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For Octopus, investment is just the start

The Ventures team at Octopus finds and supports talented individuals and exceptional businesses. We're straight-talking, human investors who back people, rather than specific sectors. We look for opportunities that are capable of creating, transforming or dominating an industry.

All our deals are UK-focused and we invest from £250,000 to £5 million in each business we support, including funds from the Octopus Venture Partners. Previous investments include LoveFiLM, Zoopla, TouchType, graze and Calastone.

We know how difficult it is to grow a company, as we've been there and done it ourselves. Most of the Ventures team at Octopus have been together for more than a decade and together we have a total of almost 200 years of business and investment experience.

If instead you are seeking debt-based or specialist finance please visit our Specialist Finance page

Ventures blog

George WhiteheadOsborne’s Budget for the entrepreneur
26 March 2013
by George Whitehead

Frederic LardiegMobile World Congress: the US leads mobile - but don’t count Europe out
12 March 2013
by Frederic Lardieg

George WhiteheadIncubator programmes have evolved to great launchpads for growing businesses
31 January 2013
by George Whitehead

Alex MacphersonAngels vs. VCs – the curse of the Devil’s Spawn
14 January 2013
by Alex Macpherson

Vicki HarrisThe dawn of a new era
31 December 2012
by Vicki Harris

Frederic LardiegYPlan app earns a ringing endorsement from Stephen Fry
20 December 2012
by Frederic Lardieg

Frederic LardiegOur investment in YPlan
27 November 2012
by Frederic Lardieg

Frederic LardiegWhy Smart Phones Are The Smart Choice for Venture Capital
06 September 2012
by Frederic Lardieg

Damien LaneILX Group: New Director
02 August 2012
by Damien Lane

George WhiteheadWhy it's too early to bash the Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme
25 July 2012
by George Whitehead

Peter BanceCan an entrepreneur-in-residence give a VC that extra edge?
18 June 2012
by Peter Bance

George WhiteheadAngel investors need to beware flying solo
15 June 2012
by George Whitehead

Simon KingBorn or made?
14 June 2012
by Simon King

Jo OliverHow do you invest in talent, if talent doesn't exist?
04 June 2012
by Jo Oliver

Paul LathamCan the new Finance Bill proposals improve the outlook for UK plc?
01 June 2012
by Paul Latham

Alex MacphersonCreating the entrepreneurial ecosystem
22 May 2012
by Alex Macpherson

George WhiteheadSpring is Here
16 May 2012
by George Whitehead

Damien LaneTristar Worldwide wins Prestigious Queen's Award for Enterprise
23 April 2012
by Damien Lane

Alliott ColeCongratulations to Semafone for winning the prestigious METAward
16 April 2012
by Alliott Cole

Alan WallaceFilling the Talent Gap?
29 February 2012
by Alan Wallace

Damien LaneWorking with management for investment success
22 February 2012
by Damien Lane

Simon WhaleGuest Blog: How PR can benefit your start-up
30 January 2012
by Simon Whale

Alex MacphersonWinning the Hearts and Minds of VCs
16 December 2011
by Alex Macpherson

George WhiteheadWhy entrepreneurs are asked: ‘Are you EIS eligible?’
12 December 2011
by George Whitehead

Mark DaviesGuest blog: How do you beat Betfair?
21 November 2011
by Mark Davies

George Whitehead10 hard learnt lessons on dealing with change:
09 November 2011
by George Whitehead

Alliott ColeIt’s not about the $billion exits (yet)
19 October 2011
by Alliott Cole

Alliott ColeGoogle's Fundamental Flaw is Search
17 October 2011
by Alliott Cole

Tee PruittGet to know the Octopus Ventures Team with an ‘Open Office’ meeting
13 October 2011
by Tee Pruitt

Alliott ColeWhose side are you on?
10 October 2011
by Alliott Cole

Christopher AllnerNew 'credit easing' proposals for SMEs
07 October 2011
by Christopher Allner

Lothar MentelAre ETFs the next ‘financial weapons of mass destruction’?
24 June 2011
by Lothar Mentel

