Top 10 venture capital firms: Anthemis

The financial services sector is synonymous with innovation and new, digital technologies. 

In recent years, fintechs, challenger and neobanks and tech-driven startups have disrupted the market, providing consumers with new ways to manage their financial lives and driving incumbents to innovate faster and more effectively. 

Tech, naturally, is the beating heart of the vast majority of these companies. But, so too is investment and support from venture capital (VC) firms. 

However, as well as investment and capital, these organisations help to provide a framework for innovation and talent and embody knowledge, a pioneering spirit and a supportive mentality.

Here, we take a closer look at Anthemis, a London-headquartered VC company dedicated to cultivating change in the financial services industry. 

Anthemis

Anthemis is built on a passion for emerging technology and values that inspire and drive its work. 

The business began working as Anthemis in 2010, continuing the work of founders Amy Nauiokas and Sean Park, who made their first seed investment in financial services startups in 2008. 

Park is an experienced entrepreneur and recognised thought leader in financial services having previously worked as a senior executive in capital markets and investment banking. 

Nuaiokas is a recognised leader in innovation, strategy and management in several industries and markets.

Since that first investment by the pair, the organisation has worked to create and nurture a fertile breeding ground for startups and entrepreneurs looking to innovate in, and disrupt, the financial services industry. 

Today, its efforts are focused on developing a unique and high value ecosystem within the sector, in particular investing in technology-driven organisations that are driving change.

In doing this, it explains, it aims to “reinvent finance for the information age by bringing together and investing in talented entrepreneurs, thought-leaders and change-agents in the world of finance.”

Invest

Anthemis describes itself as a ‘thesis-driven investor’. 

The business has a diversified portfolio of best-in-class, high-growth and digitally native financial services companies on a global basis.

It uses rigorous design thinking methods to build new, venture-backed businesses and its dedicated Venture Partnerships team works with companies that challenge the financial services status quo, including in new and emerging sub sectors like insurance. 

To date, Anthemis has invested in, and worked with, a host of innovators, including Atom Bank, Azimo, Currencycloud, Happy Money, Monese and Tide.