Balderton Capital
In short: Balderton Capital is a London-based venture capital firm, founded in 2000, that backs European-founded technology companies from seed to IPO. It also has investors in Paris and Berlin. It matters to the dating industry as an investor in consumer apps. DII's report on the app Feels names it as an early investor.
Key facts
| Type | Investor |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | London, United Kingdom |
| Founded | 2000 |
| Status | Active |
| Website | balderton.com |
| LinkedIn profile | |
| Founded | 2000 [Balderton Capital investment portfolio, PitchBook] |
| Headquarters | London, United Kingdom (The Stables, 28 Britannia Street, WC1X 9JF) [Balderton Capital investment portfolio, PitchBook] |
| Former name | Benchmark Capital Europe [Balderton Capital, CB Insights] |
| Focus | Backs European-founded technology companies from seed to IPO via early stage and growth funds [Why Balderton?] |
| Scale | $5.7bn raised and 300+ companies backed since 2000, as stated by the firm [Why Balderton?] |
| Offices | London office near King's Cross, with investors based in Paris and Berlin [Why Balderton?] |
| Funds | Early Stage Fund IX ($615m) and Growth Fund II ($685m) closed, about $1.3bn in total [Balderton Capital, CB Insights, August 2024] |
| Managing partner | Bernard Liautaud [Balderton Capital, Adeline] |
| Earlier consumer investments | Past investments included Bebo, Lovefilm, Betfair, wooga and Friend.ly [Urturn press release, PR Newswire, 2013] |
About Balderton Capital
Balderton Capital is a venture capital firm based in London. PitchBook and CB Insights date it to 2000 and record that it was formerly known as Benchmark Capital Europe. Its own website says it focuses exclusively on European-founded technology companies and invests from seed to IPO through early stage and growth funds. It says it has backed more than 300 companies since 2000 and has raised $5.7bn.
The firm's London office is near King's Cross, and it has investors based in Paris and Berlin. In August 2024 it announced $1.3bn of new funds, made up of Early Stage Fund IX at $615m and Growth Fund II at $685m, according to CB Insights and Startupintros. Its portfolio includes Revolut, Wayve, GoCardless, Depop and Darktrace. Bernard Liautaud, who founded Business Objects, is described by third parties as managing partner.
For the dating industry, Balderton matters mainly as a source of consumer technology funding. A DII story on the dating app Feels names Balderton as an early investor in the company. DII's directory should treat that as DII's reporting, because the funding databases checked for this profile list other backers of Feels and do not name Balderton. Earlier consumer investments by the firm include the social app Friend.ly, according to a 2013 press release.
Also mentioned in
Questions about Balderton Capital
What is Balderton Capital?
A London-based venture capital firm founded in 2000 that invests in European-founded technology companies from seed to IPO.
Where is Balderton Capital based?
London, near King's Cross, with investors also based in Paris and Berlin.
What is Balderton's link to online dating?
A DII story on the dating app Feels names Balderton as an early investor. Other funding databases checked do not list it among Feels' backers, so the link rests on DII's reporting.
What does Balderton Capital do?
Balderton Capital is a London-based venture capital firm, founded in 2000, that backs European-founded technology companies from seed to IPO. It also has investors in Paris and Berlin. It matters to the dating industry as an investor in consumer apps. DII's report on the app Feels names it as an early investor.
When was Balderton Capital founded?
Balderton Capital was founded in 2000.
Also known as: Balderton, Balderton Capital (UK) LLP, Benchmark Capital Europe.