Founders Backing Founders
Unlike more than 80% of European VCs, SVV are an operator-led firm, with all our partner’s having multiple exits under their belts - we’ve walked in your shoes, raised venture capital ourselves, enjoyed the highs and experienced all the lows of the entrepreneurial journey.
We don’t like to think of ourselves as ‘just’ investors, we’re partners who are with you, right until the end.
Founder DNA
We're not just investors – we're founders who've been in the trenches ourselves. Our partners have built, scaled, and successfully exited multiple companies, including high-return sales to industry giants like RedHat/IBM and Transunion. When you're struggling with product-market fit, wrestling with technical architecture decisions, or preparing for your next funding round, you're getting guidance from people who've lived these challenges firsthand. This deep founder-to-founder understanding creates a unique partnership that goes far beyond capital, because we've experienced the sleepless nights, pivot decisions, and relentless pursuit of breakthrough moments that define the entrepreneurial journey.
Experienced Operators
Our investment decisions are backed by decades of hands-on operational experience and deep technical expertise – more than half our team holds advanced qualifications in Computer Science or Engineering. We've been investing in AI since 2017, before it became the hottest trend in venture capital, and our team has worked at leading organizations including Ericsson, Telenor, and major tech companies. This technical depth means we can quickly identify which AI companies have genuine technological moats versus those riding the hype wave, asking the right technical questions and providing meaningful guidance on everything from architecture decisions to enterprise scaling challenges.
Unmatched Network
Our network spans the entire AI ecosystem, from Silicon Valley VCs to European government bodies, creating unparalleled opportunities for our portfolio companies. We've built strategic partnerships with leading AI programs at Imperial College London, University College Dublin, and NVIDIA's Global Masterclass Series, giving us early access to breakthrough innovations. Other European VCs regularly invite us into deals specifically for our technical due diligence expertise, while our Portfolio Advisory Board includes 50+ experts from blue-chip organizations and world-leading universities who actively open doors, provide customer introductions, and offer strategic guidance to accelerate our companies' path to Series A.
Ecosystem Builders
We don't just invest in the AI ecosystem – we actively build and shape it through government advisory roles, mentoring on leading accelerator programs, and keynoting at major industry conferences including Web Summit and London AI Summit. Our thought leadership extends to actionable industry insights through AI Investment White Papers, podcast series, and annual investment conferences, while team members advise bodies like the Irish Government Startup Taskforce and coach with Tech Nation and Scale Ireland. This deep ecosystem involvement means our portfolio companies benefit from our active role in shaping the policies, programs, and partnerships that will define the future of AI entrepreneurship in Europe and beyond.
“From day one, SVV demonstrated a deep understanding of deep tech and robotics, and they’ve consistently brought strategic insights, valuable introductions, and unwavering belief in our vision. Their team is responsive, thoughtful, and genuinely committed to helping us scale and succeed.”
Yanwen Chen, Founder, Phinxt Robotics
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