IQ Capital

What IQ Capital does

IQ Capital is a London-headquartered, FCA-authorized venture capital firm founded in 2005 that invests exclusively in European deep technology companies. The firm operates as IQ Capital Partners LLP, a limited liability partnership registered in England and Wales, with offices in London and Cambridge and a team of approximately 19 investment and operations professionals. Over six fund cycles it has built assets under management of more than £1 billion (~$1.25B+) and has supported over 200 portfolio companies, with documented exits to Apple, Meta, Google, Siemens, Qualcomm, and Oracle.

The firm's core offering is early-stage venture capital — it leads rounds from pre-Seed through Series A and, via dedicated growth opportunity funds, can follow-on with up to $40 million per portfolio company. Its investment thesis is concentrated in deep tech verticals: artificial intelligence, semiconductors, quantum computing, bioengineering, advanced energy, space, and defence/national security. Notable recent portfolio outcomes include Nu Quantum's $60 million Series A (largest UK quantum networking round), Nyobolt's $60 million Series C at a $1 billion valuation, and Tropic Biosciences' $105 million Series C. Sourcing relies on proprietary networks into Cambridge, Oxford, and Imperial College research ecosystems rather than competitive deal auctions, and the firm differentiates through technical due diligence led by partners and research associates with PhD-level domain expertise.

IQ Capital's revenue model follows standard European VC economics: annual management fees of approximately 2% on committed capital, supplemented by carried interest of approximately 20% on profits above a hurdle rate on successful exits. The firm has been backed institutionally by the British Business Bank since 2006, with a £50 million commitment to Fund V in January 2026 marking a 20-year partnership milestone. Distribution is via direct equity investment into portfolio company funding rounds, with co-investor pull-through from strategics including National Grid Partners, NATO Innovation Fund, Forbion, Corteva, Symbotic, and Union Square Ventures visible in recent rounds.

Name

IQ Capital

Legal name

IQ Capital Partners LLP

Website

https://iqcapital.vc

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

IQ Capital is a London-based venture capital firm founded in 2005 that invests in European deep technology companies at pre-Seed through Series A, with over £1 billion in assets under management across six fund cycles and more than 200 portfolio companies backed.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Venture Capital / Private Equity (Deep Tech)

NAICS

Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (52394), Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (523940)

SIC

Investment Advice (6282)

akta.pro primary industry

Micro-VC & Angel Funds (FSANAAAI)

Keywords

• Deep tech venture capital
• Early stage technology investing
• Pre-seed series A funding
• Frontier technology investment
• Growth opportunity funds

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Management Fees: VC firms typically charge annual management fees on committed capital (standard industry rate approximately 2% of AUM).
2. Carried Interest (Carry): Performance-based fees earned on successful portfolio company exits, typically 20% of profits above the hurdle rate.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

IQ Capital is a dedicated European deep tech venture capital firm that invests in deep tech founders from pre-Seed to Series A, with growth opportunity funds enabling follow-on capital of up to $40M. Across six fund cycles since 2005, the firm has supported over 200 founders developing breakthrough technologies in AI, quantum, semiconductors, bioengineering, advanced energy, and security, and has delivered exits to Apple, Meta, Google, Siemens, Qualcomm, and Oracle. The firm is headquartered in London and operates from Cambridge, managing over £1 billion in assets under management.

Product overview

IQ Capital is a dedicated European deep tech venture capital firm that provides investment capital and strategic support to deep tech founders. Since 2005, they have partnered with over 200 European deep tech founders, supporting them from pre-Seed to Series A stages, with growth opportunity funds that can follow-on with up to $40m. Their investment focus spans frontier technologies including AI, quantum computing, semiconductors, bioengineering, advanced energy, and security. The firm operates across Cambridge and London with over £1 billion in assets under management and has delivered exits to major technology companies including Apple, Meta, Google, Siemens, Qualcomm, and Oracle. IQ Capital does not offer a traditional product or service offering; rather, they provide venture capital investment, strategic guidance, and access to a deep tech network developed over 20 years to support portfolio companies through product-market fit and commercial scaling.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• IQ Capital Fund V (and prior fund cycles I–V) Deep tech venture capital fund vehicles through which IQ Capital invests in European deep tech startups. Six fund cycles have been completed since 2005, with Fund V attracting a £50M commitment from the British Business Bank in January 2026. Each fund invests from pre-Seed to Series A across AI, quantum, semiconductors, bioengineering, advanced energy, and security sectors.
• Growth Opportunity Follow-on Funds Growth opportunity capital vehicle enabling IQ Capital to follow-on invest up to $40M into portfolio companies as they scale beyond Series A. This is positioned alongside the firm's pre-Seed to Series A core funds and supports portfolio companies through to acquisition by major technology acquirers.
• Strategic and Technical Support to Portfolio Companies Hands-on support service provided to deep tech portfolio founders, including product-market-fit iteration guidance, commercial strategy advice, introductions to corporate partners, and exit planning. The service is delivered by the IQ Capital team (Partners, Principal, Venture Partner) and leverages a 20-year European deep tech network.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 200 deep tech founders supported since 2005
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Japanese and Asian Startup EcosystemcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 March 2026IQ Capital has built active ties with Japan's startup ecosystem, with over a quarter of portfolio companies having connections to Japan. Venture Partner Naoki Kamimaeda leads efforts to bridge European deep tech with Asian markets, particularly Japan, supporting portfolio companies in accessing Asian capital, partnerships, and scale opportunities.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Amadeus Capital Partners: UK-based early-stage deep tech VC investing across similar frontier technology themes. Direct competitor for Cambridge/Oxford spinout deal flow and co-investor alongside IQ Capital in multiple rounds (e.g., Tropic Biosciences).
• Cambridge Innovation Capital: Cambridge-anchored deep tech and life sciences VC. Most direct competitor given shared Cambridge ecosystem focus, similar investment stages (Seed to Series B), and overlapping portfolio categories in biotech, AI, and advanced materials.
• Octopus Ventures: One of the largest UK VCs, with significant deep tech exposure. Mason Sinclair's previous employer and a competitor for UK Seed-to-Series A rounds, particularly in AI, biotech, and fintech.
• Atomico: European tech VC founded by Skype's Niklas Zennström, investing across similar geographies and stages with growing deep tech focus. Represents the larger end of European VC competition for IQ Capital's deal flow.
• Notion Capital: UK/EU-focused VC investing in enterprise SaaS and deep tech. Frequent co-investor with IQ Capital in rounds like Isembard, representing an adjacent deep tech competitor.
• Plural: Early-stage European tech investor co-leading multiple deep tech rounds with IQ Capital (Rivan, Molyon). Direct peer in early-stage European deep tech with similar thesis focus.
• Episode One: UK-based early-stage VC focused on enterprise software and deep tech. Co-investor with IQ Capital in RevEng.AI, operating in overlapping investment stages and themes.
• Creandum: European early-stage VC with strong Nordic and German presence plus UK exposure. Comparable in stage focus (Seed to Series A) and increasingly active in deep tech verticals relevant to IQ Capital.

Broad incumbents

• Lux Capital: US-based deep tech VC with significant resources and crossover investor relationships. Larger incumbent competing for the most promising European deep tech rounds, particularly in AI, biotech, and advanced energy.

Regional players

• Global Brain: Japan-headquartered deep tech VC where IQ Capital's Venture Partner Naoki Kamimaeda previously led the Europe division. Strategic bridge partner and Asia-region peer, with overlapping frontier tech focus.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/iq-capital-partners
• Xx.com/IQ_Capital_Fund

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles17 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments197 records

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about IQ Capital