
The Garage Soho
Description
The Garage Soho is a London-based venture capital firm that distinguishes itself through its unique blend of investment capital and unparalleled expertise in brand building and marketing. Co-founded by advertising luminaries such as Sir John Hegarty and Sir Maurice Saatchi, alongside Tom Teichman and Marc Worth, the firm operates as both an early-stage investor and a brand accelerator. Their core mission is to identify and nurture disruptive consumer brands and tech-enabled consumer businesses, leveraging their founders' decades of experience to provide significant strategic value beyond mere financial backing. This hands-on approach is central to their investment philosophy, aiming to transform promising startups into household names.
The firm's investment thesis centers on early-stage companies that demonstrate strong potential for market disruption and scalable growth within the consumer sector. They seek out businesses where their deep understanding of brand strategy, advertising, and consumer psychology can have a transformative impact. The Garage Soho is not a passive investor; instead, they actively collaborate with their portfolio companies, offering guidance on everything from brand positioning and creative direction to market entry strategies. This active partnership model is designed to accelerate brand recognition and market penetration, providing a competitive edge to the startups they back.
Financially, The Garage Soho typically targets early-stage investments, with a reported check size ranging from £500,000 to £5 million. This translates approximately to $625,000 to $6.25 million, depending on exchange rates. Their first fund successfully closed at £50 million, equivalent to approximately $65 million, underscoring their capacity to support a diverse portfolio of emerging consumer ventures. This capital, combined with their distinctive operational support in branding and marketing, positions The Garage Soho as a highly specialized and impactful partner for consumer-focused startups looking to build enduring brands.
Investor Profile
The Garage Soho has backed more than 23 startups, with 0 new investments in the last 12 months alone. The firm has led 9 rounds, about 39% of its total and boasts 2 exits across its portfolio.
Investment Focus Highlights
- Concentrates on Seed, Series Unknown, Series A rounds (top funding stages).
- Majority of deals are located in United Kingdom, India.
- Strong thematic focus on E-Commerce, Mobile, Fashion.
- Typical check size: $625K – $6.3M.
Stage Focus
- Seed (48%)
- Series Unknown (30%)
- Series A (13%)
- Pre Seed (4%)
- Convertible Note (4%)
Country Focus
- United Kingdom (96%)
- India (4%)
Industry Focus
- E-commerce
- Mobile
- Fashion
- Internet
- Artificial Intelligence (Ai)
- Software
- Retail
- Professional Services
- Consumer
- Information Technology
Frequently Asked Questions
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