Fundraising FoxBestport Private Equity
Private equityLondon · Growth · 12 people tracked
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Investment thesis
Bestport backs ambitious, fast-growing, cash-generative UK companies typically valued between £3m and £40m. The firm positions itself as an entrepreneurial provider of supportive capital, working in partnership with management teams and sharing broad business experience to help shape strategy and support ongoing development through to a successful exit. It offers institutional, private, and family office investors access to private equity investment opportunities.
Source: firm website, verified Aug 27, 2026.
Team · 12 people
from the firm's website & public directories
Co-founder of Bestport Private Equity, established in 2005, bringing extensive private equity investing experience.
Co-founder of Bestport Private Equity, established in 2005, bringing extensive private equity investing experience.
Investment Director at Bestport responsible for sourcing, evaluating and executing new investments and supporting portfolio companies. He joined in January 2022 from KPMG's consumer M&A team, having previously worked in Oaklins Smith & Williamson's lower mid-market M&A team. He holds a BSc in Business Administration from the University of Bath and is an ACA qualified accountant.
Investment Manager at Bestport responsible for deal execution, sourcing opportunities, advisor relationships and portfolio work. Previously worked in PwC's M&A practice on lower mid-market buy-side and sell-side transactions.
Senior executive with 30+ years in management, investment banking and professional services; founder of Equita Corporate Finance and chairman of several PE-backed companies including Bestport-backed Oracle Care.
Engineer and former CEO of Polypipe Group plc, which he led through two PE buy-outs and an LSE listing; brings extensive M&A experience and serves as an NED and investor across several companies.
Founder and former Chairman/CEO of online gaming leader Sportingbet PLC and 2002 AIM entrepreneur of the year; now chairs Double Diamond Gaming, Condor Properties and FSB Technology and invests in media and gaming businesses.
Chairman of Associated British Foods plc and the Grosvenor Group and former chief executive of M&G, with deep financial-sector expertise and a record of growing businesses.
Telecoms and technology veteran with 30+ years' experience; co-founded and led MeetingZone (sold in 2011) and has chaired PE-backed Essendex, remaining a non-executive board member at MeetingZone.
Serial entrepreneur and investor who has chaired Jack Wills, Le Pain Quotidien, Heals and Explore Learning, and previously led Whittard of Chelsea and Tie Rack as CEO.
Harriet Leach joined Bestport as Finance Director in April 2020, previously serving as Financial Controller at Darwin Private Equity for a decade. She began her career at Ernst & Young in London, later spent six years at DMG World Media, and holds an MA in Natural Sciences from Cambridge University.
What they invest in
from 8 of 22 portfolio companiesHealthtech ×3Advanced Manufacturing ×2Hardware ×2Impact & Social Good ×2Social ×2B2B Marketplaces ×1Circular Economy ×1Cleantech ×1
HQs:United Kingdom×7United States×1
Investments · 22 tracked
founders shown can be your intro path
Oracle sells enterprise database software, applications and cloud infrastructure, and has grown through large acquisitions including PeopleSoft, Siebel and Sun Microsystems.
Austin, US
Larry Ellison(Executive Chair, Chief Technology Officer (CTO) and Founder)Bob Miner(Co-founder)Ed Oates(Co-founder)Clayton M. Magouyrk(Co-Chief Executive Officer)Michael D. Sicilia(Co-Chief Executive Officer)Stuart Levey(Executive Vice President, Chief Legal Officer)in
Co-investorsSequoia Capital
Affinity Fostering Services is a fostering agency that matches children with foster carers and provides support services to families and local authorities.
HealthtechImpact & Social GoodSocial
Bristol-based payments solutions company operating in 37 countries (exit).
Co-investorsShackleton Ventures Ltd.
A digital printing company offering custom print products and services using state-of-the-art HP Indigo and large format printing presses.
Advanced ManufacturingDirect to ConsumerE-commerceUK, GB
Eastern Fostering Services provides foster care placements and family matching services for children in Essex, Cambridgeshire, Suffolk, and Norfolk.
GovTechImpact & Social GoodSocialEast Bergholt, GB
Apex Unitas is a regulated fund structuring and investment platform that lets wealth managers and private banks access private markets, pooling investors through a platform nominee that handles reporting and administration.
FintechSaaS
Co-investorsElderstreet Investments
Hilditch Group specializes in the resale and remarketing of used medical equipment for hospitals and healthcare organizations across the UK and Europe.
B2B MarketplacesCircular EconomyHealthtechMedical DevicesMalmesbury, GB
Mike HilditchinNicky Hilditch
Lewmar designs, manufactures, and distributes marine equipment including winches, deck hardware, hatches, portlights, windlasses, steering systems, and glazing solutions for recreational and commercial vessels.
Advanced ManufacturingHardwareCowes, GB
Len LewreyLeslie Marsh
Co-investorsShackleton Ventures Ltd.
Back in Action UK provides onsite occupational physiotherapy and workplace ergonomics services to corporate and public sector clients, focusing on rehabilitating employees with musculoskeletal issues and reducing work-related injuries and absence.
Digital HealthEnterprise SoftwareHealthtechWellness & FitnessPudsey, GB
Matt(Group Managing Director)
Other
Tracked investments with no reachable website or further public details — typically companies that wound down, renamed, or were absorbed.
Affinity EFS GroupDot Net SolutionsEastern Family ServicesEasternfosteringservicesEESGHilditchLewmarLondon at nightNorthside GraphicsSnaptripTeamsportThe Snaptrip Group
Exits · 1
1 IPOsOracleNYSE: ORCL
Principals & officers · per Companies House
what is this? ⓘDirector · British · since 2018
Bestport Ventures Llp — significant influence or control
Frequently asked questions
- How many investments has Bestport Private Equity made?
- Bestport Private Equity has 22 tracked investments, 1 of which have exited.
- What stage does Bestport Private Equity invest at?
- Bestport Private Equity invests at the Growth stage.
- What is Bestport Private Equity's typical check size?
- Bestport Private Equity typically writes checks of $3.8M – $12.7M.
- What sectors does Bestport Private Equity focus on?
- Bestport Private Equity focuses on Advanced Manufacturing, Cleantech, Cloud Computing, Consumer, Data & Infrastructure, E-commerce, EdTech, Energy, Enterprise Software, Fintech, Healthtech, Sector Agnostic, Sports Tech, Travel & Hospitality.
- Where is Bestport Private Equity located?
- Bestport Private Equity is headquartered in London, GB.
- Does Bestport Private Equity lead rounds?
- Yes, Bestport Private Equity leads investment rounds.
- Who does Bestport Private Equity co-invest with?
- Bestport Private Equity most often shares deals with Shackleton Ventures Ltd., Elderstreet Investments, Sequoia Capital, among 3 tracked co-investors.
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