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ACF Investors

Manages active co-investment funds that seek to achieve consistent returns by partnering with experienced syndicates of angel investors to help fund and scale early-stage businesses.
ACF Investors
Leadership team

Timothy Mills (Founder & Managing Partner)

George Whitehead (Founder)

Sam Fennell (Partner)

Paul Fauset (Partner)

Liam Bradley (Senior Investment Analyst)

Number of Employees
0 - 50
Headquarters
London, United Kingdom
Established
2011
Social Media
Summary

CF Investors, formerly known as Angel CoFund, is a UK-based venture capital firm that provides funding and support to early-stage and high-growth companies. The company was established in 2011, with the aim of addressing the funding gap for innovative and ambitious businesses in the UK.

ACF Investors has a unique investment model, which combines public and private funding to support high-growth potential companies. The company works closely with its portfolio companies, providing them with guidance, resources, and connections to help them achieve their potential and create long-term value for its investors.

ACF Investors' portfolio includes a range of innovative and ambitious businesses across a variety of sectors, including technology, healthcare, finance, and transportation. The company's investment strategy is focused on identifying high-growth potential companies with strong management teams and innovative products or services.

ACF Investors is guided by a set of values that shape its approach to investing, including partnership, entrepreneurial spirit, diversity and inclusion, responsible investing, and a long-term perspective. The company is committed to building successful businesses and creating long-term value for its investors and stakeholders. ACF Investors is a leading player in the UK's venture capital market, supporting innovative and ambitious entrepreneurs and helping them to build world-class businesses.

History

Angel CoFund is a UK-based venture capital firm that was launched in 2011 to provide early-stage funding to innovative startups. The company was created as a collaboration between the UK government and private investors, including the British Business Bank and a network of angel investors.

The Angel CoFund was established with the aim of filling the funding gap for early-stage startups in the UK. The firm seeks to invest in startups that have high growth potential, innovative products or services, and a strong management team. The Angel CoFund typically invests between £100,000 and £1 million in startups, either as a lead investor or alongside other investors.

Since its launch, the Angel CoFund has invested in over 100 companies across various sectors, including technology, healthcare, and consumer products. Some of the companies in the Angel CoFund portfolio include Echobox, a social media management platform; Cognism, a sales acceleration platform; and Exonar, a data discovery and management platform.

In addition to providing funding, Angel CoFund also provides support and mentorship to its portfolio companies. The firm has a team of experienced investment professionals who work closely with startups to help them develop their business strategy, access new markets, and scale their operations.

Overall, the Angel CoFund has played a significant role in supporting early-stage startups in the UK, helping to drive innovation, economic growth, and job creation. Through its investments and support, the firm has helped to create a thriving ecosystem for entrepreneurship and innovation in the UK.

Angel CoFund, one of the UK's largest and most active early-stage venture capital firms, has announced a change of name to ACF Investors. The rebranding, which was unveiled in March 2021, is intended to better reflect the company's focus on supporting high-growth businesses at all stages of development, not just those in the angel investment stage.

The decision to rebrand came after the company carried out a review of its operations and strategy. The name change was seen as a way to better align the firm's branding with its expanded remit, as it seeks to attract a wider range of entrepreneurs and investors.

Investment criteria

ACF Investors, formerly known as Angel CoFund, is a UK-based venture capital firm that provides funding to early-stage and high-growth companies. The company's investment criteria are designed to identify businesses with the potential to achieve significant growth and generate strong returns for their investors.

Here are some of the key investment criteria used by ACF Investors:

  • High-growth potential: ACF Investors look for companies with the potential to achieve significant growth in their target market. The company focuses on sectors with strong growth potential, such as technology, healthcare, and consumer products.
  • Experienced management team: ACF Investors places a strong emphasis on the quality of the management team behind a business. The company looks for teams with a strong track record of success, industry expertise, and the ability to execute on a well-defined strategy.
  • Innovative technology or business model: ACF Investors are particularly interested in companies that have developed innovative technology or business models that offer a competitive advantage in their market. The company looks for businesses that are disrupting traditional industries and creating new opportunities.
  • Scalability: ACF Investors look for businesses that have the potential to scale quickly and achieve significant market share. The company focuses on businesses that have a clear plan for growth and the ability to execute that plan.
  • Strong market potential: ACF Investors look for businesses that are operating in large and growing markets. The company looks for businesses that are targeting underserved or emerging markets, or that have identified a significant gap in the market.

