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ScaleUp Capital

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uuid0009d29

Namestring
ScaleUp Capital
Legal namestring
ScaleUp Capital Limited
Websiteurl
scaleupcapital.com
Company typeenum
Private
Founded yearint
2002
Descriptiontext

ScaleUp Capital is a London-based private equity firm (FCA reference 945651) specialising in partial and full buyouts of UK and European B2B software, services, and media businesses with revenues between £2m and £15m. The firm invests £3m-£20m per transaction through multi-year hold structures (typical 4-6 years to exit) and provides operational support via its Scaler Programme, which encompasses ScaleUp Leadership, a curated Expert Network of former CROs/CFOs/CTOs/CMOs, an in-house Growth Team, and vetted external partners covering AI transformation, talent, and go-to-market execution. Founded in 2002 (as Root Capital, rebranded 2021), the firm manages approximately £150m AUM across Fund III and Fund IV, has executed 15+ investments over 20 years, and reports a >6x average return on investment with no failed deals.

The firm operates two complementary commercial channels: a direct PE fund (typical ticket £6-8m, 3-5 new investments per year) and the ScaleUpX co-investment community, which allows individual professional investors to participate alongside the main fund with cheque sizes of £50k-£500k. Notable portfolio outcomes include Keystone Law's 2017 IPO, Kooth's 2020 IPO during COVID lockdown, the 2024 sale of Kapow Primary to a UK family office, and the merger of Sanctus Group with PushFar and Artgym. Recent deployments (2023-2025) have diversified the portfolio into government software (Verto), property SaaS (GoReport), ESG/sustainability (Action Sustainability), Trust & Safety wellbeing (Zevo Health), and DACH-region e-signature (XiTrust), reflecting both vertical and geographic expansion beyond the historically UK-centric core.

The business model is asset management economics — recurring management fees on committed AUM plus lumpy realised carried interest upon exits — rather than product or subscription revenue. With 11-50 employees (estimated low-twenties), the firm operates as a specialist boutique competing for the underserved £2m-£15m revenue segment that is too large for venture capital and too small for traditional private equity. The team is led by founding partners Simon Philips, Frank Hyman, and Michael Allen, supported by a Finance Director, Commercial Director, Portfolio Director, and Origination Manager.

Short descriptiontext

ScaleUp Capital is a London-based private equity firm (FCA-regulated) that invests £3m-£20m in UK and European B2B software, services, and media companies with £2m-£15m revenue, providing capital plus operational scaling support alongside a co-investment community for individual investors.

Operating statusenum
Operating
Ownership categoryenum
Headcount rangeband
11–50
akta.pro rankint
HeadquartersLondon, United Kingdom
HQ citystring
London
HQ countrystring
United Kingdom
HQ regionstring
Europe
Markets served

Serves global market

Offices1 record

Each record includes

City, Country, Type, Description, Source

Keyword5 values
private equity investment, B2B scale-up investing, growth capital buyouts, portfolio company support, minority and majority buyouts
Industry2 codes
1Large-Cap / Mega-Fund Buyout
CodeFSANABAAPrimaryYes
2Financial Services / Fintech Growth Equity
CodeFSANACAEPrimaryNo
NAICS code1 code
  • Portfolio Management and Investment Advice52394
SIC code1 code
  • Investment Advice6282
Product category
Private Equity / Growth Capital
Social media profiles1 record
GTM motion2 records

Each record includes

Type, Description, Source

Revenue model1 record
1Private Equity Returns
TypeManaged Services
Description

ScaleUp Capital generates returns through capital appreciation from investments in B2B software, services, and media companies. The firm achieves >6x return on investment across their 20-year investing history. They provide partial and full buyouts and help companies scale to exit.

scaleupcapital.com
Marketing channels7 records

Each record includes

Title, Type, Stage, Description, Source

Distribution channels2 records

Each record includes

Title, Type, Scope, Target buyer, Description, Source

Cost components5 values
Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others, Infrastructure
Pricing details2 tiers
1Partial Buyouts
ModelOtherBilling cadenceMulti-year contract
Notes

