Tom Kiddle

Andrena Ventures is a New Solo GP Fund Gideon Valkin, a former Monzo Bank and ClearScore commercial leader, is launching Andrena Ventures, a solo GP fund based in London. The fund has reached its first close at €11.1 million, with backing from prominent tech founders and VC leaders, and plans a final close later in the year. The first investment from the fund is into Nustom, an AI-powered software startup founded by Monzo co-founder Jonas Templestein.💰 Valkin believes Europe is experiencing a surge in innovative talent, with founding teams from companies like Monzo and ClearScore now tackling problems in fintech, AI, climate-tech, and enterprise software. He aims to provide these teams with investors who understand their challenges and ambitions.📈 The fund's backers include Entrée Capital, RTP Global, Taavet+Sten (founders of Wise and Teleport), Cherry Ventures’ managing partners, Andreessen Horowitz's David Haber, and Hummingbird Ventures’ Firat Ileri. Andrena Ventures is inspired by the "PayPal Mafia" concept, where talent from successful tech companies spin-off to create new ventures. Data shows that European fintech unicorns have spun out 145 startups, raising approximately $5 billion. The fund's first investment, Nustom, is an example of this trend, leveraging Monzo’s technical expertise to automate software development using AI. Valkin has a 15-year background as a founder, operator, and investor, previously backing startups like Packfleet, Yonder, Gradient Labs AI, and Moment. His co-investors include Index Ventures, Accel, General Catalyst, Creandum, LocalGlobe, and Northzone. The fund aims to "provide close support and operational know-how to founders, combining access of institutional funds with the personalized support typical of angel investors". This approach allows Valkin to maintain low ownership stakes while delivering high value to his portfolio companies. ✅ Looking to raise capital for your #VCfund and increase the international pool of your LP #investors?   🤝 Need warm #LP introductions?   📝 Selling #secondaries to increase liquidity?   🧐 Looking for co-investments (Series A/Series B)?   ▶ G+QUANT's link for inquiries and fund decks: https://lnkd.in/gjC_EuTE   #VentureCapital #VentureFunding #VentureDebt #Fundraising #Innovation #Technology #Entrepreneurship #Investing #Network #Investors #LPs #GPs #EmergingManagers #FamilyOffice #Markets #Economy #Business #Founders #Startups #StartupFunding #ai #artificialintelligence #unicorn #secondaries #secondarydeals

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Fintech’s IPO Moment – A Sign of the Times? Big moves are happening in fintech! 💡 Monzo Bank is ramping up for a potential IPO, hiring former Nubank and Barclays execs to strengthen its leadership as whispers of public listing grow louder​. Meanwhile, Klarna is making headlines with its formal U.S. IPO filing, celebrating its first profitable quarter​Sifted These IPOs represent a major turning point for the fintech sector. Once known for aggressive growth at all costs, the focus is shifting toward operational sustainability and profit. Here’s what makes this interesting: Monzo Bank: This UK-based challenger bank is laser-focused on expanding its footprint in the U.S. and Europe. Its strategic hires signal readiness for a new chapter of global influence. Klarna: Known for Buy Now, Pay Later, Klarna’s profitability demonstrates that even fintech unicorns can evolve into disciplined businesses, making it a key company to watch. 💬 These developments raise questions: Are fintech IPOs a reliable marker of maturity or simply a strategic cash grab in uncertain times? How will going public impact their ability to remain innovative while meeting shareholder expectations? We’re at a pivotal moment where fintechs must balance scaling with delivering value. Are these companies setting a new standard for the industry?

