Forward Partners

Forward Partners is a dynamic venture capital firm based in London, England, that stands at the forefront of early-stage investments in the UK's thriving tech ecosystem. With a mission to empower ambitious founders, Forward Partners offers much more than just financial backing. They provide comprehensive support from day zero through to Series A funding, actively partnering with startups in the pre-seed and seed stages. Their investment focus encompasses cutting-edge sectors such as applied AI, marketplaces, and eCommerce, harnessing the potential for rapid and sustainable growth within these domains.

What sets Forward Partners apart is their commitment to hands-on involvement, nurturing startups to build strong foundations for growth. Beyond capital injection, they offer a purpose-built startup studio staffed with expert operators, assisting their portfolio companies in areas like product development, digital marketing, and branding. Forward Partners' dedication to skill, pace, continuous improvement, and honest communication underscores their values, creating a thriving ecosystem where founders can realize their potential and transform innovative ideas into world-changing businesses. With a diverse portfolio of companies across various sectors, Forward Partners remains a driving force in the UK's tech landscape, fostering innovation and sustainable growth in the early-stage startup community.

Forward Partners, a venture capital and micro VC firm based in London, UK, was founded by Nic Brisbourne on September 1, 2013. The firm's mission is to provide forward-thinking capital to early-stage tech startups in the UK, with a focus on sectors like eCommerce, marketplace and applied AI.

Forward Partners offers a unique financial proposition called "Advances," which allows growing businesses to borrow cash against their revenues without selling equity. In addition to financial support, Forward Partners provides startups with access to their in-house Studio team, which offers expertise in product development, digital marketing, branding, and more.

The firm has built a diverse portfolio of startups, including companies like Lexoo (AI-powered legal outsourcing), Patch Plants (online plant store), Ably (real-time internet infrastructure), Apexx (global payments platform), Cherryz (eCommerce essentials), and Koru Kids (childcare services).

Forward Partners actively participates in funding rounds for its portfolio companies and has been involved in numerous exits. They are associated with the Crunchbase Venture Program, further solidifying their presence in the tech and venture capital ecosystem.

Throughout its history, Forward Partners has remained dedicated to its mission of empowering founders and supporting the growth of early-stage tech businesses in the UK and beyond.

Forward Partners' investment strategy is designed to provide access to high-growth companies at the earliest stages of their development. Here are the key elements of their investment approach:

1. Early-Stage Investment: Forward Partners specializes in investing in startups at the earliest stages, ranging from pre-seed to seed rounds. By investing early, they can secure significant ownership stakes in these companies, which allows them to be deeply involved in their growth and development.

2. Focus on Hot Sectors: Forward Partners concentrates on sectors that are experiencing rapid and sustainable growth in the UK. They have a particular focus on three key areas:

• Applied AI: Leveraging artificial intelligence for common use cases with the potential to transform industries.
• Marketplaces: Supporting companies that are building scalable platforms with a significant impact on their respective markets.
• Web3: Exploring the next iteration of the internet and its potential for early-stage investment.

3. Hands-On Involvement: Beyond providing capital, Forward Partners actively engages with the startups they invest in. They roll up their sleeves and work alongside founders to help them establish strong foundations for growth.

4. Investment Options: Forward Partners offers two primary investment options:

• Venture Fund: They invest an amount ranging from £200,000 to £2 million, starting from day zero and continuing through to Series A funding rounds. This investment is typically focused on applied AI, marketplaces, and eCommerce.
• Studio: Forward Partners operates a dedicated startup studio staffed with expert operators who work closely with their portfolio companies to assist in building and growing their businesses.

5. Great Deals on Early-Stage Equity: Investing early allows Forward Partners to secure higher stakes in startups at lower valuations compared to traditional industry growth capital.

6. Diversified Portfolio: Their early-stage investments naturally lead to a diversified portfolio, which can generate returns from a higher volume of mid-level exits.

7. Potential for Fund Out-Performance: Forward Partners seeks outliers in their investments, not just unicorns. This approach has the potential to outperform fund performance predictions.

8. Attracting a Large and Diverse Pipeline: Forward Partners is deeply integrated into the London technology ecosystem and actively seeks out promising startup teams. They employ a fundamentals-driven approach to screen companies and founders, resulting in a large number of leads, first meetings, and ultimately, new investments.

9. Supporting Founders as They Scale: Forward's Studio is composed of experienced founders and operators who collaborate with portfolio companies to help them scale. They offer recruitment and people services, assistance in building networks of supporters and backers, and access to mentorship and support from a network of exited founders and operators.

Forward Partners upholds a set of core values that underpin their approach to venture capital and business operations. These values guide how they conduct themselves, interact with stakeholders, and make decisions. Here are Forward Partners' core values:

1. Skill & Pace:

Forward Partners is committed to delivering excellent work with a keen sense of urgency. They recognize that there is often a trade-off between speed and quality, and they strive to strike the right balance. This value emphasizes setting high expectations for their long-term goals and constantly making progress toward achieving them.

2. Big Leaps & Constant Improvement:

Innovation and continuous improvement are at the heart of Forward Partners' DNA. They encourage thinking big and challenging the status quo. Their culture is experimental, fostering an environment where learning and growth are highly valued. This value highlights their willingness to explore radical innovations and unconventional approaches.

3. Enjoy the Journey:

Positivity and purpose are essential qualities for Forward Partners. They believe that enjoying the journey is just as important as achieving the end goal. Celebrating wins, both big and small, is integral to their work culture. They seek to create a meaningful and rewarding experience for themselves and those they work with.

4. Honest Opinion, Shared Constructively:

Forward Partners places a strong emphasis on open and honest communication. They value constructive feedback and foster an environment of psychological safety where team members feel valued and encouraged to express their opinions, even when faced with difficult decisions. This value underscores their commitment to transparency, constructive dialogue, and effective decision-making.

These values reflect Forward Partners' dedication to excellence, innovation, positive engagement, and effective communication. They are not only integral to their internal culture but also influence how they engage with founders, partners, and the broader tech ecosystem. Forward Partners aims to uphold these values in their pursuit of supporting early-stage startups and contributing positively to the technology and business communities they are a part of.

"It takes more than money to transform a big idea into a world-changing business. Startups with high-growth potential need strong foundations to succeed. So we invest early and add value right from the start.

Our funding options and full-stack startup studio have been crafted to help founders beat the odds through the earliest stages and beyond."

Forward Partners' portfolio comprises a diverse array of innovative technology companies spanning various sectors. Here is an overview of some of their portfolio companies:

Ably (Other Technology): Ably is a data stream network providing developers with everything they need to create, deliver, and manage complex projects.

The Bank of Mum and Dad (eCommerce): The Bank of Mum and Dad for everyone.

Fun Back into Supply Teaching (Exited - Marketplace) Put the fun back into supply teaching.

Optimised Payment Processing (Applied AI): Optimised and consolidated payment processing.

Worldwide Space Rentals (Marketplace): Rent shops, markets, and spaces in cities around the world.

Personalised Pregnancy Guides (eCommerce): Personalised guides for pregnant women and new mums.

Digital Mental Health Solutions (Other Technology): Digital solutions for good mental health.

Livestock Supply-Chain Transformation (Marketplace): The productivity and marketing platform that’s transforming the livestock supply-chain.

Simple, Effective Fertility Care (Other Technology): Simple, effective fertility care, is delivered straight to your door.

Improved Car Buying Experience (Exited - Marketplace): The better way to buy your next car.