Fundraising Fox
Exceptional Ventures
Venture capitalLondon · Pre-Seed–Seed · 16 people tracked
Find your way into Exceptional Ventures
Sign up to see every warm intro you have to Exceptional Ventures
- Paths you didn't know you had: your email and LinkedIn already hold routes to the Exceptional Ventures team. We find them for you
- 2nd- and 3rd-degree connections: the friend-of-a-friend routes that take hours to manually find through your inbox or LinkedIn
- Answers now, not in days: momentum is everything in a raise. Skip asking around whether someone knows someone
Days of research, done the moment you sign in, with every route ranked by how warm it is.
Investment thesis
Exceptional Ventures is a specialist early-stage VC firm investing in companies that help people live longer, healthier, and happier lives, a mission it describes as maximising human 'Joyspan'. The firm concentrates on three investment verticals: wellness; risk assessment and early detection; and smarter treatment and care delivery. Founded by entrepreneurs and operators with backgrounds in health-and-happiness investing, it aims to provide more than capital by partnering closely with founders building scientifically proven innovations. Its portfolio spans companies across the UK, Europe, the US, and beyond.
Source: firm website, verified Sep 27, 2026.
Team · 16 people
from the firm's website & curated & public directories
Founder mafia
3 people who came through Exceptional Ventures went on to found or lead other companies.
What they invest in
from 24 of 40 portfolio companiesHealthtech ×11Digital Health ×9Consumer ×7Biotech ×6FoodTech ×5Climate Tech ×3Direct to Consumer ×3Marketplaces ×3
HQs:United Kingdom×8United States×3France×2Italy×2Switzerland×1
Who they back
founder profiles across 13 portfolio companiesFounding team size:solo founder×52 founders×63 founders×2
Where their founders studiedfrom 11 founders with education data
Imperial College London ×2
Where their founders worked beforefrom 11 founders with career history
Genos Ltd ×2McKinsey & Company ×2
Investments · 40 tracked
founders shown can be your intro pathBy year:2026 · 22025 · 32024 · 12022 · 22021 · 19 dated
Gladys operates an online platform that connects families directly with local carers and helpers for at-home elderly and social care, cutting out agency overheads to lower costs for families and increase carer pay.
B2B MarketplacesDigital HealthHealthtechMarketplacesBristol, GB
George Robinson(CEO)inAlex(Chief Operating Officer)
Co-investorsAntlerEmbryo VenturesUfi VocTech TrustHoughton Street VenturesCornerstone VC
Alba is a marketplace that matches families in Latin America with childcare providers, drawing on caregivers already connected to a family's social network.
HealthtechMarketplaces
Dan SternJuan FantoniMaria Teresa Sante RossMauricio GiadachTesi Del Sante
Co-investors500 GlobalNoaberUnconventional VenturesVoima Ventures
Amatera develops crop genetics using cell culture, high-throughput automation, and machine learning to accelerate breeding of perennial crops such as coffee, grapevine, and bananas.
AgTechAI & Machine LearningBiotechFoodTechParis, FR
Omar Dekkiche(CEO)inLucie Kriegshauser(CTO)in
Co-investorsAgFunderEntrepreneur FirstJoyance PartnersOyster Bay Venture CapitalPINCTrellis Road I Fund AB
Lyon precision-fermentation company (now operating as Verley) that programs yeast to produce animal-free dairy proteins, especially functional whey such as beta-lactoglobulin, for food manufacturers.
Lyon, FR
Hélène Briand(Co-Founder & Chief Innovation and Commercial Officer)inStéphane MacMillan(Co-Founder & CEO)in
Co-investorsPICUS CAPITAL
BonusX is a digital platform that helps Italian users identify and claim government benefits, tax deductions, and incentives, as well as manage associated administrative procedures.
GovTechSaaSItaly, IT
Co-investorsGiant Ventures Global LlpGrowth CapitalGrowth EngineSella Direct Ventures
Carol is a subscription-based private digital medicine service offering virtual primary care through a mobile app, with a dedicated team of doctors available at all hours.
ConsumerDigital HealthHealthtech
Co-investorsLemhi VenturesLumen VenturesMacquarie CapitalOIF Ventures
Circe develops a biotechnology platform that uses advanced gas transformation to produce carbon-negative molecules at scale for manufacturing.