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Techcelerate needs following partners - M&A - Fundraising - Recruitment - Software product development - need a representative in North West We have tech companies exploring funding and IPOs. Please check our partner fees before you get too excited https://lnkd.in/dhyams3Q Please don't email thinking I need above services for Techcelerate itself. We need partners to help our Tech Founders and Tech Companies. I will be ignoring all emails that do not meet this specific need. 😀 Always research before shooting from the hip! Thank you. hashtag #IPOs #techstartups #fundraising #investments #techinvestment

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Can anyone recommend a platform that aggregates daily info on which platforms out there (Wise, Revolut, CurrenciesDirect etc) is the most efficient way to change 💷 to 💶 on any given day? Especially for larger transactions - seems a bit cumbersome to go into each individual app to figure out. Does a comparison / calculator product exist out there? 🙏🏼

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So TS Anil is the mastermind behind the greatest turnaround in tech in the last 10 years. Monzo Bank under TS has gone from £40M revenues to £1BN and profitable. But when TS took over Monzo: Had a 40% down round. Had large layoffs and low employee NPS. Had very little runway. Today we have TS on 20VC in the studio. What are the must asks? #Founder #funding #business #investing #vc #venturecapital #entrepreneur #startup

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We are back at Monzo Bank this week for our 2nd C-suite event in a week! 100 CTO/CPOs will be joining us for our partnership with YLD ⭐️ Driving Innovation for CTOs, CPTOs & CPOs: → The untold truths: You don’t know what you don’t know, until you have the seat at the table, AKA everything that nobody tells you → The working partnership between CTO’s, CPO’s, the wider C-Suite, the Board and the Investors → CTO > CPTO > CPO & moving to a more commercial understanding - what do businesses lose from being product centric? What is the Future of the Product function? → Are Product leaders executives without accountability? (CTO builds, CMO markets, CRO sells, etc) https://lnkd.in/ePezHuhs

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“Britons lost roughly £459.7m to APP fraud last year, according to banking trade body UK Finance. However, some experts believe the true figure is likely closer to £700m as around a third of scams are estimated to go unreported”. As the Payments Systems Regulator (PSR) gets closer to implementation with new measures aimed at protecting those who have lost money to fraud, the industry seems to be fighting back, with dozens of firms lobbying for the PSR to delay or scale back its proposals. Why? Few firms are not ready for implementation, others state that the costs associated with becoming compliant will now have to be passed on to the end-customer, and likely destroy the viability of these same firms. Completely agree with Tide Bank’s Chief Executive, Dr. Oliver Prill comment (included in Lars Mucklejohn‘s piece) on the state of play for fintechs and why this has become an increasingly pertinent topic for those dealing with fraud. It’s a situation that, as always, needs a balance struck between regulators and fintechs – it’s clear that both sides want to protect consumers and businesses from fraud, however as ever, the solution is not as clear-cut as it may look from the outside. City AM have really been on the money reporting the recent go-ons within fintech, and it's a necessity not to forget how much this industry can do, and how much more still needs to be done, to really elevate the financial experience for UK citizens and small businesses. https://lnkd.in/dkyjmtin #fintech Ali Youssef Helene Panzarino

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🚀 Monzo's Incredible Journey! 🌍 Monzo, the UK-based digital bank, is now worth a whopping $5.9 billion! This news comes after Monzo confirmed selling some shares to give their employees more money options. Big investors like Singapore's GIC and StepStone Group bought more shares in this exciting deal. This kind of sale, known as a secondary market sale, is important because it helps employees have more financial flexibility. Monzo’s growth is a sign of how innovative fintech companies can attract major interest and spark big changes in the financial industry. Businesses can use fintech technologies like Monzo's to supercharge their growth, offer better services, and stay ahead of the competition. 🌟 #Fintech #Innovation #BusinessGrowth #Monzo #TechLeadership

