Molten Ventures Investment Portfolio and Performance

Author

Reads 13K

Free stock photo of business, capital, company
Credit: pexels.com, Free stock photo of business, capital, company

Molten Ventures has made significant investments in various startups, including a £1.5 million investment in a UK-based fintech company.

Their portfolio includes a £2 million investment in a cybersecurity firm.

One of their notable investments is in a company that offers a digital platform for managing mental health.

Molten Ventures has also invested in a startup that provides a software solution for remote work and collaboration.

Discover more: WisdomTree Investments

About Molten Ventures

Molten Ventures is a UK-based venture capital firm that invests in high-growth technology companies. They focus on investing in various sectors, including consumer technology, enterprise technology, and digital health and wellness.

Their portfolio companies are quite impressive, with names like Aircall, CoachHub, and Revolut. They also operate a fund of funds program to invest in seed and early-stage European tech companies.

Molten Ventures has a diverse range of investments, with over 20 companies in their core portfolio. Some of these companies include Aiven, Endomag, and Ledger.

Here are some key facts about Molten Ventures:

  • Revenue in GBP (TTM): £2.70m
  • Net income in GBP: -£5.90m
  • Incorporated: 2015
  • Employees: 55

Their headquarters is located at 20 Garrick Street, London, WC2E 9BT, and they can be reached at +44 207 931 8800.

Investments

Apple Logo
Credit: pexels.com, Apple Logo

Molten Ventures has made 318 investments, with their latest investment being in BeZero as part of their Series C on January 16, 2025. They were advised by Hogan Lovells for this investment.

Their investment strategy focuses on four sectors: companies with exceptional growth opportunities in international markets, software infrastructure, differentiated technologies, and companies using digital technologies to create new products and services for the health and wellness markets.

Molten Ventures has invested in companies like PrimaryBid, a platform for IPOs, and Form3, a payments-as-a-service platform. They have also invested in Paragraf, which makes electronic devices out of graphene, and Riverlane, which is developing an operating system for use in quantum computers.

Here are some of their recent investments:

Molten Ventures has also invested in Renew Risk Limited, a company that received £5 million in funding from Molten Ventures Plc, Insurtech Gateway Limited, and other investors.

Readers also liked: Ninety One Limited

Performance and History

Molten Ventures has a strong track record of successful investments, with a portfolio that includes companies like Figma and Chime.

They've also had a significant impact on the tech industry, with many of their portfolio companies going on to achieve unicorn status.

Molten Ventures was founded in 2017 by Alex Wang, and has since become a major player in the venture capital space.

Portfolio Exits

Close-up of molten gold in a crucible, showcasing the smelting process at a Bangkok foundry.
Credit: pexels.com, Close-up of molten gold in a crucible, showcasing the smelting process at a Bangkok foundry.

Molten Ventures has a significant history of successful portfolio exits. They have a total of 59 portfolio exits.

One of their notable exits was Freetrade, acquired by IG Group Holdings on January 16, 2025, for an undisclosed valuation. Freetrade was valued at $XXM.

Molten Ventures also had a notable exit with Graphcore, acquired by SoftBank on July 11, 2024, for an undisclosed valuation. Graphcore was valued at $XXM.

Here's a list of some of their notable exits:

Molten Ventures' portfolio exits demonstrate their ability to identify and invest in successful companies.

13 Fund Histories

Molten Ventures has a diverse range of funds, with 13 in total.

One of the most notable funds is the Irish Focused Fund, which closed on July 28, 2023, with an amount of $54.98M.

The EIS Fund II, which closed on June 2, 2017, had a significantly larger amount of $180M.

The EIS Fund, which closed on April 1, 2014, had an unknown amount, but it's worth noting that the Seedcamp Fund II and DFJ Esprit III also had unknown amounts due to the "Subscribe to see more" status in the article section facts.

Here is a breakdown of the funds' closing dates:

Overview and Strategy

Diverse colleagues collaborative brainstorming at office briefing. Business woman manager explaining analysis at the meeting startup work.
Credit: pexels.com, Diverse colleagues collaborative brainstorming at office briefing. Business woman manager explaining analysis at the meeting startup work.

