Carlos Gonzalez- Cadenas

Carlos Gonzalez-Cadenas is a Partner at Index Ventures, a leading global multi-stage venture capital firm with offices in London, San Francisco, and Geneva. Based in London, Gonzalez-Cadenas brings a deep operational background in product and technology to his investment role. Prior to joining Index Ventures, he served as the Chief Product and Technology Officer (CPO/CTO) at GoCardless, a prominent fintech company, where he played a crucial role in scaling its product and engineering teams. His earlier career includes significant product management positions at Google, further solidifying his expertise in building and scaling technology products. This extensive hands-on experience provides him with a unique perspective when evaluating startups, particularly those focused on B2B SaaS, fintech, and product-led growth models.

Index Ventures is renowned for its early-stage investments, spanning from seed to Series A and B, while also engaging in growth-stage funding. The firm is known for its founder-friendly approach and its ability to provide strategic support to portfolio companies as they scale globally. In 2022, Index Ventures demonstrated its significant capital deployment capabilities by raising a substantial $2 billion across its main venture and growth funds, alongside an additional $300 million dedicated to its seed fund. This robust financial backing allows Partners like Gonzalez-Cadenas to make impactful investments across various stages of a company's lifecycle.

Gonzalez-Cadenas's investment focus at Index Ventures aligns with his operational expertise, targeting companies that leverage innovative technology to solve complex problems. He is particularly interested in businesses with strong product-market fit, scalable technology platforms, and ambitious teams. His background at GoCardless gives him an intimate understanding of the challenges and opportunities within the fintech sector, while his time at Google provides insights into building world-class product organizations. As a Partner, he is instrumental in identifying promising startups and guiding them through their growth trajectories, leveraging Index Ventures' extensive network and resources.

The firm's typical first check sizes can vary significantly based on the stage of investment, reflecting its multi-stage strategy. For very early-stage opportunities, initial investments might start around $500,000, while for leading a Series A round, Index Ventures is prepared to deploy up to $20 million or more as a first check. This flexibility allows Gonzalez-Cadenas to engage with a broad spectrum of founders, from those just beginning their journey to those poised for significant scaling.