Shackleton Ventures

Shackleton Ventures focuses exclusively on secondary venture and development capital investments, acquiring existing stakes from investors seeking liquidity options. The firm distinguishes itself by frequently providing additional funding to portfolio companies alongside these secondary purchases, creating a hybrid investment approach that supports continued growth. Drawing inspiration from the famous explorer Ernest Shackleton, the firm embodies resilience and strategic navigation through challenging investment landscapes, particularly in today's complex venture capital environment.

The investment team leverages decades of combined experience as both investors and entrepreneurs, bringing practical operational knowledge to their portfolio companies. This dual perspective allows Shackleton to evaluate opportunities with unique insight, understanding both the investor's need for returns and the entrepreneur's requirements for supportive capital partners. Their specialized approach to secondary transactions has established them as a valuable liquidity provider in the European venture ecosystem, particularly for funds nearing the end of their investment cycles.

Shackleton's investment strategy targets sectors where team members possess deep domain expertise, including technology, healthcare, financial services, and business services. This focused approach enables more effective due diligence, portfolio support, and value creation. The firm typically engages with companies that have demonstrated product-market fit and early revenue traction but may require additional capital and strategic guidance to reach their full potential. By acquiring positions from early investors while injecting fresh capital, Shackleton creates alignment between all stakeholders while providing continuity for portfolio companies.

With a pragmatic investment philosophy, Shackleton evaluates opportunities based on fundamental business metrics rather than simply following market trends. The firm maintains a disciplined approach to valuation, seeking situations where they can acquire assets at attractive entry points while providing fair value to selling shareholders. Their portfolio companies benefit from the team's extensive network across Europe's technology and investment communities, facilitating strategic partnerships, customer introductions, and follow-on funding opportunities. Shackleton's patient capital approach recognizes that building sustainable businesses requires time, making them an ideal partner for companies navigating the challenging middle stages of growth between early venture and larger growth equity rounds.