Top 35 Venture Capital Partners In The UK (Free List)

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6 min read

Venture capital partners are essential because they do much more than just provide money. They help decide which startups get the funding they need to grow and succeed.

But beyond the cash, they also offer valuable advice, helping founders make smart decisions and avoid common mistakes. Their connections are often a game-changer, introducing startups to key people—like potential customers or top talent—that can really accelerate growth.

VC partners also keep a close eye on the startups they invest in, making sure everything stays on track.

Ultimately, they’re responsible for turning these investments into successful companies that make money for their investors. In short, they’re crucial in helping startups thrive and ensuring everyone involved sees a good return.

Below, you’ll find a list of 35 venture capital partners in the UK:

35 most active UK venture capital partners

Investors* (name, picture, linkedin, investments)

#	Venture Capital Partners	Position	Connect	VC Firm
1	Mike Chalfen	Partner	LinkedIn	Website
2	William Goodwin	Partner	LinkedIn	Website
3	Spencer Lake	Partner	LinkedIn	Website
4	Andrea Gurnari	Partner	LinkedIn	Website
5	Tom Pemberton	Partner	LinkedIn	Website
6	Laurel Bowden	Partner	LinkedIn	Website
7	Hugh Rance	Partner	LinkedIn	Website
8	Markus Lang	Partner	LinkedIn	Website
9	Will Prendergast	Partner	LinkedIn	Website
10	Reshma Sohoni	Partner	LinkedIn	Website
11	Edward Kliphuis	Partner	LinkedIn	Website
12	Shao Lee	Partner	LinkedIn	Website
13	Carlos Gonzalez-Cadenas	Partner	LinkedIn	Website
14	Sonali De Rycker	Partner	LinkedIn	Website
15	Michael Anstey	Partner	LinkedIn	Website
16	Janice Cargo	Partner	LinkedIn	Website
17	Edward Kliphuis	Partner	LinkedIn	Website
18	Vikram Krishna	Partner	LinkedIn	Website
19	Sia Houchangnia	Partner	LinkedIn	Website
20	Olga Shikhantsova	Partner	LinkedIn	Website
21	Jeroen Arts	Partner	LinkedIn	Website
22	Philipp Moehring	Partner	LinkedIn	Website
23	Elizabeth Burgess	Partner	LinkedIn	Website
24	Hugues de Braucourt	Partner	LinkedIn	Website
25	Ivailo Jordanov	Partner	LinkedIn	Website
26	Perry Blacher	Partner	LinkedIn	Website
27	Chris Kay	Partner	LinkedIn	Website
28	Sam Endacott	Partner	LinkedIn	Website
29	Tom Green	Partner	LinkedIn	Website
30	Oliver Kicks	Partner	LinkedIn	Website
31	Rob Moffat	Partner	LinkedIn	Website
32	David Cheong	Partner	LinkedIn	Website
33	Adina Tecklu	Partner	LinkedIn	Website
34	Josephine Millward	Partner	LinkedIn	Website
35	Luca Bocchio	Partner	LinkedIn	Website

Full list of 324 venture capital partners.

What is a venture capital partner?

Venture Capital (VC) Partners hold a pivotal role within venture capital firms, guiding investments in early-stage companies and startups.

As senior executives, they are instrumental in identifying new investment opportunities, performing thorough due diligence, negotiating deals, and offering strategic support to their portfolio companies.

Within a VC firm, partners typically fall into several distinct categories:

General Partners (GPs)

GPs hold ownership stakes in the firm, make key investment decisions, and often take responsibility for fundraising from limited partners (LPs). Frequently, they also sit on the boards of portfolio companies, helping to steer their growth and strategy.

Managing Partners

Tasked with overseeing the firm’s day-to-day operations, managing partners handle fund management, team oversight, and strategic direction. In many cases, they are also general partners.

Investment Partners

These partners concentrate on sourcing and executing investment deals but may not engage in the broader management of the firm.

Operating Partners

With specialised expertise in areas like sales, marketing, or operations, operating partners work closely with portfolio companies to enhance performance. They may not, however, be involved in the firm’s direct investment decisions.

How much money do venture capital partners make?

Venture capital (VC) partners primarily make money through two key sources: management fees and carried interest.

Management Fees

VC firms charge their investors (often referred to as Limited Partners, or LPs) an annual management fee, typically around 2% of the total assets under management (AUM). This fee covers the firm's operating expenses, such as salaries, office costs, and due diligence efforts.

The partners, including General and Managing Partners, often draw their salary from this pool of fees.

Carried Interest (Carry)

The more lucrative way VC partners make money is through carried interest, a share of the profits generated by successful investments. Typically, partners are entitled to around 20% of the profits from the fund’s returns once the LPs have been paid back their initial investment, plus a predetermined hurdle rate (usually around 8%).

This means that after the fund exits its investments—through IPOs, acquisitions, or other means—any profits are distributed between LPs and the VC firm, with partners receiving a portion of the firm’s profits.

Breakdown of the Profit Mechanism

Successful Exits

VC partners benefit when portfolio companies succeed, either through going public or being acquired. Profits from these exits fuel carried interest.

Equity in Portfolio Companies

In some cases, partners may hold direct equity stakes in startups, giving them additional financial upside from successful exits.

Example (with numbers)

Let's break down how much a Venture Capital (VC) partner could potentially make in this scenario.

Initial Investment and Equity Stake

Investment: £500,000
Pre-money Valuation: £3,000,000
Post-money Valuation: £3M (pre-money) + £500K (investment) = £3.5M

This means the VC firm, through its £500,000 investment, would own a percentage of the company as follows:

Equity Stake = 500,000 / 3,500,000 ≈ 14.29%

Sale of the Company

Exit Valuation (Sale Price): £50,000,000

The VC firm would own 14.29% of the company at the time of sale, so the VC’s share of the proceeds from the sale would be:

VC’s Share=50,000,000×14.29%≈£7,145,000

The VC’s profit from this investment is:

Profit= VC’s Share − Initial Investment=7,145,000−500,000=£6,645,000

VC Partner's Share (Carried Interest)

Assuming the VC partner receives carried interest at a typical rate of 20% (after LPs and other fees), their share of the profit would be:

Carried Interest=6,645,000 ×20% =£1,329,000

In addition to this, the partner might have a salary derived from the management fee, but the primary profit comes from carried interest.

So, in this scenario, the VC partner could make £1.33 million from the deal over 5 years, not including any management fee compensation.

How do you become a partner at a VC Firm?

Becoming a partner at a venture capital (VC) firm typically involves a combination of experience, networking, and a strong track record in investing or entrepreneurship. Here’s a general path:

Gain Relevant Experience

Most VC partners have extensive experience in areas like investment banking, private equity, entrepreneurship, or having worked at a startup (often in a senior role). Many also have a background in a specific industry like tech or healthcare.

Start at a Junior Level in a VC Firm

Many partners begin their VC careers in roles such as Analyst, Associate, or Principal. These positions help build expertise in deal sourcing, due diligence, and portfolio management.

Build a Strong Network

Success in VC relies heavily on relationships with other investors, entrepreneurs, and industry experts. Building a solid network is essential for sourcing deals and attracting co-investors. And startupmag is a great place to start, get access to the full list of UK venture capital firms here.

Prove Your Track Record

A successful track record of identifying and supporting promising startups is key. Partners are typically expected to have helped deliver significant returns for the firm.

Move Up in the Firm or Start Your Own

Over time, as someone builds credibility and delivers successful exits, they can be promoted internally to a partner role. Alternatively, some create their own VC firm or join as partners in a new or growing fund.

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