THE HIGH-GROWTH STARTUP STUDIO
Most founders hit a wall somewhere between product and traction, so you have built something real but it’s not scaling fast enough, or worse it’s scaling in the wrong direction. That’s where our venture studio come in, we step in as advisors and builders, rolling sleeves up beside your team to find the commercial levers, fix the product logic and prove there’s a business worth doubling down on for the next round of investment.
From our base in London and Surrey, we back early and growth-stage companies across SaaS, retail, education, health, fintech and circular-economy technology. Sometimes we take equity, sometimes we co-build for fees and bring product strategy, design and development as well as marketing expertise meaning that you don’t waste months stitching various agencies together and can concentrate on gaining that traction.
FROM NEW IDEAS TO HIGH GROWTH COMPANIES
Serial Founders
We’ve done the startup grind ourselves, we have built products, missed payroll, raised, exited and started again. When we back a venture you will get straight answers, pattern-spotting from experience, and people who know what it takes to stay standing when the plan falls apart.
Fast Track
Our team of designers, engineers, and growth strategists work side-by-side to turn loose thinking into an investible strategy. We audit what you have, recommend changes to whats not working and revitalise the product out in the market.
Raise Capital
We’ve sat on both sides of the investor table and we know how to tell a story properly, line up the right meetings, and prep the deck so its investable, Our network runs from angels to Series B, but we only make introductions when we have taken you on.
Why choose our Creative Venture Studio team
CATCH
The fishing world hadn’t really gone digital.
CHAINBREAKER TECHNOLOGIES
Helping people live better
AIME
Building an AI companion that listens when people need it most.
Exceptional individuals
What we look for
We’re very selective about the founders and projects that we choose to take on, but this is what we look for:
- Founders who actually know their space and have the guts to stick with it
- Ideas where technology genuinely opens up new opportunities
- Products that have the potential to grow without losing sight of what users really need
We’re sector-agnostic but have particular experience in SaaS, digital health, marketplaces, AI platforms, and product-led B2B tools.
We love innovative business models
How it Works
We usually come in once seed money’s landed as thats when we you as founders have early proof but not necessarily the team or headspace to get it right first time and make the cash go further.
Whist we bring with us a lot of additional studio resources for product strategy, UX and design and software development if we need it, think of us as partners and co-founders.
To keep it fair, we drop our normal fees and take a bit of equity instead so that everyone has skin in the game and we all pulling in the same direction of building a scalable and sustainable business.
Real partners with skin in the game
Why Founders Choose Us
We’ve built companies ourselves, we have had some wins and some failures but with both we had lots and lots of lessons. Our team includes founders and product designers and developers, who all know what it feels like to bet everything on an idea, we regularly ask questions, share what we’ve learned the hard way and focus on turning your product into a business.
Founders stick with us because we help them launch stronger, become a sustainable business and help them raise future rounds easier.
FAQS
Questions we are asked before we are hired
What stage do you join?
We step in after your seed funding is secured as thats the moment most founders have their proof of demand but still face gaps in product, design and growth. Our role is to turn those early signs into a scalable business. Unlike most accelerators or incubators programmes, we don’t just give advice once a month, we bring strategy, co founders and a whole studio team to get you moving,
How are you different to accelerators?
Accelerators back traditional startups that are already late stage or heavily structured whilst a venture studio is different. We partner with very early stage founders once capital is raised and we act as co builders to create ideas into sustainable businesses. Think of us as a founders factory that works with you and is invested enough with equity to ensure the best chance of success.
Do you invest or just advise?
We can both, but we love the projects that we invest in with soft cash by reducing our fees in return for equity, Unlike most investors who only write a cheque and want annual updates, our venture builder model means you gain access to strategy, design and technology expertise and benefit from a committed studio team who stay involved until the business models prove sustainable.
Why do founders choose you?
Because we’ve sat where they sit in the most demanding of industries, our team includes inspiring individuals who’ve built, scaled, and exited technology start ups. We support founders with one to one coaching, connections to investors and practical product help.
What sectors do you focus on?
The truth is we don’t, we built products across multiple industries and for some of worlds leading brands. The founders matter more than the sector (although we do not go near gambling or smoking) as well as a strong business idea that has the potential scale and meet an unmet demand.
Do you replace my team?
God no thats your jobs, we act as an extension and our studio slots in where any gaps exist whether its in product strategy, user experience design, product development or growth marketing, We see this as a co founder-style partnership that helps get you there in a more robust way so that you don’t lose control of your company
What do I actually gain?
This is simple, you gain co founders and access to our extensive studio resources as well as mentors, investors, and partners which means you get product strategy, branding, user experience and creative design as well as build and marketing all here to help you build a scalable business.
How do you handle equity?
Our model is that equity is shared based on risk and contribution, you have already raised seed funding to start the vision and we bring all the resources you could possibly need at a significant discount in exchange for equity and ongoing consultancy.
Do you work outside the UK?
Yes we do, whilst we are based in London and Surrey the founders we work with are both nationally in the UK and also globally. With multiple industries represented in our portfolio, we know what it takes to adapt to different business models and for different markets.
How fast do you move?
We join once seed funding is secured, so the clock is already ticking, we move quickly and every venture we take on starts with understanding, we ask questions, lots of questions to fully understand your vision, your target market and what you have achieved to date, before working with you to create a roadmap over the next 2 years which keeps everyone aligned to making the business a success.
What makes you different to VCs?
Traditionally VCs tend to invest money, then watch you from the sidelines achieving the KPIs they have set you. We are a venture studio, not a venture fund, so we get involved when you need that additional headspace and firepower in terms of resources, You still lead and we help to ensure that the the cash goes further. VCs are still needed and we will help you raising in future rounds.
What’s your end goal with ventures?
We have thought about this a lot before setting it up, we have had our day in the sun with exits and want to help you achieve the same, through building engaging products, a growth fuelled business that makes money and is sustainable. Nothing would give us more joy than the day we sold the business together or see the founders on stage collecting their awards.
It was like watching an elite team guide a group of novices (my team) through difficult terrain. They moved as one, flexed, adjusted and constantly managed the user experience, and made it both fun and personal at the same time.
Adrienne McDunn PERSONALYSISProof in the Partnerships
