IW Capital, a prominent London-based investor, has announced the launch of a substantial £30m fund aimed at supporting UK SMEs.
- The initiation of this fund follows the firm’s recent management buyout, marking a strategic expansion in its investment endeavours.
- Founded in 2011, IW Capital has a track record of backing successful UK startups, now aiming to focus on scalable business models.
- Chief Executive Tariq Attia expresses optimism about the firm’s future, emboldened by a young and experienced team.
- Chairman Alan Armstrong underscores the firm’s commitment to being an active partner for promising UK businesses.
IW Capital, headquartered in London, has unveiled a significant new £30 million fund specifically designed to support Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) across the United Kingdom. This initiative follows a notable management buyout and reflects the firm’s strategy to expand its investment portfolio. The fund primarily targets businesses with scalable models, indicating a clear preference for ventures poised for growth.
Since its establishment in 2011, IW Capital has been instrumental in fostering the growth of around 40 startups in the UK, including prominent names such as WeSwap, a peer-to-peer currency exchange, and GPDQ, which operates within the health tech sector. The firm’s historical focus on innovation and growth sets a promising precedent for the new fund’s potential impact.
CEO Tariq Attia emphasises the exciting potential of this new chapter for IW Capital, highlighting the blend of youthful exuberance and seasoned expertise within the team. Attia remarks on the success the firm continues to achieve, regardless of economic conditions, noting that 2023 marked their most active year yet—a testament to their resilient strategy.
The size of the fund allows for more substantial financial contributions to backed firms. Chairman Alan Armstrong articulates a commitment to combining the nimbleness of venture capital with the enduring dedication of private equity. This dual approach is designed to offer comprehensive financial and commercial support to some of the UK’s most promising businesses, which are pivotal in driving employment and GDP growth.
Armstrong reinforces IW Capital’s philosophy of being an active, supportive partner, ensuring that the firms they invest in have the necessary resources to achieve their full potential. This strategic positioning aligns with the broader economic role of SMEs, which are seen as critical to the nation’s economic health.
IW Capital’s strategic launch of this SME fund underscores their ongoing commitment to nurturing scalable enterprises within the UK economy.
