
Wesley Clover
Description
Wesley Clover is a private, global investment management and holding company with a deep-rooted focus on new Cloud/SaaS technology ventures, particularly within the B2B enterprise software sector. Founded by the legendary Canadian tech entrepreneur Sir Terry Matthews, who co-founded Mitel in 1973 and Newbridge Networks in 1986, the firm leverages decades of industry experience and a unique "Build, Operate, Transfer" model. This approach often sees Wesley Clover incubating companies from inception, providing not just capital but also extensive operational support, strategic guidance, and access to a robust ecosystem, particularly within the Kanata North tech hub in Ottawa, Canada.
The firm's investment philosophy is characterized by a long-term perspective, aiming to build sustainable businesses rather than simply making quick exits. They are known for their hands-on involvement, helping portfolio companies navigate product development, market entry, and scaling. Wesley Clover's portfolio spans various critical technology domains, including telecommunications, cybersecurity, and networking, reflecting Sir Terry Matthews' foundational expertise. Their track record includes fostering companies that have achieved significant scale and value, such as Solace, which secured a $100 million investment from a private equity firm, and Martello Technologies, which went public after receiving early backing.
While Wesley Clover does not operate like a traditional venture capital fund with publicly stated fund sizes or rigid investment rounds, their initial capital commitments typically target early-stage companies. Given their incubation model and capacity to build ventures from the ground up, their typical first check size can range from approximately $500,000 for very early-stage or internal projects requiring initial development capital, up to $5,000,000 for more developed seed or early Series A investments where they take a significant, often controlling, stake. They are prepared to provide substantial follow-on funding as their portfolio companies grow and require further capital for expansion.
Investor Profile
Wesley Clover has backed more than 21 startups, with 1 new investments in the last 12 months alone. The firm has led 4 rounds, about 19% of its total and boasts 16 exits across its portfolio.
Investment Focus Highlights
- Concentrates on Seed, Series A, Series C rounds (top funding stages).
- Majority of deals are located in United Kingdom, Canada, France.
- Strong thematic focus on Software, Information Technology, SaaS.
- Led 1 rounds in the past year.
- Typical check size: $500K – $5M.
Stage Focus
- Seed (52%)
- Series A (14%)
- Series C (10%)
- Series B (5%)
- Private Equity (5%)
- Pre Seed (5%)
- Series Unknown (5%)
- Post Ipo Equity (5%)
Country Focus
- United Kingdom (38%)
- Canada (33%)
- France (14%)
- United States (5%)
- Australia (5%)
- Turkey (5%)
Industry Focus
- Software
- Information Technology
- Saas
- Cyber Security
- Internet
- Security
- Fraud Detection
- Network Security
- Voip
- Cloud Management
Frequently Asked Questions
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