Ascension Ventures
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Jean de Fougerolles has built Ascension into one of London's most active seed funds with genuine operator credibility - both he and partner Remy Minute are exited entrepreneurs who've actually built and sold companies. Their claim to be "the most active VC in London over the past decade" and winning UKBAA's Seed VC of the Year in 2022 isn't just marketing fluff. The Fair By Design fund shows they're serious about impact investing that actually works commercially - companies like Wagestream and Tembo have generated "outsize financial performance" while tackling poverty premium. However, with 300+ portfolio companies, this is spray-and-pray territory where individual attention post-investment becomes mathematically impossible. The EIS/SEIS focus means they're optimizing for tax-efficient investing, which can misalign incentives.
- —Best for: Impact-focused founders who want experienced operators, not just capital
- —Watch out for: Portfolio size means limited partner bandwidth for hand-holding
- —Known for: Serious about social impact that delivers commercial returns, not virtue signaling
Ascension invests through generalist and institutional thesis-driven funds, into mission-driven, outlier founders. They believe in the power of technology to drive positive change by identifying commercially astute mission-driven founders.
Primarily pre-seed and seed stage with 300+ investments made. Core sectors are fintech, energy, health, deep tech, sustainability, new work, next-generation media. Recent focus on FinTech, HealthTech, DeepTech, and Sustainability through their £50m Fund III.
Over 25 years in technology, innovation and venture. Former Head of Distribution for MTV Europe, then CEO of Two Way TV (interactive technology) which he sold to Virgin Media and PE in 2008. INSEAD MBA, originally from Montreal.
Former founder and CEO of CSC Media Group which sold to Sony Pictures Television for £107m in 2014. Nearly 20 years in broadcast and interactive media, previously Commercial Director at YooMedia and Head of Strategy at Telewest Broadband.
Listed as Partner at Ascension based on recent team updates.
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