About Us

We team with fast growing, exceptional Fintech businesses across Europe, and push them to achieve their full potential.

What makes us tick  •   Founder Perspectives   •   We’ve gone public   •   Office Hours.

OUR INVESTMENTS

Fintechs that stand out from the crowd

Unique or disruptive business models, first mover advantages and best of breed businesses get us excited. We invest in teams that have the talent, passion, and grit to transform sectors, and entrepreneurs that have the potential to become industry leaders. See our current Portfolio here.

stabd out from the crowd augmentum

OUR PHILOSOPHY

Our philosophy augmentum

Get to know you early, stick with you long term

We nurture relationships with entrepreneurs early, investing only when the time is right for their business. When we invest, we invest for the long term. We are patient. We seek to maximise the potential of businesses rather than limit upside in pursuit of short term gains.

OUR STYLE

Hands-on, hands-off

Having been on both sides of the fence we understand the fine line between investor help and hindrance. We love working with our companies, but focus on the most important issues without getting in the way of day-to-day management. Our network is at our entrepreneurs’ disposal, to help refine products, develop strategic partnerships, enter new markets and add potential investors, customers and advisors.

FOUNDER PERSPECTIVES

See what our portfolio say

Our portfolio Founders/CEOs share their experiences of working with Augmentum.

Founder Perspectives: Why did you choose to take investment from Augmentum?

Founder Perspectives: How has your experience been working with Augmentum?

Founder Perspectives: Would you recommend Augmentum as investors?

OFFICE HOURS

Meet our team

As ex-entrepreneurs ourselves, we are well aware of the value of an outside, fresh perspective, and regularly host Office Hours to support the ever-growing fintech industry. We’re happy to act as a sounding board and give advice on some of the key challenges you may be facing, including access to capital.

Who is this for?

If you are truly trying to disrupt the financial services space then we’d love to meet with you. Although we invest in series A and beyond, Office Hours is a great opportunity to get to know companies that are at the early stages of their journey and share our experiences of how to avoid some of the potential pitfalls ahead and help accelerate growth.

Upcoming sessions

We host Office Hours monthly (virtually at the moment). Register your interest for a 30 minute meeting about your fintech business with one of team using the link below.

REGISTER NOW

We’ve gone public!

On March 13th 2018 we became the first publicly traded Fintech focused VC in the UK. Listing on the main market of the London Stock Exchange puts us in a unique proposition:

We play for keeps
We expose you to the world
We let everyone take part

We want to back our companies for as long as it takes. Now we can

World beating Fintech companies aren’t built overnight.

Success takes time; we want to be able to keep working with you until you reach your peak. Our structure frees us from conventional VC restrictions. While other VCs drop their companies after 5 years, we provide funding for as long as it takes.

We want to give you exposure to the public markets. Now you’ve got it

Exciting Fintech businesses, meet World; World, meet exciting Fintech businesses!

As a public fund anyone can invest in our companies, from large institutions to your latest app downloader. That means more public exposure, more engagement, and, if the opportunity is right, an advantaged route to IPO.

We want to democratise investment in Fintech businesses. Now we have

Exciting Fintech businesses, meet World; World, meet exciting Fintech businesses!

For too long access to flourishing Fintech companies has been privatised. We’ve opened the door of opportunity to everyone!

Tim Levene

Tim graduated in Russian Studies from The University of Manchester and joined Bain & Company in Moscow, Boston, Sydney and London. Tim embarked on an entrepreneurial path and left Bain in early 1998 and created a new retail concept when he opened his first Juice bar (Fresh n Smooth) in 1999 in Canary Wharf. The business has since evolved into a 31-store business across London called Crussh.

In the summer of 1999, Tim joined 3 former colleagues from Bain & Company and launched Flutter.com. Flutter became one of the highest profile internet businesses in the UK after it merged with Betfair.com in 2001. Tim became the Commercial Director of the newly merged business and launched Betfair globally.

In 2010, Tim returned to London to start his next venture. He founded Augmentum Capital with the backing of RIT Capital and Lord Rothschild. The team focused on finding talented entrepreneurial teams in the Fintech industry that were bringing fundamentally disruptive products or platforms to the European market.

In 2018, Tim and Richard successfully launched Augmentum Fintech on the main market of the London Stock Exchange, in the process becoming the first publicly listed Fintech fund in the UK.

Tim was made a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum in 2012 and for several years advised The Royal Foundation of The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry on digital strategy and innovation. Tim was elected in March 2017 to The Court of Common Council in the City of London to represent the Ward of Bridge (as an Independent). Tim is also a Governor of The City of London School.

Outside of the office, Tim has a young family and has been a Chelsea FC season ticket holder since 1979. He remains a keen footballer, golfer and skier although operating at a more sedate pace than in recent years.