De-risking founders/management teams, exiting specific shareholders, growth capital for expansion. Additional capital available for strategic acquisitions.

scaleupcapital.com
2Full Buyouts
ModelOtherBilling cadenceMulti-year contract
Notes

Management buyouts, retirement sales & founder exits, corporate carve-outs/divestments. Investment range £3m-£20m.

scaleupcapital.com
GTM typeB2B
B2B
Offering typeServices
Services
Brand1 of 2 records shown
1ScaleUpX
Description

Community of collaborators providing co-investment opportunities to individual investors alongside ScaleUp Capital's main fund, with individual cheque sizes between £50k and £500k.

scaleupcapital.com
+1 more record
Core offering1 text field

ScaleUp Capital provides £3m-£20m of growth equity through partial and full buyouts to established B2B software, services, and media companies with revenues of £2m-£15m. Alongside capital, portfolio companies receive the Scaler Programme, an in-house operational support platform covering go-to-market strategy, talent acquisition, AI transformation, performance management, and access to a curated Expert Network of former C-suite operators. The firm also runs the ScaleUpX community, allowing individual investors to co-invest alongside the main fund.

Differentiator
Functional benefit
Problem solved
Quantifiable outcome1 of 4 values shown
  • Average 61% year-on-year sales growth vs c.25% prior to investment
+3 more records
Product overview1 text field

ScaleUp Capital is a private equity firm specializing in partial and full buyouts of B2B software, services, and media businesses with revenues of £2m-£15m. They provide investment capital (£3m-£20m range) alongside operational support through their Scaler Programme, which includes Go-To-Market support, Talent acquisition, AI Transformation guidance, and Performance & Governance services. The firm operates their ScaleUpX co-investment platform. They do not offer standalone software products.

Product and service1 record
1Partial Buyout Investment
Scale indicator7 records

Each record includes

Type, Value, Description, Source

Partnership1 partner
1DotVector
Strategic tierCoreTypeStrategic or Co-development Partner
Description

ScaleUp partners with DotVector, a strategy consulting and data science specialist in the digital sector. DotVector regularly engages with the scaler portfolio to explore and assess market opportunities, develop scale-up strategies, and turn data into actionable insights.

scaleupcapital.com
Recent move8 records

Each record includes

Date, Type, Title, Description, Source

Expansion highlight5 records

Each record includes

Type, Description

Market position
Competitive moat4 records

Each record includes

Type, Details

Key risks5 records

Each record includes

Headline, Details, Source

Key highlights7 records

Each record includes

Headline, Details, Source

Customer concentration

Classification, Details

Named customers13 records

Each record includes

Name, Industry, Type, Use case, Source, UUID

Segment4 records

Each record includes

Title, Type, Primary, Description, Pain point addressed, Use case, Source

Ideal customer profile2 records

Each record includes

Profile, Firmographic size, Sales motion, Sales cycle length, Buying structure, Purchase trigger, Buyer persona, Geography, Industry vertical, Primary use case, Description, Pain points, Evidence proof points, Target buyer

Technology focused
No
API detail
Has APIbool
No

Docs URL, Description

AI maturity
App detail

Has app

Core technology
Revenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Number of profiles
Profiles7 records

Each record includes

Name, Designation, Designation category, Overview, Profile commentary, Source

No data
Compliance2 records

Each record includes

Name, Class, Description

Funding overview

Funding stage, Last funding date, Total funding USD

Funding rounds

Each record includes

Round, Amount USD, Date, Pre money valuation, Total investors, Investors, News

Investors

Each record includes

Name, Type, Date of entry, Rounds participated, Website

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

M&A10 records

Each record includes

Name, Acquisition type, Announced date, Completed date, Status, Website, News

Investment12 records

Each record includes

Name, Round, Announced date, Lead investor, Website, News

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

ScaleUp Capital

Private Equity / Growth Capitalscaleupcapital.com

ScaleUp Capital is a London-based private equity firm (FCA-regulated) that invests £3m-£20m in UK and European B2B software, services, and media companies with £2m-£15m revenue, providing capital plus operational scaling support alongside a co-investment community for individual investors.