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UK FinTech's not dead. & UK Vs EU investment. Do we need Europe? Invest in junior talent? In H1 of 2024 the UK got over $2 billion investment in fintech. Second globally only the USA. More than the rest of Europe combined, making up 65% of Europe's Fintech deals. While this paints a rosier post-Brexit view than in most other sectors, London is still a global financial centre which will inevitably account for some of this. 42% of UK fintech talent is from abroad, and in a post-brexit world, access to that talent (from EU at least) is more difficult than it was before. 𝐃𝐨 𝐰𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐄𝐮𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞? With the Trump's proposed isolationist policies at odds with an increasingly global, interdependent economy, this presents opportunities to the UK and Europe. But we need policy which will allow us to make the most of those opportunities to work more closely with our EU neighbours. (55% of our imports are from Europe and 47% of our exports to there too) We need policy and investment in developing our home-grown talent, incentives for companies to hire and develop junior engineers as there are not enough opportunities for people to get into the industry. And we need policy which will allow us to access some of that international talent where needed, while keeping as much of that money taxed in the UK as possible. What policy would you like to see to boost the UK Tech & FinTech spaces? #recruitment #techrecruitment #fintech #brexit #eu

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Monzo Bank is gearing up for a potential IPO, and the excitement is palpable! With key appointments like Tom Oldham, who played a pivotal role in Nubank’s NYSE listing, Monzo is clearly building a formidable leadership team to navigate this ambitious journey. Their $5.9 billion valuation demonstrates solid growth, and with over 11 million customers, the groundwork is set for growth in the competitive US and European markets. But why does this matter beyond Monzo? A successful IPO could reignite investor interest in fintech, setting a new trend for digital banks. It could also pressurize competitors like Revolut and Starling Bank to reconsider their own IPO timelines. For early investors and retail traders alike, this is an enticing proposition! The stakes are high, and if Monzo plays its cards right, it could redefine the fintech landscape. Are you ready for this potential game-changer?

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Monzo's impressive valuation of $5.9 billion underscores the growing confidence in fintech, driven by strategic fundraising and market expansion. The secondary market sale not only rewards employees but also signals robust investor interest, positioning Monzo favorably against competitors like Revolut. As neobanks evolve, their ability to provide liquidity while delaying a public offering could redefine startup financing strategies. Continued focus on U.S. and European markets will be crucial for sustaining growth and competitive advantage. #fintech #neobanks #startupvaluation #monzo #secondarymarket #banking #crossborderpayments #financialeducation #Payments #openbanking #digitalbanking

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"Thanks to bloom, luck is no longer the sole determinant of our career paths" - Mariam El Beshlawi, Group Product Manager at Monzo Bank. "Bloom is what I wish I had years ago starting out as a PM with little to no guidance available to help me grow." - Valerio Magliulo, CEO & Co-Founder at Abatable. “Navigating the world of tech as a woman of colour can be as daunting as it is exciting. Bloom have provided a safe space for people to find and give guidance, support and inspiration, nurturing the next generation of Product leaders." - Tulsi Patel, Head of Product at Hertility. "Bloom have created an incredible community of Product people who are not only passionate about their craft, but also raising the bar in the industry, and I’ve had the privilege to be mentored by, and mentor some brilliant product minds since we met!” - Julia G., Senior Product Manager at Intercom. We have Members and Mentors joining the community from the likes of Google, Cleo, Synthesia, Onfido, Spotify, Deliveroo, Monzo Bank, Stride, Hupe, Hertility, Acast, Bumble Inc., Koa Health, Etsy, Depop, Protex AI, Algolia, Human Native AI, Character.AI, Stuart, Meta and many more to come. Product Leaders, why should you join? 😄 : To expand on your network on a global scale, learn from leadership peers who you've never met or heard of before, learn from product people using all the latest technologies, and mentor ambitious and talented product people that want to learn from you 🚀 Early-stage Tech Founders, why should you join? 😁 : Some of our Product members have been accepted onto Y Combinator and others have recently founded their own Startups, great examples like Aleks Đekić, Mike Allen, Valerio Magliulo and James Smith. This community is a great opportunity to mentor other aspiring founders on the transition from employee-to-founder, as well as connect and learn from other ambitious founders, and in some cases, to better understand the discipline ahead of scaling your own product teams. Product Managers, why bloom? 😄 : To feel inspired by a community of like-minded people, to have a safe-space to chat with peers in the industry, to continue to build your network on a global scale, and be mentored by some of the best and most inspiring product people in the industry 🚀 HR/Talent People, why bloom? 😄 : I'd like to think these example testimonials speak for themselves, but very few Product people belong to a community where the energy is so high, and the core experience is about mentorship and growth. This is an opportunity for you to support your Product teams, and give them another option to grow their career - ultimately leading to stronger retention of your employees 🚀 Inspiring, nurturing and challenging ambitious people to reach the very top 🚀 Before the end of May, Product people will be able to apply to join the re-launched bloom, the Career Growth Community 🎉 ?? Link in comments >> 👀 #bloom #bloomCareerGrowth #bloomMentorship #bloomCommunity

