Prime Highlights:
- Onstage launches its first £10 million venture fund to support European founders at pre-seed and seed stages.
- The fund will make around 80 investments over the next three years, connecting startups with investors across Europe.
Key Facts:
- Onstage’s demo days have featured over 2,000 startups and worked with 330 venture funds, with finalists raising more than £500 million in total.
- The fund includes notable partners and LPs, such as Peter Simon, Alex Chesterman, and GPs from Concept Ventures, Creator Ventures, Chapter One, and Episode 1.
Background:
Onstage, the European organiser of standalone demo events, has officially launched its first venture fund with an initial close of £10 million. The new fund is designed to support European founders at pre-seed and seed stages and will be led by founding partner Joel Hambly.
Founded in 2020 by Episode 1 GP Hector Mason and dmg ventures Partner Taos Edmondson, Onstage’s operations are led by co-founder Issie James. Its flagship demo days have attracted more than 2,000 startups and worked with over 330 venture funds, including Sequoia, a16z, Balderton, and LocalGlobe.
Finalists from the demo day have raised more than £500 million in total, including major follow-on funding for companies like Scan.com and Lawhive.
Joel Hambly emphasized the strategic importance of the fund, stating, “A fund is the clear next step for Onstage and will enjoy a symbiotic relationship with our demo days. We can’t wait to support Europe’s next wave of founders who are ready to compete and win on a global stage.”
The fund has also attracted notable partners, including Peter Simon of Simon Sports, and LPs like Alex Chesterman, along with GPs from Concept Ventures, Creator Ventures, Chapter One, and Episode 1. To strengthen connections with the European venture landscape, Emma Phillips (LocalGlobe), Laura McGinnis (Balderton), and Jamesin Seidel (Chapter One) will serve as external members of the investment committee.
Onstage will make around 80 early-stage investments over three years, connecting founders and investors across Europe.
