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The Garage Soho

Europe, England, United Kingdom, London

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
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FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Learn who this investor regularly partners with—both firms and angels—and explore their latest activity.

Who does The Garage Soho frequently co-invest with?

Salica
Europe, England, United Kingdom, London
Co-Investments: 1
500 Global
North America, California, United States, San Francisco
Co-Investments: 2
Force Over Mass Capital
Europe, England, United Kingdom, London
Co-Investments: 1
JamJar Investments
Europe, England, United Kingdom, London
Co-Investments: 3
Novastar Ventures
Africa, Nairobi Area, Kenya, Nairobi
Co-Investments: 2
C&
Europe, Cornwall, United Kingdom, Truro
Co-Investments: 1
Angel Academe
Europe, England, United Kingdom, London
Co-Investments: 1
Singapore Angel Network
Asia, Central Region, Singapore, Singapore
Co-Investments: 1
Chiratae Ventures
Asia, Karnataka, India, Bangalore
Co-Investments: 1
Spark Ventures
Europe, England, United Kingdom, London
Co-Investments: 2

Which angels does The Garage Soho often collaborate with?

JW
Europe, England, United Kingdom, London
Shared Deals: 2
Rajan Anandan
Asia, India
Shared Deals: 1
NW
Europe, England, United Kingdom, London
Shared Deals: 2
AB
Asia, Uttar Pradesh, India, Noida
Shared Deals: 1
TT
Europe, England, United Kingdom, London
Shared Deals: 3
Aseem Vadehra
Asia, Delhi, India, Delhi
Shared Deals: 1
KH
North America, California, United States, Los Angeles
Shared Deals: 1
Niraj Singh
Asia, Delhi, India, New Delhi
Shared Deals: 1
AB
Europe, England, United Kingdom, London
Shared Deals: 2
JH
Europe, England, United Kingdom, London
Shared Deals: 3

What are some of recent deals done by The Garage Soho?

Flash Pack

London, England, United Kingdom

Flash Pack is an award-winning adventure travel company that brings together solo travelers in their 30s and 40s.

TourismTravel
Series UnknownOct 23, 2023
Amount Raised: $6,124,621
GENIE

London, England, United Kingdom

GENIE is an AI-powered talent-matching software that matches employers with industry leaders through machine learning algorithms.

Artificial Intelligence (AI)Information TechnologySoftware
SeedApr 13, 2021
SureChill

Cardiff, Cardiff, United Kingdom

SureChill is a revolutionary refrigeration technology. Regular cooling needs constant power, SureChill doesn’t

Green Consumer GoodsMedical Device
Convertible NoteOct 20, 2020
Amount Raised: $2,845,688
SureChill

Cardiff, Cardiff, United Kingdom

SureChill is a revolutionary refrigeration technology. Regular cooling needs constant power, SureChill doesn’t

Green Consumer GoodsMedical Device
Series AJul 19, 2019
Amount Raised: $5,000,625
ChargedUp

London, England, United Kingdom

ChargedUp is a phone charging network for bike sharing.

Mobile
SeedFeb 15, 2019
Amount Raised: $1,547,169
Wildanet

Helston, Cornwall, United Kingdom

Wildanet is a wireless internet service provider of fast, reliable broadband for homes and businesses.

ConsumerInternetWireless
SeedJan 17, 2019
Amount Raised: $973,744
Taylor & Hart

London, England, United Kingdom

Taylor & Hart make proposing with a custom designed, high quality engagement ring, easy, affordable and enjoyable.

E-CommerceFashionJewelryRetail
SeedOct 5, 2018
Amount Raised: $1,311,699
The Drop

London, England, United Kingdom

Building the future of personalised fashion

ApparelE-CommerceFashionInformation TechnologyVirtual World
SeedJun 20, 2018
Amount Raised: $790,371
Popsa

London, England, United Kingdom

Popsa is a generative AI startup that automatically designs, makes, and delivers personalized physical products.

Artificial Intelligence (AI)E-CommerceMachine LearningPrintingRetail Technology
SeedMar 15, 2018
Amount Raised: $4,738,471
The Dots

London, England, United Kingdom

The professional network for people who don’t wear suits to work.

CommunitiesOnline PortalsProfessional NetworkingProfessional ServicesSocial Network
Series UnknownDec 13, 2017
Amount Raised: $4,000,000