
Crane Venture Partners
Description
Crane Venture Partners is a London-based venture capital firm with a distinct focus on seed and early-stage intelligent enterprise and deep tech companies across Europe. Established with a mission to back ambitious founders building the next generation of B2B software and infrastructure, Crane distinguishes itself through its hands-on approach and deep sector expertise. The firm typically invests in companies leveraging advanced technologies such as AI, machine learning, data infrastructure, and developer tools to solve complex business problems.
Crane Venture Partners has successfully raised multiple funds to support its investment thesis. Their second fund, Fund II, closed at a significant £100 million (approximately $125 million USD) in March 2022, demonstrating strong investor confidence in their strategy and team. This capital allows Crane to provide substantial support to its portfolio companies, not just through funding but also through strategic guidance and access to a robust network of industry experts and potential customers.
The firm's investment strategy involves deploying initial cheques ranging from £1 million to £5 million (approximately $1.25 million to $6.25 million USD) into promising startups. This range positions Crane to lead or co-lead Seed and Series A rounds, providing crucial early capital for product development, team expansion, and market entry. They aim to invest in 20-25 companies from their second fund, building a concentrated portfolio of high-growth potential businesses. Crane's commitment extends beyond the initial investment, often participating in follow-on rounds to support their portfolio companies' continued growth and success.
Investor Profile
Crane Venture Partners has backed more than 93 startups, with 8 new investments in the last 12 months alone. The firm has led 43 rounds, about 46% of its total and boasts 5 exits across its portfolio.
Investment Focus Highlights
- Concentrates on Seed, Series A, Series C rounds (top funding stages).
- Majority of deals are located in United Kingdom, United States, Germany.
- Strong thematic focus on Software, Information Technology, Artificial Intelligence (AI).
- Led 6 rounds in the past year.
- Typical check size: $1.3M – $6.3M.
Stage Focus
- Seed (57%)
- Series A (23%)
- Series C (4%)
- Series B (4%)
- Series Unknown (4%)
- Pre Seed (3%)
- Series D (2%)
- Series E (1%)
- Angel (1%)
Country Focus
- United Kingdom (51%)
- United States (24%)
- Germany (10%)
- The Netherlands (4%)
- France (3%)
- Belgium (2%)
- Portugal (2%)
- Sweden (1%)
- Israel (1%)
- Switzerland (1%)
Industry Focus
- Software
- Information Technology
- Artificial Intelligence (Ai)
- Machine Learning
- Analytics
- Enterprise Software
- Saas
- Cyber Security
- Information Services
- Fintech
Frequently Asked Questions
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