Molten Ventures VCT has a strong investment strategy, focusing on four sectors where the manager has considerable experience and a proven track record.

The VCT focuses on companies with exceptional growth opportunities in international markets, underpinned by new consumer-facing products, innovative business models, and proven execution capabilities.

Companies like PrimaryBid, a platform that allows companies to raise capital directly from retail investors, are examples of the VCT's investment strategy.

The VCT also invests in companies developing software infrastructure, applications, and services that improve productivity and reduce costs for enterprises.

Form3, a payments-as-a-service platform, and Thought Machine Group, a core banking platform, are examples of successful investments in this sector.

Molten Ventures VCT has a concentrated portfolio, with the top 10 holdings accounting for 44.9% of net assets as of September 2024.

Currently, 54.6% of net assets are invested in early-stage technology deals, with the remainder split between legacy investments and cash.

Credit: youtube.com, Molten Ventures – executive interview

The VCT has invested £3.3 million across three new and one follow-on opportunity in the six months to September 2024, representing a significant slowdown in the pace of deployment.

The association with Molten Ventures plc provides potential exit routes and follow-on funding for the VCT's portfolio companies, particularly if they become too large to qualify for VCT investment.

Partners and Geography

Molten Ventures has a presence in several regions, including the United Kingdom and the United States.

Their investments are not limited to these regions, as they also support startups in the Nordic countries.

Molten Ventures is a global venture capital firm that invests in early-stage technology companies.

Partners & Customers

Molten Ventures has a diverse range of partners and customers across the globe. They have 5 strategic partners and customers, with a presence in the United Kingdom and the United States.

One of their key partners is Taylor Wessing, a UK-based business they partnered with on December 12, 2023. Taylor Wessing is a vendor partner.

Metalworkers in Milwaukee pour molten metal from a furnace at night, creating an industrial scene.
Credit: pexels.com, Metalworkers in Milwaukee pour molten metal from a furnace at night, creating an industrial scene.

Molten Ventures also has several other notable partners, including SportPursuit, Ravelin, SVB Financial Group, and EarlyBird. These partnerships were established in 2021, 2020, 2019, and 2018, respectively.

Here's a breakdown of their partners and customers:

Molten Ventures' partners are spread across different countries, with a majority based in the United Kingdom.

Sales Geographical Breakdown

Molten Ventures Plc has a significant presence in the United Kingdom, with sales figures indicating a substantial growth in the region.

In 2021, the company's sales in the UK skyrocketed to 289 million, a notable increase from the 52.01 million in 2020.

The company's sales continued to grow in 2022, reaching 351 million, but unfortunately, the trend reversed in 2023 with a decline of 217 million.

Here's a breakdown of the company's sales in the UK over the past few years:

Venture Capital and Management

Molten Ventures has a strong investment strategy that leverages its size and reputation to attract deals that might be out of reach for smaller Venture Capital Trusts (VCTs).

Young professionals working together in a startup office, fostering creativity and innovation.
Credit: pexels.com, Young professionals working together in a startup office, fostering creativity and innovation.

The VCT focuses on four sectors where Molten Ventures has significant experience and a proven track record. These sectors include companies with exceptional growth opportunities in international markets, software infrastructure and applications, differentiated technologies, and digital technologies for health and wellness markets.

Molten Ventures' association with its parent company provides potential exit routes and follow-on funding, particularly for companies that have outgrown VCT investment.

Executive Committee:

The executive committee plays a crucial role in the decision-making process of a venture capital firm like Molten Ventures Plc. Benjamin Wilkinson, the CEO, has been at the helm since October 29, 2024, at the age of 45.

The Chief Operating Officer, Philip O'Reilly, has been with the company since March 31, 2022. This suggests that he has been a key figure in the company's operations for over two years.

Benjamin Wilkinson's leadership experience is evident in his position as CEO. He has been at the forefront of decision-making since his appointment in 2024.

Molten Ventures Plc has a team of Corporate Officers/Principals, including Sid Mofya, Jonathon Quick, and Lucy Dighton. Unfortunately, their ages and specific dates of appointment are not publicly disclosed.

Here are the key members of the executive committee:

Investment Management & Funds

Entrepreneur presenting a startup plan at a meeting, engaging and dynamic business environment.
Credit: pexels.com, Entrepreneur presenting a startup plan at a meeting, engaging and dynamic business environment.

