Cambridge-based fund managers and venture capital investors Nigel Brown, Ed Stacey, Max Bautin and Kerry Baldwin have established IQ Capital Partners with the ambition of making the firm o
Cambridge-based fund managers and venture capital investors Nigel Brown, Ed Stacey, Max Bautin and Kerry Baldwin have established IQ Capital Partners with the ambition of making the firm one of the UK’s premier venture capital managers.
IQ Capital Partners is an independent early-stage technology venture capital business that manages the recently-established IQ Capital Fund I, as well as two seed funds, with total funds under management of GBP35m.
The IQ partners completed a management buyout of NW Brown Group’s early-stage investing business, including the Cambridge-based Great Eastern Investment Forum, a business angel networks. The new firm will have a special relationship with IQ Angels, private co-investors with strong industry expertise who can dedicate significant time, investment and expertise in support investments alongside IQ Capital Partners.
The IQ Capital Partners team will continue to provide funding from GBP100,000 upward, predominantly to early-stage technology businesses, with the capacity to make up to GBP3m available to each portfolio company. The current portfolio includes Shortfuze, Spikes Cavell, OnRelay and 25 seed investments.
‘Helping early stage companies have been the main focus of my work for more than a decade, and I am delighted to be able to continue this with the IQCP team,’ says chairman Brown.
‘We have been working together for several years and have many venture capital successes behind us. I have made the decision to step back and take a more active role in this new business, which I feel has the perfect blend of experience, energy and opportunity. I am looking forward to building a VC business which can really service nascent technology businesses whilst delivering excellent returns to investors.’
Bautin says: ‘It has been an excellent opportunity for Ed, Kerry, Nigel and I to bring all our expertise together to create a successful venture capital house with a distinct focus and investment philosophy.
‘Between us we share experience of helping well over 50 technology companies grow through early and later stages of their development. A key element in this is investing and working alongside IQ Angels, who we know from experience make a huge difference in helping the investments by using their sector specific experience and contacts.
‘The team members have been making and delivering strong returns since 1998 and we are determined to help more UK start-ups develop into successful global leaders and demonstrate the high potential of European early stage technology investing.’