Lothar MentelIMA sector rebranding fails to address the real concerns about risk
06 June 2011
by Lothar Mentel

David CrawfordEquity markets: time for a reality check?
31 May 2011
by David Crawford

Christopher AllnerThe changing landscape of SME financing
25 May 2011
by Christopher Allner

Alex MacphersonPromoting enterprise in the UK
10 May 2011
by Alex Macpherson

Guy MylesAs one tax year ends, another one begins...
08 April 2011
by Guy Myles

Simon RogersonBudget response
23 March 2011
by Simon Rogerson

Paul LathamA ray of sunshine for VCT and EIS investors
18 March 2011
by Paul Latham

Alex MacphersonAccess to a venture capitalist
16 March 2011
by Alex Macpherson

Lothar MentelEarthquake in Japan: markets update
15 March 2011
by Lothar Mentel

Paul LathamTax simplification and tax solutions
04 March 2011
by Paul Latham

Christopher AllnerOPEX - big changes for a smaller company
18 February 2011
by Christopher Allner

Paul LathamSolar energy and Octopus solutions
17 February 2011
by Paul Latham

Simon RogersonConsolidation should be the key trend this ISA season
03 February 2011
by Simon Rogerson

Christopher AllnerThe outlook for venture capital in 2011
21 January 2011
by Christopher Allner

Lothar MentelMarkets update
17 January 2011
by Lothar Mentel

David CrawfordThe folly of forecasting
14 January 2011
by David Crawford

Lothar MentelPutting the sentiment shift into perspective
10 January 2011
by Lothar Mentel

Colin LunnonDriving returns
05 January 2011
by Colin Lunnon

Lothar MentelHopes and concerns for 2011
31 December 2010
by Lothar Mentel

Simon RogersonOctopus end of year round up
24 December 2010
by Simon Rogerson

Colin LunnonNot as alternative as you think
22 December 2010
by Colin Lunnon

Andrew BuchananUK smaller companies in 2011
20 December 2010
by Andrew Buchanan

Colin LunnonLooking for a better basket
14 December 2010
by Colin Lunnon

Alex MacphersonBusiness angel funding
10 December 2010
by Alex Macpherson

Lothar MentelLooking at the markets long and short term
07 December 2010
by Lothar Mentel

Colin LunnonRisk profiling for a common language and a better service
03 December 2010
by Colin Lunnon

Simon RogersonOctopus multi manager funds
29 November 2010
by Simon Rogerson

Alliott ColeApproaching a VC
26 November 2010
by Alliott Cole

Guy MylesThe importance of outsourced investment solutions
23 November 2010
by Guy Myles

Alliott ColePitching a business
16 November 2010
by Alliott Cole

Christopher AllnerFunding the UK’s small to medium enterprises in 2011
15 November 2010
by Christopher Allner

Lothar MentelInfluences on market progress
05 November 2010
by Lothar Mentel

Colin LunnonUsing hedge funds within an absolute return multi manager portfolio
02 November 2010
by Colin Lunnon

Christopher AllnerMind the gap in funding for UK SMEs
29 October 2010
by Christopher Allner

Christopher AllnerDoes M&A destroy value?
29 October 2010
by Christopher Allner

Simon RogersonTen years for Octopus
22 October 2010
by Simon Rogerson

Alex MacphersonOctopus and seed funding
18 October 2010
by Alex Macpherson

Alex MacphersonOctopus and seed funding
18 October 2010
by Alex Macpherson

Christopher AllnerFunding the UK's small to medium enterprises
11 October 2010
by Christopher Allner

Lothar MentelMulti manager - managing choices
07 October 2010
by Lothar Mentel

Alliott ColeSubmit Plan
04 October 2010
by Alliott Cole

David CrawfordAbsolute return team and strategies
01 October 2010
by David Crawford

Christopher AllnerHow the Government can support UK small to medium enterprises
29 September 2010
by Christopher Allner

Alliott ColeLiquidation Preferences [and when to walk]
28 September 2010
by Alliott Cole

