Rocketfuel Venture Fund
Agile Technology Investments
Using a “Fail Fast” agile approach commonly used in software design, our fund is designed to minimise risk exposure and maximise returns to our investors
We've worked with...
Problems & Solutions
Bridging the Funding Gap
Many promising startups face a “funding gap” between seed rounds and Series A. By not raising enough money to push through the gap, too many companies lose momentum before they have developed a strong user-base.
Rocketfuel will have the capacity to offer “follow-on funding” to the most successful startup from each intake, ensuring the best startups will have enough funding to bridge the gap to their Series A round.
Rocketfuel is powered by the expertise of Rocketmakers, a technology agency that specialises in launching innovative startup and scale-up businesses.
Over 25 years developing scaleable solutions via Microsoft, Deloitte and Rocketmakers has influenced an approach to technology investments that we’re now applying to early stage businesses.
Richard Godfrey—Rocketmakers CEO
De-risk early
Technology startups are high risk, and most will probably fail within a few months of launch. Why fund startups through an entire programme if we know they will won't meet the funds needs?
Instead of making equal investments and hoping a few succeed a year later, Rocketfuel will initially give smaller amounts to a large cohort. Then, through rigorous assessment, we'll rapidly identify the ones we should let go and who we should focus further investment on.
Fit The Market Quickly
How do you find the product/market fit as quickly and efficiently as possible so further investment is put into the right opportunities?
The Rocketfuel model ensures startups produce results quickly to remain funded in the programme. By focusing on market research, testing early and iterating quickly using agile development techniques we'll ensure the right funding is deployed in the most impactful way.
Early Stage Quality Deal flow
How do you find a larger number of high-potential technology startups to diversify risk and efficiently filter those who can really deliver the returns for the fund?
The Rocketfuel fund will take full advantage of Rocketmakers' 10+ years experience in early stage technology investment and due diligence as well as the wealth of early stage technology startups who approach them and their partners each year.
Partners
The companies making Rocketfuel possible
The Rocket fuel fund has been built around the expertise of one of the UK’s top technology design firms. Rocketmakers, which has been spinning off successful tech startups for over ten years, will be working with Catalst Venture Partners to determine which startups in the fund are best positioned for exponential growth, and how best to back them. Additional compliance support will be provided by Sapphire Capital Partnership.
Sapphire is a multi award winning firm that specialises in obtaining SEIS, EIS and VCT advance assurance from HMRC. We have done too many to count. We can draft the investment documents and apply to HMRC on your behalf.
Catalyst Venture Partners was founded in 1999 when a group of technology entrepreneurs got together to create a networked accelerator and specialist corporate finance boutique.
Case Studies
Combining investment and tech industry know-how
Unlike other funds, the Rocketfuel fund has been built around the expertise of one of the UK’s top technology design firms. Rocketmakers, who have been spinning off successful tech startups for over ten years, will be working with XXXXXX to determine which startups in the fund are best positioned for exponential growth, and how best to back them. Instead of only hitting financial targets, Rocketfuel startups will also need to continually prove to experts that their tech can work and scale rapidly.
Rocketmakers designed and built a scalable product package; mobile app, admin web app, marketing website and back end database archetecture
Pure planet is funded by BP and their team also successfully launched GiffGaff in the UK
Rocketmakers designed and built a scalable product package; mobile app, admin web app, marketing website and back end database archetecture
Pure planet is funded by BP and their team also successfully launched GiffGaff in the UK
Above: Keith Walker: Rocketmakers CTO, Richard Godfrey Rocketmakers CEO, HRH The Prince of Wales
Rocketmakers:
Winner of the 2018 Queen's Award for Innovation
Team
Who’s who at Rocketfuel
Richard Godfrey,
Rocketmakers CEO
Over 25 years at Microsoft, Deloitte and Rocketmakers, Richard has delivered major systems, architected innovated start-ups, scale-ups and corporate products, disrupting and engaging customer experiences through the application of new technology.
Richard Turner,
Catalyst CEO
Richard has helped create over 50 companies including Razor Fish, TBSC, ClassWatch, and Claritum. Richard is a Director of Catalyst Talent and Catalyst IFG a loan finance company. Richard’swas in Economic Development working for a variety of institutions including the World Bank, the African Development Bank and the UN.
Boyd Carson,
Sapphire CEO
Boyd has over thirty years’ experience in the financial services industry and has overseen the development of Sapphire Capital to become a multi-award winning investment firm with a diversified client base.
Keith Walker,
Rocketamakers CTO
A software architect who has served as CTO of Rocketmakers for over 10 years. Previously Keith worked with some of the biggest names in British industry including Scottish Enterprise and Transport for London.
Contact
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