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What do the Mayflower and B2B FinTechs have in common? Well they both went to America in search of hope.... Numerous times the last 6m+ I've heard of the struggles within British & some European FinTechs to find profitability in their home markets. (Markets are tough - undeniably) So what's their solution..... "Team we're expanding to the US!!". Understandably the US accounts for a massive slice of the banking / wealth / investment markets, so of course that makes sense & yes there is definitely the opportunity to take a bite of a larger pie. That said of those leaving said companies or on the cusp of it, generally perceive that their CEOs & CROs are making the "easy" call - if we can't sell here we need to head to a bigger territory. Although.... is the problem perhaps closer to home and is your business in good shape to properly crack the US... Things I believe need to be considered: 🌎 Regulatory Compliance 👍 : How significant are the market adaptations to your core product and whats the time / spend you need to outlay before fit for the market? 🇺🇸 Cultural Nuances 🇪🇺 : Does your product translate well in the US market - are their market nuances that are more European or British in their nature? 📱 Brand Recognition 🕸 : Do you have a reputation (social media, events etc) that will carry in to the US. Sales teams can be great but if you're selling a costly product in a new market you want some collateral to leverage. 🗣 Customer Service 🎧 : Great having a sales team in the US however is it a good idea with the support all being on GMT/ CET? ✅ Is your product even that good? ❎ Post pandemic money was cheap and several product came to market and got funding without really having a proper USP or strong route to market - therefore is not the time for a product reset? I'm sure there's loads more and also hiring is key - you can't simply hire a superstar to get your out your woes..... If there's any companies that read this and want a more broad chat about what others are doing and the hazards to avoid I'm more than happy to chat! #mayflower #comingtoamerica #Fintechs2024 #USsalvation #kureos #markettrends.

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🚀 2024: Are we seeing signs of a Fintech Boom in London? 💳 Fintech is leading VC investments in 2024, with $1.4BN raised in Q1 alone. Key beneficiaries include Monzo ($430M), PPRO (€85M), and Flagstone (£108M). 👩‍💼 Hiring Insight so far for 2024: - 800 IT vacancies in London so far, compared to 1,491 in all of 2023 - Software Development roles are in high demand - Risk & compliance vacancies set to be 80% higher than last year - Marketing roles, especially digital and management, are also on the rise The data referenced above has been sourced from Vacancy Analytics #Fintech #Hiring #VCFunding #ITJobs #LondonTech

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I loved recording this weeks Fintech Chatter Podcast with Joel Yarbrough It's a bit self indulgent as Joel covers pretty much every topic I am deeply passionate about. But our chat did make me fall in love with Fintech all over again! Some key topics we cover: - Building Fintech products in three continents - Why Africa will be the biggest growth opportunity in the next 20 years - The transformative of Fintech on economies and people's lives - How payments touches every moment of life - Hiring and building top performing teams - The power of giving and being a good person - The BIG opportunity for Australia - and a wake up call! Follow us on your podcast player of choice to get automatically updated when the full interview goes live.