Overall, ACF Investors is focused on backing ambitious and innovative businesses with the potential to achieve significant growth and generate strong returns for its investors. The company's investment criteria are designed to identify companies that meet these requirements and that have the potential to become leaders in their respective industries.

Values

ACF Investors, formerly known as Angel CoFund, is guided by a set of core values that shape its approach to investing and its commitment to building successful businesses.

Here are some of the key values that guide ACF Investors:

  • Partnership: ACF Investors believes in building strong partnerships with the companies it invests in, as well as with its investors and stakeholders. The company works closely with its portfolio companies to provide guidance, support, and resources to help them achieve their goals.
  • Entrepreneurial spirit: ACF Investors have a deep respect for the entrepreneurial spirit and the risks that entrepreneurs take to build successful businesses. The company is committed to providing capital and support to ambitious founders who are pursuing innovative ideas and creating new opportunities.
  • Long-term perspective: ACF Investors takes a long-term perspective on investing, recognizing that building successful businesses takes time and patience. The company is committed to supporting its portfolio companies over the long term, providing them with the resources and guidance they need to achieve sustained growth.
  • Diversity and inclusion: ACF Investors is committed to promoting diversity and inclusion within its portfolio companies and within the broader business community. The company recognizes that diverse teams and perspectives are critical to driving innovation and achieving long-term success.
  • Responsible investing: ACF Investors is committed to responsible investing, recognizing that businesses have a responsibility to their employees, their communities, and the environment. The company works with its portfolio companies to promote sustainable and ethical practices, and to build businesses that have a positive impact on society.

ACF Investors is guided by a set of values that reflect its commitment to building successful businesses and creating long-term value for its investors and stakeholders. The company's approach to investing is shaped by its belief in partnership, entrepreneurship, diversity and inclusion, responsible investing, and a long-term perspective.

Mission

ACF Investors specializes in managing co-investment funds that prioritize collaboration with seasoned syndicates of angel investors. Their mission revolves around achieving consistent returns by channeling capital, expertise, and support into early-stage businesses. They recognize the value of hands-on investors who possess in-depth knowledge of specific sectors and industries, leveraging these partnerships to make strategic investments. 

ACF's approach is marked by patience, as they are committed to making long-term investments and allowing the businesses they support the time they need to reach their full potential. This patient capital approach sets them apart in the competitive world of early-stage investments, where quick returns are often prioritized over sustainable growth.

The organization's focus on high-potential businesses underscores their dedication to quality over quantity. ACF Investors carefully selects companies with the potential to generate substantial returns over an extended period. By fostering these strategic partnerships and championing patient capital, ACF Investors plays a crucial role in nurturing and propelling promising startups toward success in the competitive business landscape, ultimately contributing to the growth and innovation of various industries.

Portfolio

ACF Investors, formerly known as Angel CoFund, provides funding to early-stage and high-growth companies. Since its inception in 2011, the company has invested in a range of innovative and ambitious businesses across a variety of sectors.

Here are some examples of companies in ACF Investors' portfolio:

  • Elder: Elder is a technology-enabled care provider that enables older people to live independently in their own homes for longer. ACF Investors invested in Elder in 2018, supporting the company's growth and expansion plans.
  • Cleo: Cleo is a financial wellness app that helps users manage their finances and save money. ACF Investors invested in Cleo in 2017, supporting the company's growth and expansion plans.
  • Big Sofa Technologies: Big Sofa Technologies is a video analytics company that helps businesses gain insights into customer behaviour. ACF Investors invested in Big Sofa Technologies in 2015, supporting the company's growth and expansion plans.
  • Masabi: Masabi is a mobile ticketing company that enables public transport users to purchase and use tickets through their mobile devices. ACF Investors invested in Masabi in 2012, supporting the company's growth and expansion plans.
  • Pod Point: Pod Point is a leading provider of electric vehicle charging solutions. ACF Investors invested in Pod Point in 2015, supporting the company's growth and expansion plans.

ACF Investors' portfolio includes a range of innovative and ambitious businesses across a variety of sectors, including technology, healthcare, finance, and transportation. The company's investment strategy is focused on identifying high-growth potential companies with strong management teams and innovative products or services. By providing funding and support to these companies, ACF Investors aims to help them achieve their potential and create long-term value for its investors.

References
ACF Investors
Leadership team

Timothy Mills (Founder & Managing Partner)

George Whitehead (Founder)

Sam Fennell (Partner)

Paul Fauset (Partner)

Liam Bradley (Senior Investment Analyst)

Number of Employees
0 - 50
Headquarters
London, United Kingdom
Established
2011
Social Media