Advisor Platform in Venture Studios vs. VC Funds: The big difference? Timeframe. Venture Studio Platform: Involved from concept to exit, guiding startups from the very first spark of an idea. VC Platform: Steps in after the startup is funded, focusing on scaling and growth but not the initial concept phase. Both play critical roles—but understanding these distinctions helps founders and investors make the most of their platform relationships.

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"Platform" in VCs often feels undefined, and different at every firm. But one thing is clear: firms with dedicated platform teams are seeing higher investment returns. What is 'Platform' in VC? Think of it as a support engine for portfolio companies. Platform teams accelerate growth by providing: 1) Strategy & Growth 2) Talent Partner 3) Marketing & Brand Partner 4) Business Development & Partnerships Lead 5) Community Manager 6) Operations & Scaling Partner 7) Fundraising & Capital Advisor Platform in Venture Studios vs. VC Funds: The big difference? Timeframe. Venture Studio Platform: Involved from concept to exit, guiding startups from the very first spark of an idea. VC Platform: Steps in after the startup is funded, focusing on scaling and growth but not the initial concept phase. Both play critical roles—but understanding these distinctions helps founders and investors make the most of their platform relationships.

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Want a deeper glimpse into how people are feeling in the run-up to the UK elections? 🇬🇧 This whitepaper reveals the real human emotions behind the numbers. 🔍 Using Prolific’s pool of 200k+ participants and Voiceform's #AI technology, this poll captures authentic responses on a range of key political issues. It’s got extensive insights into how the UK truly feels about: * The current Conservative Party leadership under Rishi Sunak. * Keir Starmer’s opposition Labour Party and its changing direction. * Which policies and themes register as most critical for voters. * What it could take to sway voting intentions at this stage. You can download the full whitepaper here: https://lnkd.in/e9qSTQQd #UKgeneralelection #PoliticalInsights #UKPolitics

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