42 Ventures

42 Ventures is an investment firm that works alongside founders of business software companies. It concentrates on B2B, cloud-based businesses aimed at particular industries or functions, and it prefers to be an active partner rather than a passive minority holder.

What 42 Ventures offers

• Growth investment: it steps in once a company has proven its technology, service and business model, and before the company reaches the earlier revenue stage it names.
• Active partnership: it works with management on plans instead of dictating them, and does not require control.
• Operator experience: every team member has started, grown and sold technology businesses.

Who it serves

It looks for software firms serving specific industries or specialised functions, where products can be more distinct than in broad markets. It invests its own capital, which it says aligns its goals with management.

Key facts

• Focus: B2B software with a vertical-market emphasis
• Themes: cloud, mobile, machine learning and data
• Capital: its own money, not a managed fund