Founders backing founders

Backing the Non-Obvious

We believe the best companies come from founders who see what others miss—those who challenge assumptions, think across industries, and build products that create genuine delight.

We invest early, think long-term, and partner deeply with founders building something remarkable.

Stage

Pre-Seed to Seed

Initial Investment

Up to £50K

Geography

UK • Europe

About Curio Ventures

Curio Ventures is a London-based investment collective. Founded by five partners from the London Business School Executive MBA programme, each bringing distinct perspectives from technology, cybersecurity, finance, and global operations.

We're London-based, rooted in the LBS ecosystem, and global by nature. Our backgrounds span industries, geographies, and functional domains—giving us a genuinely cross-industry view of what's possible.

We're operators who've built and scaled companies, navigated complex markets, and understand what it takes to turn ideas into lasting businesses.

Investors

MS

Mark Segelov

Investor

AM

Amar Mesic

Investor

CB

Costantino Bongermino

Investor

CF

Choisel Fogang

Investor

Our Philosophy

Four principles guide how we think about companies, founders, and building lasting value.

Visionary

We back founders who see the world differently. Those who identify non-obvious opportunities, question conventional wisdom, and have the conviction to pursue ideas others overlook.

Remarkable

Inspired by Purple Cow philosophy, we invest in companies that create genuine "wow" moments. Products worth talking about. Experiences that stand out in crowded markets.

Depth

We favour long-term thinking, substance, and insight over hype and momentum. The best companies are built through deep understanding, not surface-level pattern matching.

Founder First

We invest in founders and ideas, not polished pitches. We care about how you think, what you've learned, and why you see the world the way you do.

What We Back

We invest in remarkable companies shaping how people think, work, and experience the world. Sector-agnostic, but insight-led.

Non-obvious ideas

Insights that challenge assumptions and see opportunities others miss.

Cross-industry thinking

Founders who connect dots across sectors and apply insights unexpectedly.

Founder insight

Deep, earned knowledge from lived experience and genuine curiosity.

Remarkable products

Products that create meaningful customer impact and genuine delight.

Areas of Interest

AI & Intelligent Software
Cyber, Trust & Security
Fintech & Financial Infrastructure
Future of Work
Consumer & Experience
Travel & Hospitality
Enterprise Technology
Marketplaces & Platforms
Climate & Energy
Deep Tech & Life Sciences

More Than Capital

We don't just write cheques. We roll up our sleeves. Capital is table stakes—what matters is the strategic support, operator network, and hands-on guidance we bring to help you scale.

Strategic Partnership

We're in the trenches with you—advising on strategy, market positioning, and critical decisions. Not passive investors, but active partners.

Operator Network

Access our curated network of experienced executives, founders, and sector specialists who've scaled companies before.

Advisory Support

From go-to-market strategy to operational scaling, we provide hands-on guidance through our advisory layer of trusted operators.

Warm Introductions

We open doors—to customers, talent, partners, and follow-on investors. Our network becomes your network.

Platform Development

We help build the foundations—recruiting support, commercial partnerships, and operational infrastructure to accelerate your growth.

Aligned Capital

Patient, long-term capital from operators who understand early-stage building. We think in years, not quarters.

Founders, not bureaucracy

How We Work

We optimise for conviction, not deal volume. Here's what that looks like—no theatre, no games.

First conversationLong-term partnership

Get in Touch

If you're building something remarkable and think we might be a good fit, we'd like to hear from you. We read every message and respond thoughtfully.

hello@curioventures.vc