Old College Capital
Old College Capital (OCC) is the University of Edinburgh's in-house venture investment fund, established in 2011 as a limited partnership (Companies House SL009405, GP entity SC397769). OCC invests directly from pre-seed to Series A in spinouts and startups associated with the University, operating as an evergreen vehicle with returns reinvested into the fund. Cumulative committed capital exceeds GBP 15 million, leveraged to approximately GBP 100 million in co-investment from external partners. No FCA AIFM registration as a university-captive fund. The fund has backed over 100 companies in deep tech, biotech, cleantech, AI and fintech. Contact: investment@ei.ed.ac.uk.
Key facts
Recent exits
Coverage notes
1 fund tracked, 18 portfolio companies (17 active · 1 realized). Verified weekly from public filings and deal announcements.
Funds & portfolio
Every fund Old College Capital has raised, with its portfolio companies. Hand-checked from public filings.
Old College Capital LPEvergreen2011 · 15yr17 active · 1 realized
Unrealized
17 held| Company | Sector | Geo | Entry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amiqus | Fintech | UK | 2017 |
| Aveni | Fintech | UK | 2020 |
| BioCaptiva | MedTech | UK | 2022 |
| Bioliberty | MedTech | UK | 2022 |
| Forth Therapeutics | Pharma | UK | 2025 |
| Invizius | Biotech | UK | 2019 |
| Ionate | Energy | UK | 2022 |
| Krotos | Software | UK | 2017 |
| Macomics | Biotech | UK | 2020 |
| MiAlgae | AgTech | UK | 2020 |
| Net AI | AI/ML | UK | 2021 |
| pureLiFi | Telecom | UK | 2014 |
| Resolution Therapeutics | Biotech | UK | 2020 |
| Shot Scope | Software | UK | 2015 |
| Sofant Technologies | Deep Tech | UK | 2013 |
| Sunamp | Energy | UK | 2015 |
| Wobble Genomics | Biotech | UK | 2021 |
Realized
1 exit| Company | Sector | Geo | Entry | Exit | Type | Buyer | MOIC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blackford Analysis | HealthTech | UK | 2012 | 2023 | Trade Sale | – |
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About Old College Capital
Old College Capital is the University of Edinburgh venture investment fund managing the University early-stage investment activities and shareholdings, supporting commercialisation of technologies emerging from the University. Headquartered in Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom, Old College Capital began in 2012 as a pilot project and has since made over 100 individual investment decisions, committing a cumulative total of more than GBP 15 million. This investment has been further leveraged by approximately GBP 100 million in direct co-investment from partners in the investment community. The structure is a university-anchored venture capital fund operated through Edinburgh Innovations, the University commercialisation arm. The fund operates from balance-sheet capital sourced from the University rather than from third-party limited partners. The portfolio comprises over 100 disruptive companies developing cutting-edge technology with applications across biotechnology, energy, data, artificial intelligence, robotics and fintech.
Investment thesis
Old College Capital pursues a pre-seed to Series A venture investment strategy to accelerate the journey of startups and spinouts looking to make a positive impact on people and the planet, with a particular focus on University of Edinburgh research commercialisation pathways. Sector focus is concentrated across biotechnology, energy, data, artificial intelligence, robotics and fintech, reflecting the University research strengths in life sciences, informatics, engineering and computer science. Geographic focus is Edinburgh-anchored with portfolio companies typically arising from University of Edinburgh research or with significant Edinburgh ecosystem ties, with selective expansion to broader UK and international opportunities. Ticket size is GBP 50,000 to GBP 250,000 per investment, calibrated to pre-seed and seed-stage rounds where small-cheque catalytic capital unlocks follow-on funding from venture and growth-stage co-investors. The capital base is the University of Edinburgh balance sheet with no external limited partners. Value creation operates through the broader Edinburgh Innovations network providing technology transfer, IP commercialisation, business development and access to the University research talent and lab infrastructure.
Recent activity
Recent and active portfolio companies include Exergy3 in energy and thermal energy storage, Trogenix in biotechnology and cancer immunotherapy, Bioliberty in robotics and AI-enabled soft robotics, and Forge Minerals in cleantech and CO2-to-minerals conversion technology. The fund has made over 100 investment decisions across its 12-year history, with cumulative deployment exceeding GBP 15 million leveraging over GBP 100 million in co-investment from venture and growth investors. The platform continues to deploy pre-seed and seed-stage capital across biotechnology, energy, data, AI, robotics and fintech sectors emerging from the University of Edinburgh research base. Detailed buyer names and multiple data available on Pro at €29/month.
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