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Public

Europe, England, United Kingdom, London

Description

Public is a London-based venture capital firm uniquely dedicated to supporting technology startups that aim to transform and improve public services. Established with a clear mission to bridge the gap between innovative tech and government needs, Public focuses on what is often termed 'GovTech' or 'CivicTech'. The firm distinguishes itself through its deep understanding of the public sector landscape, offering not just capital but also strategic guidance, policy expertise, and unparalleled access to government networks. This specialized approach allows them to nurture companies that can navigate the complexities of public procurement and deliver impactful solutions across various governmental departments and services, from healthcare to defense.

TheThe firm's investment strategy targets early-stage companies, typically from pre-seed through to Series A rounds. Public seeks out founders with ambitious visions for public sector innovation, providing hands-on support to help them scale and achieve market fit within a challenging yet critical sector. Their value proposition extends beyond mere funding, encompassing tailored mentorship, policy insights, and connections that are vital for startups engaging with public bodies. They actively work to de-risk the public sector market for their portfolio companies, accelerating their growth and impact.

Public recently announced the close of its third fund, Public Fund III, securing £40 million to continue its mission. This new fund underscores their commitment to the GovTech ecosystem and enables them to expand their investment capacity. With this capital, Public typically writes initial cheques ranging from £500,000 to £3 million, demonstrating their flexibility across different early-stage funding needs. Their portfolio includes companies addressing a wide array of public challenges, from improving citizen engagement to enhancing operational efficiencies within government agencies. This focused investment thesis and hands-on support position Public as a pivotal player in the European GovTech landscape, driving innovation for public good.

Investor Profile

Public has backed more than 37 startups, with 0 new investments in the last 12 months alone. The firm has led 21 rounds, about 57% of its total and boasts 2 exits across its portfolio.

Investment Focus Highlights

  • Concentrates on Non Equity Assistance, Seed, Series Unknown rounds (top funding stages).
  • Majority of deals are located in United Kingdom, Germany, France.
  • Strong thematic focus on Software, Information Technology, Health Care.
  • Typical check size: $500K – $3M.

Stage Focus

  • Non Equity Assistance (49%)
  • Seed (30%)
  • Series Unknown (14%)
  • Pre Seed (8%)

Country Focus

  • United Kingdom (68%)
  • Germany (19%)
  • France (5%)
  • Spain (3%)
  • Serbia (3%)
  • United States (3%)

Industry Focus

  • Software
  • Information Technology
  • Health Care
  • Artificial Intelligence (Ai)
  • Govtech
  • Saas
  • Machine Learning
  • Internet
  • Big Data
  • Government
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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 Public frequently co-invest with?

DA
Europe, England, United Kingdom, London
Co-Investments: 2
Salica
Europe, England, United Kingdom, London
Co-Investments: 1
Nesta Impact Investments
Europe, England, United Kingdom, London
Co-Investments: 1
Clarendon Fund Managers
Europe, Belfast, United Kingdom, Belfast
Co-Investments: 1
Contrarian Ventures
Europe, Vilniaus Apskritis, Lithuania, Vilnius
Co-Investments: 1
Techstart Ventures
Europe, Belfast, United Kingdom, Belfast
Co-Investments: 1
Google for Startups
North America, California, United States, Mountain View
Co-Investments: 1
Ascension
Europe, England, United Kingdom, London
Co-Investments: 1
EIT Urban Mobility
Europe, Catalonia, Spain, Barcelona
Co-Investments: 1
RC
Europe, Ile-de-France, France, Paris
Co-Investments: 1

Which angels does Public often collaborate with?

Carol Schwartz
Oceania, Victoria, Australia, Melbourne
Shared Deals: 1
TR
North America, Massachusetts, United States, Wellesley Hills
Shared Deals: 1

What are some of recent deals done by Public?

Coplug

London, England, United Kingdom

Coplug developed a spatial analytics digital platform that supports services and infrastructure planning across cities.

AnalyticsInformation TechnologyInfrastructure
Non Equity AssistanceMay 25, 2021
Zencity

New York, New York, United States

Leading global community engagement SaaS technology platform for local governments

AnalyticsArtificial Intelligence (AI)GovTechSaaSSoftware
Non Equity AssistanceMay 25, 2021
Matterway

Berlin, Berlin, Germany

Matterway offers a task acceleration platform that eliminates digital friction, without complex process or IT changes.

Enterprise SoftwareInformation TechnologySoftware
SeedDec 20, 2020
GovMind

Berlin, Berlin, Germany

GovMind is a provider of an intelligence service that systematically captures and structures data on GovTech solutions.

ConsultingGovernmentGovTechSoftware
Pre SeedDec 20, 2020
Vianova

Paris, Ile-de-France, France

Vianova is a mobility data platform for managing connected and shared mobility in the urban public realm.

Big DataInformation TechnologyLogisticsTransportation
SeedDec 1, 2020
Amount Raised: $2,172,745
Alcuris

Loughborough, Leicestershire, United Kingdom

Alcuris designs and manufactures a connectivity device to support the independence of older individuals.

BiotechnologyHealth CareInformation Technology
Series UnknownJan 1, 2020
Eva Health Technologies

London, England, United Kingdom

Eva Health Technologies supplies practice management systems for GP surgeries in the NHS.

Health CareInformation TechnologyMedical
Non Equity AssistanceJan 1, 2020
Aleph Alpha

Heidelberg, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany

Aleph Alpha specializes in researching, developing, and implementing AI-based technologies for both public and private sectors.

Artificial Intelligence (AI)Generative AIMachine LearningNatural Language ProcessingSoftware
Non Equity AssistanceJan 1, 2020
Birdie

London, England, United Kingdom

Birdie is a digital caretech company focused on elderly care at home.

Elder CareElderlyHealth CareHospitality
Non Equity AssistanceAug 7, 2019
Convaise

Munich, Bayern, Germany

Convaise is a chatbot that helps local administrations cut out forms and data entry, saving time and money.

Artificial Intelligence (AI)Assistive TechnologyChatbotSoftware
Non Equity AssistanceAug 7, 2019