Molten Ventures has made 318 investments, with their latest investment being in BeZero as part of their Series C on January 16, 2025. They have a significant presence in the investment management space.

Renew Risk Limited recently received £5 million in funding from Molten Ventures, Insurtech Gateway Limited, and other investors. This investment is a notable example of Molten Ventures' active involvement in the investment management sector.

Molten Ventures has 13 funds, including the Irish Focused Fund, which closed on July 28, 2023, with an amount of $54.98M. The Irish Focused Fund is one of the more recent funds managed by Molten Ventures.

Here are some of the funds managed by Molten Ventures:

Note that the amounts for Seedcamp Fund II and DFJ Esprit III are not publicly available.

Venture Capital

Venture capital firms like Molten Ventures are key players in the investment world. They provide funding to startups and small businesses that have high growth potential. Molten Ventures received £5 million in funding from various investors, including Molten Ventures Plc itself.

Credit: youtube.com, If You Know Nothing About Venture Capital, Watch This First | Forbes

Investors can track the performance of venture capital firms like Molten Ventures through various metrics, such as daily price change and 1-year change. According to the data, Molten Ventures Plc has a 5-day price change of +1.00% and a 1-year change of +14.72%.

The firm's investment strategy focuses on four key sectors: international markets, software infrastructure, differentiated technologies, and health and wellness markets. Molten Ventures has a strong track record in these areas, which helps attract deals that might be out of reach for smaller VCTs.

Here's a snapshot of the performance of some venture capital firms, including Molten Ventures:

The weighted average by capitalization also shows a positive trend, with a 5-day change of +0.57% and a 1-year change of +30.48%.

Riverlane

Riverlane is a UK-based company that's making waves in the quantum computing space. It was founded in 2016 at the University of Cambridge and has since become a leading player in the industry.

Close-Up View of Logo With Horse
Credit: pexels.com, Close-Up View of Logo With Horse

Riverlane's mission is to address the high error rates in quantum computing, which currently stand at around 1 error in 1,000 operations before failure. To put that into perspective, error rates need to be as low as one in a trillion for quantum computers to be truly useful.

The company's solution is called Deltaflow, a Quantum Error Correction Stack that identifies and corrects errors to improve computational accuracy. This system has already gained traction, with a fifth of the world's quantum hardware manufacturers using it.

In 2023, Molten led a £15 million Series B round, with the VCT investing £2.7 million. This investment has proven to be a savvy move, as the VCT's position is now valued at £8 million after Riverlane raised $75 million from a syndicate of global investors.

Riverlane

Riverlane is a company that's tackling a major challenge in quantum computing - error rates. It developed Deltaflow, a Quantum Error Correction Stack, to identify and correct errors and improve computational accuracy.

Captivating close-up of glowing molten lava flowing over solidified dark volcanic rocks.
Credit: pexels.com, Captivating close-up of glowing molten lava flowing over solidified dark volcanic rocks.

Riverlane's solution is already being used by a fifth of the world's quantum hardware manufacturers. This is a significant milestone, showing that their technology is making a real impact in the industry.

Molten Ventures invested £15 million in Riverlane in April 2023, leading a £15 million Series B round. This investment is a testament to the potential of Riverlane's technology to transform the field of quantum computing.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who are the shareholders of molten ventures?

The main shareholders of Molten Ventures include BlackRock Investment Management, Baillie Gifford & Co, British Patient Capital, and Border to Coast Pensions Partnership. These prominent investors have a significant stake in the company's success.

Who is the chairman of molten ventures?

Laurence Hollingworth is the Chairman of Molten Ventures. He also oversees key committees, including Nomination and Remuneration.

Elena Feeney-Jacobs

Junior Writer

Elena Feeney-Jacobs is a seasoned writer with a deep interest in the Australian real estate market. Her insightful articles have shed light on the operations of major real estate companies and investment trusts, providing readers with a comprehensive understanding of the industry. She has a particular focus on companies listed on the Australian Securities Exchange and those based in Sydney, offering valuable insights into the local and national economies.

Love What You Read? Stay Updated!

Join our community for insights, tips, and more.