The Organisational Development TeamOctopus is recruiting
24 September 2010
by The Organisational Development Team

Luke HakesThe value of intellectual property
17 September 2010
by Luke Hakes

Guy MylesThe potential in the UK smaller companies market
09 September 2010
by Guy Myles

Lothar MentelFrom Goldilocks to Noah: ancient tales apply in tough economic times
07 September 2010
by Lothar Mentel

Thierry SereroMaking the most of special situations
03 September 2010
by Thierry Serero

Christopher AllnerHow can companies get 'investment ready'?
31 August 2010
by Christopher Allner

Guy MylesHow discretionary managers can help advisers best serve investors
20 August 2010
by Guy Myles

Colin LunnonDiversification within asset classes
09 August 2010
by Colin Lunnon

Lothar MentelSignposts to recovery
06 August 2010
by Lothar Mentel

Simon MurdochIs it a good idea to start a new business in these tough economic times?
30 July 2010
by Simon Murdoch

Alliott ColeAll full of Glee
23 July 2010
by Alliott Cole

Christopher AllnerThe importance of government intervention to smaller companies
22 July 2010
by Christopher Allner

Lothar MentelMarket views on news
13 July 2010
by Lothar Mentel

David CrawfordIs this the double dip?
09 July 2010
by David Crawford

Guy MylesPositive aspects of the Retail Distribution Review
30 June 2010
by Guy Myles

Thierry SereroInvesting in volatile markets
24 June 2010
by Thierry Serero

Simon RogersonA welcome budget for small enterprise
22 June 2010
by Simon Rogerson

Alex MacphersonSupporting entrepreneurs
14 June 2010
by Alex Macpherson

Guy MylesGetting more from less through innovation
11 June 2010
by Guy Myles

Lothar MentelFear in the markets
04 June 2010
by Lothar Mentel

David CrawfordEfficient markets? No way!
03 June 2010
by David Crawford

Simon RogersonA new Government and tax is very much on the agenda
28 May 2010
by Simon Rogerson

Lothar MentelLost in translation: the German short selling ban
20 May 2010
by Lothar Mentel

Christopher AllnerHow smaller companies are surviving
14 May 2010
by Christopher Allner

David CrawfordOne year over and another one begins...
07 May 2010
by David Crawford

Lothar MentelA view on Greece
06 May 2010
by Lothar Mentel

Thierry SereroEuropean absolute return funds
28 April 2010
by Thierry Serero

Alex MacphersonVCT investment now
26 April 2010
by Alex Macpherson

David CrawfordGetting technical on equities
19 April 2010
by David Crawford

Richard PowerThe progress of smaller companies
16 April 2010
by Richard Power

Lothar MentelWhat is the prognosis after the first quarter of 2010?
09 April 2010
by Lothar Mentel

Alliott ColeIs the non-executive director non-essential?
30 March 2010
by Alliott Cole

Simon RogersonBudget 2010 - Octopus view
25 March 2010
by Simon Rogerson

Richard PowerThe value in smaller companies
11 March 2010
by Richard Power

Lothar MentelWhat is bothering the markets?
10 March 2010
by Lothar Mentel

David CrawfordReading the tea leaves...
10 March 2010
by David Crawford

Andrew BuchananDo failed flotations show that the stock market is shut or displaying great value?
03 March 2010
by Andrew Buchanan

Karl JentoftVCTs - a long-term investment solution
19 February 2010
by Karl Jentoft

Alex MacphersonExciting times for Zoopla!
15 February 2010
by Alex Macpherson

David CrawfordIs this the double dip?
05 February 2010
by David Crawford

Veronica SomervailleAre you an Octopod?
29 January 2010
by Veronica Somervaille

Karl JentoftThe Retail Distribution Review
22 January 2010
by Karl Jentoft

David Crawford2010 – A smoother ride ahead?
13 January 2010
by David Crawford

Lothar MentelMulti Manager 2010 outlook
04 January 2010
by Lothar Mentel

Christopher AllnerA Life in the Day: Octopus and Peter Mandelson
14 August 2009
by Christopher Allner

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