Thankfully, Im back down to where I was now! We are headquartered in London but also have people in the U.S. and Asia specifically placed to help the teams we back scale in those markets. Responsible hiring doesnt just make business sense its the right thing to do. Watch Our Last Interview Video:. you. Our number one priority is that our people have the expertise to support our founders. a Staying really active helps lower my stress and generally keeps me healthy and able to deal with the challenges of my role. London-headquartered venture capital firm Octopus Ventures has hired five new investors to its deep tech investment team as it looks to build on the 45m invested this year into companies operating in spaces such as AI, quantum computing and robotics. . The process took 1 week. Now we are close to 180 people. Practical support and insights from the team at Octopus Ventures, a multi-stage London VC backing unusual talent intent on global impact. If so, why do you think youve had this success? Our team in the US is focused almost entirely on helping our European portfolio scope and enter the US market. For the people and ideas that will change the world, because we believe you can build a better tomorrow by investing in it. What candidates say about the interview process at Octopus Energy. Payments, More After successful trials that were pretty tough, we were working every hour and learning exceptionally quickly on this 3-month program. I take as many inputs as I can get, but Ive also realized over time to trust my own gut instinct in most situations. Octopus has an overall rating of 3.9 out of 5, based on over 276 reviews left anonymously by employees. This mix of attributes is very attractive to a venture investor. Octopus Ventures is one of only a handful of European funds to have a global footprint although we expect this number to grow in the years to come. News Feb 15, 2023. 25,000 earned at the end of 2 years from the starting of the business? As a company continues to grow, your ability to hire well is one of the key determinants of success and failure. greg jackson octopus wife | February 26 / 2023 | where can i use my klarna credit cardwhere can i use my klarna credit card What did you learn? So, momentum dropped off, they passed on us in the end, and we failed to raise the round. Various factors seemingly contributed to the maturity of the sector. Discover more funding rounds. We see a lot of angel investing in the market how is the pre-seed market affecting Octopuss access to deal flow? From a frenzy of activity in 2020-2021 it has slowed. Your entire existence cannot depend on the company its stressful enough without that. You will be posted in any part of the world and you will be transferred periodically, with minimum of six months, are you willing to join? As mothers sons only sister is B. Our belief is that you can build a better tomorrow by investing in it. Please enter your email address. . Some also burn out from sprinting through the early stages with no rest, so thats another reason why many may not be built to lead their companies in subsequent stages. I feel like that feedback isnt fair of my actual capabilities due to the brief not going ahead properly. Sova is a human resources technology (HRTech) company designed to manage the assessment of candidates for large organisations, helping them improve transparency and diversity. Mat is also a long-time collaborator with Octopus Ventures through his time as CPO at Octopus Ventures backed Conversocial, ahead of the businesss successful exit in 2021. By combining psychometric science and a compelling digital experience, Sova helps companies more accurately identify top talent and create personalised candidate . The decision to scale into the U.S. market, followed by the execution, is not for the faint The London-based startup has raised over $30.5 million in funding to date, with backers including the media titan Sky (now owned by Comcast) and to VCs including Octopus Ventures, LocalGlobe, Sands Capital, and Guardian Media Group Ventures. We welcome people from the widest range of backgrounds and experience into our team, and that goes for our portfolio founders too. I interviewed at Octopus (London, England) in Mar 2022. <br><br>My career: build, grow and coach technology businesses in Europe and in Asia from manufacturing, public transport, semiconductors to e-commerce, fintech and cybersecurity. We got a big springboard in 2013 from the Fintech Innovation Lab in London. Our in-house People + Talent specialists are here to support with building teams and cultures that thrive. She works closely with Venture Capital and Private Equity funds to assist them in attracting senior leaders in to their own teams and portfolio companies. Getty. I was slightly naive at the start. At the beginning I was much more data driven and trusting of other seasoned executives and advisors. Those, as well as a constant focus on the customer and my team, have kept us on course with more exciting growth and international expansion coming into 2020 and beyond. Feedback I sent back to them: The sentiment does hold in many cases, but not all. And how has Digital Shadows grown since that beginning? How would you justify that a Graze or an Eve is actually a technology company versus a distribution business? Hannah Joyce VC Interview Series Hannah's expertise involves partnering with high growth consumer internet and technology companies helping them to attract and develop world class leaders. Working at @OctopusVentures seeking unusually talented entrepreneurs, based in NYC. I interviewed at Octopus (London, England) in Nov 2022. Investor Type Venture Capital. firm Alven, told PYMNTS in a recent interview. Headquartered in Berlin, Germany, Leverate Media is a fast growing company with offices in New York, Singapore, Jakarta, London, San Francisco and Cologne. What are the major trends you have seen in the last few years and what are your market predictions for 2017? This often involves both basic operational activities, such as incorporating a US company or discovering the optimal location to have a base, as well as more strategic decisions like determining who first to hire, which go to market strategies to leverage, when and how to fundraise. Watch Our Last Interview Video: https://youtu.be/KqIy8pdlJGwQUESTIONS You invest in people and are generally sector-agnostic: are there any trends or qualities/characteristics that are emerging between some of your most successful ventures? Dive, Become When I joined, we were a few hundred people and we were a couple of thousand when I left. 18 Nov 2022. Octopus Ventures is part of Octopus Investments Limited, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Are you a CEO considering U.S. market entry? Anonymous Interview Candidate in London, England, I applied online. Funding Round Jan 30, 2023. Likewise, access to US venture capital is also often an insufficient reason to set up in the US because European companies are usually not well positioned to raise money from US investors before having a material presence here, despite the often-held belief that it is easier to fundraise in the US. Octopus Ventures has previously backed some of the UK's most