Backed VC, a prominent London-based venture capital firm, has announced the close of its third fund at $100 million. With this achievement, they have completed their 100th investment, underscoring a dedicated focus on supporting frontier technology founders. The firm’s consistent commitment positions it as a key player in the venture capital sector, aiming to influence emerging technology landscapes. Prior investments have demonstrated significant returns, positioning the firm favorably among its peers while expanding its global reach.
How has Backed VC evolved over the years?
Backed VC has undergone notable growth since its establishment in 2016. Initially starting with smaller rounds, the firm has steadily amassed a portfolio of companies that have received follow-on funding from renowned investors. These companies, hailing from various sectors, have benefitted from Backed’s early-stage investments. Today, Backed is recognized for its expansive global presence, characterized by high-profile investments and a large-scale event strategy, reflecting its commitment to nurturing industry-disrupting technologies.
What influences Backed VC’s investment strategy?
Backed continues to seek early-stage investment opportunities, focusing on sectors such as AI-native therapeutics, blockchain infrastructure, and manufacturing automation. Complementing its previous successful ventures, the firm’s strategy involves investing in these cutting-edge areas that promise high growth potential. The latest fund aims to continue this trend by supporting dynamic founders who are at the forefront of technological breakthroughs. The emphasis remains on pre-seed and seed rounds, ensuring that the firm taps into promising opportunities early.
The firm’s latest fund, Backed 3, has already started distributing capital. Investments include a $21 million seed round for Aerska, a biotech company focused on Alzheimer’s treatments, and financial support for Zero Gravity, an AI-native blockchain startup. These moves highlight Backed’s preference for companies poised to bring transformative change to their sectors.
“We want to back generational European founders building companies that will stand the test of time,” stated Alex Brunicki, co-founder at Backed VC.
A community-centric approach enhances the firm’s influence, visible through global events where it connects founders and investors from various regions. The upcoming events slated for Slush illustrate this strategy, with plans to host a significant number of participants.
Out of the 100 companies Backed has funded, five now exceed a valuation of $1 billion. This growth trajectory showcases the firm’s impact on the tech landscape and demonstrates the sustained success of its original investments. The firm reveals a follow-on rate of 90%, indicating that the majority of its portfolio companies continue to thrive, either securing additional funding or reaching valuable landmarks.
As Backed VC progresses, it maintains a forthright dedication to empowering founders who aspire to build groundbreaking companies. By prioritizing genuine collaborations with ambitious entrepreneurs, it seeks to cultivate an environment where transformative innovations can flourish. Future aims include expanding its influence across both European and US markets, offering robust backing to extraordinary talent.
“Over the last decade, we have built a community of humans who have the audacity to take on companies like Nvidia (NASDAQ:NVDA), Google (NASDAQ:GOOGL) and Goldman Sachs (NYSE:GS),” articulated Andre de Haes, co-founder at Backed VC.
With an aim to support generational founders, Backed VC positions itself as a catalyst for long-lasting success, striving to nurture enterprises that will fundamentally shape the future landscape of technology.