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🚨 𝗕𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗞𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗡𝗘𝗪𝗦: Monzo Bank expands fundraising to £𝟱𝟬𝟬𝗺 in a round that includes money from Hedosophia, according to Sky News. City sources said on Sunday that Monzo could announce as soon as this week that Hedosophia and Singapore's Government Investment Corporation (GIC) were participating in an overall fundraising worth close to £500m. The larger-than-expected round makes it one of the largest ever achieved by a British Tech company. One insider said that GIC was investing over £50m, with Hedosophia also committing tens of millions of pounds. The new fundraising was led by Capital G, the independent growth fund of Alphabet, Google's parent company. Monzo's expanded fundraising is likely to mean that it will not require any further capital if it decides, as expected, to go public in the next couple of years. The digital bank, which has millions of customers in Britain, recently secured a valuation in excess of £4bn after concluding the initial phase of its funding round. More info: https://lnkd.in/ezCGhSbS Find this helpful? [ 𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗼𝘀𝘁 ] Anything to add about this subject? [ 𝗶𝗻𝘃𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 ] Nice story, Marcel. Next! [ 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 ] 

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Monzo Bank is the latest tech unicorn to achieve profitable growth after years of depending on large amounts of outside funding to fuel its growth. The company has posted a very nice profit of £15m, with revenues growing 2.5x and deposits growing 88%. Of course, like many fintechs they were helped by the higher interest rates in the last couple of years. But Monzo can take credit for being at the right scale when the interest rates shifted (which they did mostly through building the best customer experience in UK banking) and for pivoting to profitable growth at the right time. I've been a Monzo customer since its alpha days and even invested a bit in one of its crowdfunding rounds, so it's safe to say I'm a diehard fan. Still, I have to say they have never been as innovative and productive as they have in the last couple of years, finally building some revenue-generating products popular with customers. We will have to see if this trend continues, as interest rates are expected to fall over the next few quarters. https://lnkd.in/eHZ5Ayf2

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FinTech West South Coast Showcase Having probably annoyed the hell out of a lot of my contacts on here over the past 18 months, for which I apologise, I have come across FinTech West South Coast, who had their showcase yesterday at Bournemouth and Poole College and what an eye opener it was! In the short space of 3 hours I found out so much information about the South Coast's burgeoning #FinTech sector and who the key players are that are making this happen. Previously, finding out such information was proving to be difficult at best. The ambitions for FinTech West are truly impressive, as are some of the figures for future growth. I would like to thank the team behind FinTech West for organising such a great event in addition to being able to speak to some great people (Wil Suthers, Claire Main, Darryl Sparey) who have been working behind the scenes to put events such as this together. There were some great presentations from the following people: Matthew Stammers of FinTech West for the introduction to FinTech Matthew Lewns of iplicit on Iplicit's impressive growth to date Stuart Harrison of FinTech West on key FinTech activity across the UK Hannah Sprague of Barclays Eagle Labs and David Mutton of Evolve on accelerating business growth Stuart Palmer of Bournemouth and Poole College on the Future Captains of Industry Gilbert van Roon of FinTech Compliance on Compliance within the industry Joe Parkin of FinTech Growth Fund on Funding and Finance Opportunities Lauren Crawley-Moore of The London Stock Exchange on how they are supporting growth within the FinTech industry For those who are looking for a new direction in their careers, it's definitely a sector worth looking at. Given the current climate of doom and gloom, it would appear that there is something to look forward to in the coming few years within this sector. Once again, thank you for a great event, here's to the next one! #Fintech #Entrepreneurship #FintechWest #Innovation #Networking #TechEvents #Bournemouth #Poole #SouthCoast #FintechShowcase

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Keen to shake up the FinTech scene? I'm gearing up to unleash some serious innovation vibes on my podcast series, The Evolution Exchange - I need YOUR expertise to make it epic 🎧 If you're a Senior Leader in the FinTech realm, I want YOU on my next episode. Let's dish out insights, swap success stories, and decode the future of technology in finance together 📈💼 Take a listen to my latest episode here: 🔗 https://lnkd.in/gTtJqWzk DM me if you're interested or tag someone you think might be 👇 #FinTechFrontiers #PodcastPioneers #TechTrailblazers #EvolutionExchange

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