Richard Matthews

Richard has 17 years venture capital and private equity experience in the technology, retail and leisure sectors on both sides of the fence. Having studied economics at the University of Manchester, Richard started his career as a Chartered Accountant at Coopers & Lybrand before leaving in 1999 to join Tim at Flutter.com (now Betfair) as CFO.

In 2002 following the merger with Betfair he left to join Benchmark Capital Europe (now Balderton Capital), one of the early investors in Betfair. At Benchmark he worked on early stage technology investments both in the investment phase and assisting the investee companies post funding. He then joined Manzanita Capital in 2005, where he spent 5 years investing in the retail and leisure sectors globally before leaving to form Augmentum Capital. In 2018 Richard and Tim successfully launched Augmentum Fintech on the main market of the London Stock Exchange, in the process becoming the first Fintech focused public VC in Europe.

Away from the office Richard enjoys spending time with his family, watching Arsenal and playing golf, though in the case of the latter 2 the word “enjoys” is used in its loosest sense.

Augmentum Team

Perry Blacher

Perry is a fintech specialist with 25 years’ experience in building and operating online businesses, and has spent the last decade as an investor in, and advisor to, numerous fintech businesses.

Perry graduated from both Cambridge and Harvard before starting his career at McKinsey & Company. In 1998 he left to join Microsoft, before later moving to become a founding Principal of Chase Episode 1 Partners.

Perry later followed the route of the entrepreneur when he went on to become founder and CEO of two businesses, both of which sold to public companies (Serum in 2002, and Covestor in 2007). More recently, Perry has been a Venture Partner at Amadeus Capital, and holds advisory or non-executive roles with Barclays UK, Google, Onfido, Transfergo, Clearscore, CDC and other fintech businesses.

Georgie Hazell

Georgie heads up engagement at Augmentum, which involves supporting portfolio companies, engaging with investors and the wider fintech ecosystem (including marketing and events), and supporting the team internally.

Georgie has worked in a number of startups across people, strategy and growth leadership positions. Following her MBA and a consultancy project with Crowdcube, Georgie moved into venture capital.

Passionate about diversity and inclusion, particularly in VC and entrepreneurship, Georgie founded women in tech network Elevate, led on UK expansion for Her Campus Media, volunteers with Diversity VC and mentored with The Girls Network.

Ellen Logan

Ellen is an Investor at Augmentum. She previously worked at OC&C Strategy Consultants and at HR analytics startup Bunch, after studying Economics at the University of Edinburgh. Ellen has a particular interest in emerging technologies such as the digital asset economy and alternative payment methods.

Outside of the office she spends her time practicing yoga, experimenting in the kitchen and exploring the art galleries of London.

Learn more about Ellen in her ‘Meet the Team’ blog here

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Sofia Wiecko

Sofia oversees the financial and administrative operations at Augmentum and has over 15 years’ experience in financial accounting.

Believing in giving back to the community, Sofia is active in a number of local charities.

Hayley Manning

Hayley is Augmentum’s Office Manager and PA. Prior to working at Augmentum, Hayley worked at law firm Stephenson Harwood.

Nigel Szembel

Nigel leads Public Relations and Investor Relations at Augmentum. Nigel has had an international career in corporate affairs, communications and investor relations which, over 30 years, has included responsibility for UK, regional (EMEA and Latin America) and global functions; covering high-profile public companies, private companies, prominent individuals and public bodies, primarily in the financial services sector but also taking in consumer/fashion, planning policy, arts and the environment.

Akash Bajwa

Akash is an Investor at Augmentum Fintech. Prior to joining Augmentum, Akash worked at the Cass Entrepreneurship Fund, Barclays Ventures and Deloitte. Akash studied Accounting and Finance at Cass Business School.

Outside of work, Akash enjoys writing a blog on trends in technology and venture capital, runs ‘The European Tech Club’ on Clubhouse and volunteers with networks that support more investment in impact-driven companies in the private markets. Akash always looks forward to reading great books and playing tennis with friends as a way to unwind.

 

Learn more about Akash in his ‘Meet the Team’ blog here.

Reginald de Wasseige

Reginald (Reggie) is an Investor at Augmentum Fintech. Reggie started his career in private equity in Belgium (his home country), at Cobepa, and went on to explore entrepreneurship through founding a software company focusing on document security for large organisations. Off the back of both experiences, VC was a natural evolution and Reggie joined ABN AMRO Ventures, the venture capital arm of the Dutch bank, and relocated to Amsterdam. This first VC position introduced him to the world of fintech and was also the start of his international adventure.

Learn more about Reggie in his “Meet the team” feature here

Fareedah Daranijo

Fareedah is Augmentum’s Digital Marketing & Operations Assistant.

Prior to joining Augmentum, Fareedah studied Business and Management at university and conducted various placements across sales, marketing and project management, including with Bosch in Germany.

Outside of work, Fareedah enjoys travelling, learning about different cities and cultures, and volunteering in the local community.