What ScaleUp Capital does

ScaleUp Capital is a London-based private equity firm (FCA reference 945651) specialising in partial and full buyouts of UK and European B2B software, services, and media businesses with revenues between £2m and £15m. The firm invests £3m-£20m per transaction through multi-year hold structures (typical 4-6 years to exit) and provides operational support via its Scaler Programme, which encompasses ScaleUp Leadership, a curated Expert Network of former CROs/CFOs/CTOs/CMOs, an in-house Growth Team, and vetted external partners covering AI transformation, talent, and go-to-market execution. Founded in 2002 (as Root Capital, rebranded 2021), the firm manages approximately £150m AUM across Fund III and Fund IV, has executed 15+ investments over 20 years, and reports a >6x average return on investment with no failed deals.

The firm operates two complementary commercial channels: a direct PE fund (typical ticket £6-8m, 3-5 new investments per year) and the ScaleUpX co-investment community, which allows individual professional investors to participate alongside the main fund with cheque sizes of £50k-£500k. Notable portfolio outcomes include Keystone Law's 2017 IPO, Kooth's 2020 IPO during COVID lockdown, the 2024 sale of Kapow Primary to a UK family office, and the merger of Sanctus Group with PushFar and Artgym. Recent deployments (2023-2025) have diversified the portfolio into government software (Verto), property SaaS (GoReport), ESG/sustainability (Action Sustainability), Trust & Safety wellbeing (Zevo Health), and DACH-region e-signature (XiTrust), reflecting both vertical and geographic expansion beyond the historically UK-centric core.

The business model is asset management economics — recurring management fees on committed AUM plus lumpy realised carried interest upon exits — rather than product or subscription revenue. With 11-50 employees (estimated low-twenties), the firm operates as a specialist boutique competing for the underserved £2m-£15m revenue segment that is too large for venture capital and too small for traditional private equity. The team is led by founding partners Simon Philips, Frank Hyman, and Michael Allen, supported by a Finance Director, Commercial Director, Portfolio Director, and Origination Manager.

ScaleUp Capital firmographics

Firmographics
Name
ScaleUp Capital
Legal name
ScaleUp Capital Limited
Website
https://scaleupcapital.com
Company type
Private
Founded year
2002
Operating status
Operating
Headcount range
11–50 employees
Short description
ScaleUp Capital is a London-based private equity firm (FCA-regulated) that invests £3m-£20m in UK and European B2B software, services, and media companies with £2m-£15m revenue, providing capital plus operational scaling support alongside a co-investment community for individual investors.
Ownership category
akta.pro rank

ScaleUp Capital industry classification

Industry
Product category
Private Equity / Growth Capital
NAICS
Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (52394)
SIC
Investment Advice (6282)
akta.pro primary industry
Large-Cap / Mega-Fund Buyout (FSANABAA)
akta.pro secondary industry
Financial Services / Fintech Growth Equity (FSANACAE)

Keywords

  • Private equity investment
  • B2B scale-up investing
  • Growth capital buyouts
  • Portfolio company support
  • Minority and majority buyouts

Where ScaleUp Capital is headquartered

Location

Headquarters

HQ city
London
HQ country
United Kingdom
HQ region
Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

ScaleUp Capital business model

Business model
GTM type
B2B
Offering type
Services
Cost components
Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others, Infrastructure

Revenue model

  1. Private Equity Returns: ScaleUp Capital generates returns through capital appreciation from investments in B2B software, services, and media companies. The firm achieves >6x return on investment across their 20-year investing history. They provide partial and full buyouts and help companies scale to exit.

