Mark Ransford
Description
Mark Ransford is a distinguished angel investor based in London, United Kingdom, known for his strategic early-stage investments in promising UK technology startups. Leveraging a robust background as a former CEO in the media and communications sector, including leadership roles at The Social Partnership and The Social Communications Group, Ransford brings significant operational expertise to his portfolio companies. His investment philosophy typically targets pre-seed and seed-stage ventures, where he can provide not just capital but also invaluable mentorship and strategic guidance to founders navigating the initial growth phases.
Ransford's investment portfolio showcases a keen eye for disruptive technologies and scalable business models across various sectors. Notable investments include Onfido, a leading identity verification platform that was later acquired by Entrust, and Paddle, a comprehensive SaaS commerce platform. He has also backed innovative companies such as Farewill, an online will writing and funeral services provider, and MyTutor, an online tutoring marketplace. His focus often gravitates towards B2B SaaS, fintech, and consumer internet companies that demonstrate strong market potential and a clear path to growth.
With a track record spanning over a decade, Mark Ransford has accumulated a diverse portfolio of more than 10 investments, demonstrating his sustained commitment to the UK startup ecosystem. His success is further underscored by at least two significant exits, including Onfido's acquisition and MyTutor's acquisition by Inspired Education, which validate his ability to identify and support ventures with high growth potential. As an angel investor, he is recognized for his hands-on approach, often advising on strategy, market positioning, and scaling operations, making him a valuable partner for nascent companies.
Investor Profile
Mark Ransford has backed more than 28 startups, with 6 new investments in the last 12 months alone. The firm has led 1 rounds, about 4% of its total and boasts 2 exits across its portfolio.
Investment Focus Highlights
- Concentrates on Pre Seed, Seed, Series A rounds (top funding stages).
- Majority of deals are located in United Kingdom, France, Hungary.
- Strong thematic focus on Financial Services, FinTech, Payments.
- Typical check size: $50K – $250K.
Stage Focus
- Pre Seed (46%)
- Seed (36%)
- Series A (14%)
- Undisclosed (4%)
Country Focus
- United Kingdom (54%)
- France (18%)
- Hungary (7%)
- Italy (4%)
- Spain (4%)
- Czech Republic (4%)
- Germany (4%)
- Poland (4%)
Industry Focus
- Financial Services
- Fintech
- Payments
- Finance
- Software
- Saas
- B2b
- Information Technology
- Credit
- Lending
Frequently Asked Questions
Learn who this investor regularly partners with—both firms and angels—and explore their latest activity.