successful entrepreneurs, making . ; FP Octopus UK Multi Cap Income Fund Target long-term growth and an attractive dividend yield. Cliche, I know! Founded in 2007, Octopus Ventures is a venture capital firm based in London, United Kingdom. Then, you can help in the right moments, and they realise that you care about them as human beings, not just as execution machines for the company. What kinds of challenges in transitioning to the US were you grappling with at this stage? Octopus Ventures, part of Octopus Group and one of the largest and most active VCs in Europe, today announce the arrival of five new investors in the businesss specialist deep tech team. When youre running low on energy and motivation, where do you go to seek inspiration, encouragement, support, or just general fuel in your tank? The process took 1 week. The role in the UK is slightly different to the US . Needing . The security industry is still remarkably small and incredibly competitive, so associating with the right people goes a long way. You need the right idea AND timing. I wouldnt want to crush any of that spirit that you need at the beginning, but I think you need to know that success takes 10 years, not 10 months. Relative to most European markets, the US market is larger on almost all metrics and the Bay Area is home to many of the most successful technology companies of the last 50 years. From 2011 it was just the two of us, and we got to four by the end of 2012. He secured a PHD in engineering geology, spent time as a post-doc researcher and spent four years in the engineering industry. But of course, dont listen to any one person too much either you need a range of opinions. In 2021 Octopus Ventures has backed deep tech startups including quantum computing firm ORCA . I got on a plane and moved out to San Francisco in February 2015 and started to build out the team here. Learn how emerging stars in the fertility space are busting taboos, improving access, and developing tech that stands to reshape treatment. We bootstrapped and funded ourselves from a number of government grants and angel investment. I went out in April 2014 to try to raise money from a number of US VCs. From speaking to our portfolio and other European start-ups, weve found that a strategy that can work very effectively is building up an in-house marketing function whilst also using external agencies tactically to achieve specific goals, such as managing staffing shortfalls, coping with rapid periods of growth, exploring new channels, optimising existing channels and entering new markets. & Pharmacy, Healthcare Connect with Hannah on http://twitter.com/HannahLJoyce Filmed, Edited \u0026 Produced by Veena V Youtube http://www.youtube.com/officialveenavContact http://www.VeenaV.com/contact-me Is this a problem or just a fact of life? Octopus Ventures has closed a $12.3 million pre-seed funding round that the company plans to use to continue the expansion of its B2B FinTech platform across the EMEA region, according to a Thursday (June 23) blog post. ), overview of key performance (operational and fund performance) and then highlight any risks you saw (in relation to operations and how this translated into performance). You have to be focused on the next milestones and what will allow you to raise or have a sustainable business. Practical support and insights from the team at Octopus Ventures, a multi-stage London VC backing unusual talent intent on global impact. Thanks for the response. Ask to learn how they handled it and what they learned in the process. Clich, I know! "It was the biggest change in the past 10 years. Youve gone from having a small team on the table, where communication is easy, culture is pretty homogenous, and you know a lot of your teams faults because they came to you that way when you hired them. Non-journalists, you'll Get hired today! I applied online. Hannah Joyce from Odgers Berndtson talks Venture Capital Trends with a fantastic Venture Capital Partner at Octopus Ventures. Need a good name for an octopus dog toy. | At Octopus Ventures we invest in the people, the ideas and the industries that will help change the world. How then did Digital Shadows navigate the cultural challenge when you moved to the US? We were owed money from many banking clients that were taking a long time to pay us. Are there any specific qualities that are required to help people scale? ; FP Octopus UK Multi Cap Income Fund Target long-term growth and an attractive dividend yield. Companies were suddenly exposed in a way that they werent before. I came to the interview as I wanted to move to London. No matter how competent the team might be, the critiques of the company are directed at the CEO. Ive fortunately always been good at handling stress and functioning on minimal sleep while keeping high energy. Q: tell me about your background and experience. How do a CEOs personal characteristics influence success in this role? Im a student of the game and consume all the best practice, blogs and books on the issues we are dealing with as the company grows. Written by Nick Sando. They partner with founders on everything, from making the right hire to setting the culture and structure for growth. I applied online. If you find that interesting, then that can sustain you through points of rapid change. I did not receive the call at the scheduled time, so . Were backing teams who are eliminating carbon footprints, creating cancer vaccines, building the next phase of the internet and charting a greener approach to space travel, to name just a few. Octopus Ventures. Very quick and straightforward process. In the second part of the conversation, Alastair and I discuss his individual strengths and challenges and evaluate how well he has applied them at each stage of Digital Shadows growth. A man said to his son, I was two-third of your present age when you were born. Compared to our US counterparts, European investors tend to have a more limited range of platform services to offer the entrepreneurs they back. This rating has improved by 3% over the last 12 months. Funding Round Feb 15, 2023. As a company grows, the team composition should change to meet the needs of the new often very different stage of growth. Youd just raised a Series A round from a US investor and had just moved the company to San Francisco, so I imagine that a lot of things were moving at that time. I applied online. Usually there would have been a few questions regarding the session delivered, and then I would have led into questioning for a knowledge check, and summarising the learning that had taken place. There is a common sentiment in the early stage industry that founder CEOs are often not built to grow from the two-person team all the way to the CEO of a mature company, or in some cases just do not wish to do so. The process took 3 weeks. This content is intended for journalists in their professional capacity only. Why the Octopus? Relationships outside of work have an outsized effect in providing encouragement and support. The firm seeks to invest in the United Kingdom and European-based companies operating in the health tech, fintech, deep tech, consumer, and b2b software sectors. 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