What stage does Empirical Ventures invest at?

Empirical Ventures invests at the Pre-Seed, Seed, Series A stages.

Where is Empirical Ventures located?

Empirical Ventures is headquartered in London, GB.

Empirical Ventures

Venture capital

London · Pre-Seed–Series A · 4 people tracked

Also known as Spin Up Science Ventures Ltd

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Investment thesis

Empirical Ventures invests in scientific breakthroughs that advance human capability while generating returns, focusing on entrepreneurial scientists who turn fundamental research into companies. It targets IP-rich, defensible innovation with deep technical moats across life sciences, advanced materials, TechBio, photonics, quantum, robotics, AgTech and deep tech more broadly. Every opportunity is pressure-tested by world-leading domain experts, allowing the firm to price risk others cannot. As a venture builder, it works hands-on with companies and offers distribution through founding partner Ben Miles' global science audience of more than three million, helping portfolio companies attract technical talent and tell their story.

Invests inAgTech Biotech Climate Tech Deep Tech Healthtech IoT Medical Devices New Materials Quantum Computing Robotics Global London United Kingdom

Source: firm website, verified Aug 7, 2026.

Stage

Pre-Seed–Series A

London, GB

Instruments

Equity

Founded

2023

Last 12 months

2 investments

Tracked investments

Team · 4 people

from the firm's website

Ben Miles· Founding Partner

Scientist and company-builder who is one of the two founding partners of Empirical Ventures, working hands-on with portfolio companies and reaching a global science audience of over three million through weekly deep-tech content.

Dr Ben Miles· General Partner

PhD physicist (nanophysics), company builder and co-founder of Empirical Ventures who works hands-on with founders and has helped accelerate over 200 ventures through Spin Up Science. He was an early employee at Ziylo (later acquired by Novo Nordisk for $800m) and hosts a science platform reaching over three million people.

Dr Johnathan Matlock· General Partner

PhD organic chemist and co-founder of Empirical Ventures who leads much of the firm's technical due diligence, drawing on his chemistry background to interrogate the science behind each deal. He previously worked with Ben Miles as an early employee at Ziylo and has backed 65 early-stage science companies as an angel.

Johnathan Matlock· Founding Partner

Scientist and company-builder who is one of the two founding partners of Empirical Ventures, working directly with the companies the firm backs.

What they invest in

from 3 of 4 portfolio companies

Cybersecurity ×1Deep Tech ×1Defense Tech ×1Enterprise Software ×1Fintech ×1Space Tech ×1

HQs:United Kingdom×1United States×1

Investments · 4 tracked

founders shown can be your intro path

Nuclear Turbines

Raised £15m pre-seed to place a reactor next to the factory.

Opteraoptera.uk

Optera develops event-based neuromorphic sensors and on-orbit and ground systems for space domain awareness, aimed at satellite operators, defence contractors, and research partners.

Deep TechDefense TechSpace Tech

Co-investorsBlackfinch Ventures UK Innovation & Science Seed Fund Foresight Foresight Group Future Planet Capital

Tidaltidalcyber.com in 𝕏May 2026 · $5.6M

Tidal Cyber develops tools and services that help enterprises adopt MITRE ATT&CK framework for threat-informed defense.

CybersecurityEnterprise Software

Rick Gordonin

Co-investorsAccess Venture Partners Bright Pixel Capital Dreamit Ventures Glasswing Ventures StoneMill Ventures TFX Capital +6 more

Turbineturbine.co inJul 2026 · $20M

Turbine provides financing that lets venture capital firms and their limited partners borrow against fund positions and carried interest instead of selling them, giving GPs and LPs access to liquidity while retaining ownership.

Fintech

Co-investorsAlpha Edison TTV Capital B Capital Group B4 Capital Evolution Ventures Temerity Capital Partners +2 more

Portfolio news

latest coverage across their companies

Digital Turbine Reports Strong Fiscal 2027 First Quarter Financial Results and Raises Full-Year Guidance

Turbine · prnewswire.com · Aug 4, 2026

Payload 🚀 on X: "Optera, an Australian startup developing sensors for SDA, announced £3M ($4M) in fresh funding to finance its relocation—with plans to move to the UK and attract new European customers. https://t.co/UX8ZgJnkaR" / X

Optera · x.com · Jun 17, 2026

Caudal Energy Raises $5.6 Million to Generate Power from Marine Mammal-Inspired Tidal Tech - ESG Today

Tidal · esgtoday.com · May 29, 2026

Principals & officers · per Companies House

what is this? ⓘ

Johnathan Vincent Matlock

Director · British · since 2023

Benjamin Thomas Miles

Director · British · since 2023

Ownership & control

Benjamin Thomas Miles — 25–50% of shares, 25–50% of voting rights, right to appoint and remove directors

Johnathan Vincent Matlock — 25–50% of shares, 25–50% of voting rights, right to appoint and remove directors

Frequently asked questions

What stage does Empirical Ventures invest at?: Empirical Ventures invests at the Pre-Seed, Seed, Series A stages.
What sectors does Empirical Ventures focus on?: Empirical Ventures focuses on AgTech, Biotech, Climate Tech, Deep Tech, Healthtech, IoT, Medical Devices, New Materials, Quantum Computing, Robotics.
Where is Empirical Ventures located?: Empirical Ventures is headquartered in London, GB.

Media · Podcasts & interviews

from their channel

This Battery Lasts for 30 Years And China Just Put It on the Grid

Dr Ben Miles

It's Happening - A Super El Niño Is Coming

Dr Ben Miles

Microsoft Announces 1000x Better Quantum Chip

Dr Ben Miles

How Huawei Just Built an Impossible Chip

Dr Ben Miles

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