Pricing tiers

ModelBillingPrice
OtherMulti-year contractPartial Buyouts
OtherMulti-year contractFull Buyouts

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels7 records

ScaleUp Capital product offering

Product offering

Core offering

ScaleUp Capital provides £3m-£20m of growth equity through partial and full buyouts to established B2B software, services, and media companies with revenues of £2m-£15m. Alongside capital, portfolio companies receive the Scaler Programme, an in-house operational support platform covering go-to-market strategy, talent acquisition, AI transformation, performance management, and access to a curated Expert Network of former C-suite operators. The firm also runs the ScaleUpX community, allowing individual investors to co-invest alongside the main fund.

Product overview

ScaleUp Capital is a private equity firm specializing in partial and full buyouts of B2B software, services, and media businesses with revenues of £2m-£15m. They provide investment capital (£3m-£20m range) alongside operational support through their Scaler Programme, which includes Go-To-Market support, Talent acquisition, AI Transformation guidance, and Performance & Governance services. The firm operates their ScaleUpX co-investment platform. They do not offer standalone software products.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

  • ScaleUpX: Community of collaborators providing co-investment opportunities to individual investors alongside ScaleUp Capital's main fund, with individual cheque sizes between £50k and £500k.
  • ScaleUp Studio

Products and services

  • Partial Buyout Investment

Quantifiable outcome

  • Average 61% year-on-year sales growth vs c.25% prior to investment
  • +3 more outcomes

Companies that use ScaleUp Capital

Customer profile

Named customers13 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

ScaleUp Capital technology and API

Technology

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API
No
API docs
API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

ScaleUp Capital partnerships and signals

Strategic signal

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

  • DotVectorcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerScaleUp partners with DotVector, a strategy consulting and data science specialist in the digital sector. DotVector regularly engages with the scaler portfolio to explore and assess market opportunities, develop scale-up strategies, and turn data into actionable insights.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

ScaleUp Capital competitors and assessment

Company assessment

Market position

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

ScaleUp Capital social profiles

Digital presence

ScaleUp Capital compliance and trust

Trust signal

Compliance2 records

ScaleUp Capital financial estimates

Financial estimate

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

ScaleUp Capital leadership team

Management profile

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

ScaleUp Capital funding detail

Funding detail

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

ScaleUp Capital M&A and investment

M&A and investment

M&A10 records

Investments12 records

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

Frequently asked questions about ScaleUp Capital

What does ScaleUp Capital do?

ScaleUp Capital provides £3m-£20m of growth equity through partial and full buyouts to established B2B software, services, and media companies with revenues of £2m-£15m. Alongside capital, portfolio companies receive the Scaler Programme, an in-house operational support platform covering go-to-market strategy, talent acquisition, AI transformation, performance management, and access to a curated Expert Network of former C-suite operators. The firm also runs the ScaleUpX community, allowing individual investors to co-invest alongside the main fund.

Is ScaleUp Capital a public or private company?

ScaleUp Capital is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.

When was ScaleUp Capital founded?

ScaleUp Capital was founded in 2002. It employs 11 to 50 people.

Where is ScaleUp Capital based?

ScaleUp Capital is headquartered in London, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.

How does ScaleUp Capital make money?

One revenue line is on record: private Equity Returns.

Does ScaleUp Capital have an API?

No public API is recorded for ScaleUp Capital.

What industry is ScaleUp Capital in?

ScaleUp Capital's product category is Private Equity / Growth Capital. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSANABAA, Large-Cap / Mega-Fund Buyout, with a secondary code of FSANACAE, Financial Services / Fintech Growth Equity. Its NAICS code is 52394 and its SIC code is 6282.

