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Ascension

Europe, England, United Kingdom, London

Description

Ascension is a prominent London-based early-stage venture capital firm distinguished by its foundation of exited entrepreneurs, aiming to empower the next wave of technology and impact-driven founders. Operating primarily at the Seed and Series A stages, the firm brings a founder-centric approach, leveraging its team's direct experience in building and scaling businesses. Ascension's investment strategy is diversified across several funds, including a broader institutional fund and specialized vehicles like the Fair By Design Fund, which specifically targets innovative solutions combating the poverty premium. This multi-fund structure allows Ascension to pursue both strong commercial returns and significant societal impact.

The firm typically deploys initial cheques ranging from £250,000 to £1.5 million, which translates to approximately $317,500 to $1,905,000 USD based on current exchange rates. For its Fair By Design Fund, the investment range is more focused, usually between £250,000 and £750,000, underscoring its commitment to specific impact themes. Ascension prides itself on being more than just a capital provider; it offers strategic guidance, operational support, and access to a robust network, helping portfolio companies navigate the challenges of early-stage growth and achieve their full potential.

With a portfolio boasting investments in over 100 companies, Ascension has established itself as a significant player in the UK's early-stage ecosystem. The firm's assets under management exceed £100 million, reflecting its substantial capacity to back promising startups. Ascension's unique blend of entrepreneurial insight, strategic capital deployment, and a strong focus on both financial returns and positive societal change positions it as a valuable partner for ambitious founders looking to scale disruptive technologies and create meaningful impact.

Investor Profile

Ascension has backed more than 299 startups, with 13 new investments in the last 12 months alone. The firm has led 57 rounds, about 19% of its total and boasts 19 exits across its portfolio.

Investment Focus Highlights

  • Concentrates on Seed, Pre Seed, Series Unknown rounds (top funding stages).
  • Majority of deals are located in United Kingdom, United States, Finland.
  • Strong thematic focus on Software, FinTech, Financial Services.
  • Led 4 rounds in the past year.
  • Typical check size: $317.5K – $1.9M.

Stage Focus

  • Seed (60%)
  • Pre Seed (17%)
  • Series Unknown (13%)
  • Series A (5%)
  • Undisclosed (2%)
  • Angel (1%)
  • Series B (1%)

Country Focus

  • United Kingdom (96%)
  • United States (2%)
  • Finland (1%)

Industry Focus

  • Software
  • Fintech
  • Financial Services
  • Apps
  • Internet
  • Artificial Intelligence (Ai)
  • E-commerce
  • Advertising
  • Information Technology
  • Health Care
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FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Learn who this investor regularly partners with—both firms and angels—and explore their latest activity.

Who does Ascension frequently co-invest with?

Seedcamp
Europe, England, United Kingdom, London
Co-Investments: 12
Techstart Ventures
Europe, Belfast, United Kingdom, Belfast
Co-Investments: 9
Force Over Mass Capital
Europe, England, United Kingdom, London
Co-Investments: 11
Fuel Ventures
Europe, England, United Kingdom, London
Co-Investments: 8
Plug and Play
North America, California, United States, Sunnyvale
Co-Investments: 7
London Co-Investment Fund
Europe, England, United Kingdom, London
Co-Investments: 8
FB
Europe, England, United Kingdom, London
Co-Investments: 10
Entrepreneur First
Europe, England, United Kingdom, London
Co-Investments: 8
Everywhere Ventures (The Fund)
North America, New York, United States, New York
Co-Investments: 10
Concept Ventures
Europe, England, United Kingdom, London
Co-Investments: 8

Which angels does Ascension often collaborate with?

CA
Europe, England, United Kingdom, London
Shared Deals: 6
RC
Europe, England, United Kingdom, London
Shared Deals: 4
WN
Europe, England, United Kingdom, London
Shared Deals: 4
MR
Europe, England, United Kingdom, London
Shared Deals: 3
MR
Europe, England, United Kingdom, London
Shared Deals: 3
HB
Europe, England, United Kingdom, London
Shared Deals: 3
SC
Europe, England, United Kingdom, London
Shared Deals: 10
CS
North America, Washington, United States, Kirkland
Shared Deals: 4
AE
Europe, England, United Kingdom, London
Shared Deals: 3
SB
Europe, England, United Kingdom, London
Shared Deals: 3

What are some of recent deals done by Ascension?

Sprive

London, England, United Kingdom

Sprive is a mobile app that helps UK homeowners become mortgage free, faster and save thousands of pounds

Financial ServicesFinTechPersonal Finance
SeedApr 28, 2025
Amount Raised: $7,382,075
Capably AI

London, England, United Kingdom

Intelligent Automation Platform

Artificial Intelligence (AI)Generative AISoftware
SeedApr 22, 2025
Amount Raised: $4,000,000
Liquid Acquire

London, England, United Kingdom

Liquid Acquire provides AI solutions for mergers and acquisitions.

Artificial Intelligence (AI)Financial ServicesSoftware
Pre SeedMar 24, 2025
Amount Raised: $1,500,000
Merx

London, England, United Kingdom

Merx offers an AI-based platform for brands to engage customers through messaging channels, boosting engagement and conversational commerce.

Artificial Intelligence (AI)B2BMedia and EntertainmentMessagingPersonalization
Pre SeedMar 13, 2025
Amount Raised: $1,295,696
Tribe

London, England, United Kingdom

Tribe offers an IRL community SaaS platform with marketplace for discovery and booking local events.

CommunitiesEventsMarketplaceSaaS
Pre SeedFeb 1, 2025
Amount Raised: $557,707
ComplyStream

Harrow, Harrow, United Kingdom

ComplyStream enables faster and smarter FinCrime alert resolution by unifying your fragmented data in a single AI-native platform.

Artificial Intelligence (AI)ComplianceFinTech
Pre SeedJan 28, 2025
Tembo Money

London, England, United Kingdom

Tembo is a mortgage platform that assists users in securing home financing.

Financial ServicesFinTechMortgage
Series BNov 29, 2024
Amount Raised: $17,824,790
R.grid

London, England, United Kingdom

R.grid automates clinical trials with AI-driven platforms for efficiency.

Artificial Intelligence (AI)Machine LearningSoftware
SeedNov 6, 2024
Amount Raised: $6,441,199
Concert Bio

London, England, United Kingdom

Concert Bio helps businesses create optimal microbial communities.

AgricultureBiotechnologyHorticulture
UndisclosedOct 24, 2024
Amount Raised: $1,686,328
Round Treasury

London, England, United Kingdom

Round helps venture backed businesses minimise risk and maximise return on excess cash.

BankingFinancial ServicesFinTech
Pre SeedOct 8, 2024
Amount Raised: $2,094,926