UK-based B Corp Octopus Investments has unveiled its Pre-Seed Deep Tech Fund, which will channel investment to technologies addressing systemic risks such as climate change, resource scarcity and energy security. The fund aims to raise £40 million (US$50.8 million) to provide capital to deep tech founders to bring breakthrough technologies to market. The fund will act as a lead investor, offering support to deep tech hardware and software ventures through capital infusion and effective customer discovery. The fund’s primary focus is on investing in cutting-edge technology emerging from research centres and university hubs across the UK and Europe. These technologies, including quantum solutions, photonics and electronics, advanced materials, robotics, agtech, and artificial intelligence, are considered essential for establishing a sustainable planet. Octopus aims to raise capital from a diverse range of investors, including family offices, corporations seeking long-term competitive advantage through early investments, and local government pension schemes looking to bolster their local economies. Leading the fund are General Partners Zoe Reich and Rubina Singh, supported by former researchers and founders, including Venture Partner Richard Anson. “Building a sustainable planet will require much greater investment in atoms and less investment in bytes. Only the combination of hardware and software innovation will tackle this global challenge,” said Reich. “We see a real opportunity in the market to be the go-to lead investor for deep tech hardware. We’re excited to be launching a fund that tackles one of the greatest challenges of deep tech commercialisation – customer discovery – and underwrite the technology validation pathway, while providing founders with meaningful capital to hit value inflection points.”