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Live signals
Morningstar Financial ResearchIN BRIEF: Root Capital Fund II sells GBP10.5 million in Kooth sharesRoot Capital Fund II LP sold a 10.3% stake in Kooth PLC for GBP10.5 million through a share placing managed by Stifel Nicolaus Europe Ltd. This transaction follows Kooth's reported financial turnaround, including a shift to a GBP5.0 million pretax profit and doubled revenue in the first half of 2024.LseIN BRIEF: Root Capital Fund II sells GBP10.5 million in Kooth sharesRoot Capital Fund II sold a 10.3% stake in Kooth PLC for GBP10.5 million through a share placing managed by Stifel Nicolaus Europe Ltd. The transaction occurred after the London market close on Monday, with shares priced at 280 pence each. This divestment follows Kooth's reported transition to a pretax profit of GBP5.0 million in the first half of 2024.KoothKooth Investor HubScaleUp Capital sold 3,755,861 ordinary shares of Kooth plc on 8 October 2024 at a price of 280 pence per share. Following this transaction, ScaleUp Capital's holding decreased to 9,240,679 shares, representing 25.2% of the company's issued share capital. The disclosure was made in accordance with UK Market Abuse Regulation requirements.Digital News AsiaMalaysian fintech, MADCash, raises US$1.06mil pre-Series A to empower women entrepreneursMADCash, a Malaysian fintech startup focused on providing zero-interest microfunds to women entrepreneurs, has secured RM5 million (approximately US$1.06 million) in pre-Series A funding led by Artem Ventures with support from MSW Ventures and ScaleUp Founders Fund. The company plans to utilize these funds to enhance its AI-driven platform, cover operational costs, and expand its reach within Southeast Asia to further financial inclusion for unbanked and underbanked women. This investment supports MADCash's goal of reaching over 800 supported women by the end of the year while building alternative credit scoring mechanisms.MalaysiakiniMADCash, a Malaysia-based Fintech Startup, Secures RM5 Million in Funding to Empower Women EntrepreneursMADCash Sdn. Bhd., a fintech startup focused on providing zero-interest microfinance to women entrepreneurs, secured RM5 million in pre-series A funding led by Artem Ventures with support from MSW Ventures and ScaleUp Founders Fund. The company plans to utilize the capital to enhance its AI-driven online platform, cover operational costs, and expand its reach within Southeast Asia. MADCash aims to improve financial inclusion by creating alternative credit scoring systems for unbanked women, having previously supported over 800 women by the end of 2023.GoreportGoReport Secures Investment from ScaleUp Capital to Fuel GrowthGoReport has secured an investment from ScaleUp Capital to support its growth initiatives. This funding aims to enhance GoReport's operational capabilities and market presence. The company is positioning itself for expansion following this financial boost.BitlyDiversity and inclusion tech platform secures £3m growth investmentRungway, a London-based employee engagement platform, has secured a £3m growth investment from ScaleUp Capital. The funding will be used to strengthen the technology offering and expand audience reach, supported by ScaleUp Capital's Scaler Programme. This investment aims to help Rungway enhance its analytical capabilities and grow into a global player in the HR technology market.BdailyWorkplace mental health specialist looks to expand with £4m investmentLondon-based workplace mental health provider Sanctus has closed a £4.25m investment round led by Scale Up Capital, following two years of record growth. The company, founded in 2016 by James Routledge, has over 100 partners and delivered more than 9,000 coaching sessions in 2021. Funds will support hiring and digital and community initiatives.PrivateequitywireScaleUp Capital invests in InStep and imageHOLDERSScaleUp Capital has invested in InStep and imageHOLDERS, two UK-based companies operating in the training and custom kiosk sectors respectively. Both firms are profitable with revenues between GBP5-7 million and are receiving capital to address their funding gap and support sustainable growth. The investment aims to help both businesses strengthen management teams and expand into attractive, expanding markets.ScaleupcapitalInstep UK joins the ScaleUp Capital portfolioScaleUp Capital has acquired a majority stake in Instep UK Ltd, a provider of leadership and management apprenticeship training. The investment aims to support the company's expansion and infrastructure development following strong growth with over 40 corporate clients. A new Chairman has joined the business to assist management in executing its strategic plan.