Advanced ManufacturingBiotechCleantechClimate TechBoston, US
Marika Ziesack(Executive Officer, Director, Promoter)Shannon Nangle(Founder)inCiaran Dunn(Founder)
Co-investorsBee PartnersE8 AngelsElementum VenturesJuniperSilicon ValleyUndeterred Capital+4 more
.jpeg){kind=logo}
Clerkenwell Health operates specialized clinical trial sites focused on neuropsychiatric and CNS conditions, including psychedelic-assisted therapy research and trials for depression, anxiety, dementia, and neurodegenerative disorders.
BiotechDigital HealthHealthtechMedical DevicesMental HealthLondon, GB
Dr Simon G.D. Ruffell(Principal Investigator & Sub-Investigator)Dr Paul Morrison(Principal Investigator)Dr Henry Fisher(CSO)Tom McDonald(CEO)Sam Lewis(CFO)George McBride(CCO)
Co-investorsLIONHEART VENTURESMoonstone Venture Capital
Kevin Zhang(Founder)inYijia Chen(Founder)
Co-investorsBain Capital CryptoAvestria VenturesCalm/Storm VCDunbar CapitalSevenX Ventures
Evaro provides a white-label healthcare platform that lets consumer brands and healthcare companies add prescription treatment services, handling clinical consultations, prescription fulfilment, aftercare, and regulatory compliance.
Digital HealthHealthtechSaaSNorwich, GB
Dr Thuria Wenbar(CEO & Co-founder)Dr Oskar Wenbar(COO & Co-Founder)
Co-investorsAlbionVCCornerstone VCLifeX VenturesSimplyhealth Ventures
FivePointFive is a functional breathwork app for athletes, offering science-based breathwork programs to improve endurance, recovery, sleep, and mental focus, with progress tracked through wearables.
Digital HealthSports TechWellness & Fitness
Adam Ludwin(Founder)in
REAL produces slow-fermented sparkling tea made from tea leaves and live cultures, carbonated like champagne.
ConsumerDirect to ConsumerFoodTechBuckinghamshire, GB
David
GlycanAge offers glycan-based biological age testing and insights to help individuals understand their health and aging rate through advanced diagnostics.
BiotechDeep TechDigital HealthHealthtechLongevity
Gordan Lauc(Founder)inNikolina Lauc(Founder)inFilip Lauc(CTO, Co-Founder)in
Co-investorsImpetus CapitalSouth Central VenturesVelocity DigitalVesna AdvisorsLAUNCHub Ventures
Flo sells organic cotton tampons, including non-applicator and applicator packs, offered directly to consumers with a subscription option featuring pause, edit, and reorder reminders.
ConsumerDirect to ConsumerFemTech
Tara Chandra(Founder)in
Co-investorsAdelineMoonstone Venture Capital
Win Spirit Casino is an offshore online gambling platform offering 3,000+ pokies, live-dealer tables, and crash games from over 50 studios, playable via native Android/iOS apps or browser.
ConsumerGaming
Mango Health develops an AI-powered tool that guides users through exposure and response prevention (ERP) therapy for obsessive-compulsive disorder, offering continuous support and educational content as an alternative to traditional clinical treatment.
Healthtech
Jamison Mercurio(Founder)inZachary Gittelman(Founder)in
Co-investorsBaseline VenturesBullpen CapitalY CombinatorCapitalize VCFirst Round CapitalMichael Chen+1 more
London-based data platform providing factual social and environmental performance data on listed companies for sustainable investors.
Co-investorsETF PartnersMTECH CAPITALReventIlluminate Financial
Pacifico Biolabs produces mycelium-based meat alternatives (branded Viando), starting with a chicken alternative made from fermented fungi, for food manufacturers and food service chains.
BiotechClimate TechFoodTech
Co-investorsFoodLabsKickstart InnovationSimon CapitalStray Dog Capital
Planetary develops biomanufacturing facilities to enable sustainable, bio-based production at industrial scale.
Advanced ManufacturingBiotechClimate TechFoodTechZurich, CH
Prof. Dr. Ian Marison(Co-founder and Chief Scientific Officer)David Brandes(Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer)in
Co-investorsBlue Horizon CorporationBootstrap EuropeGGFGreen Generation Fund
PreActiv offers a digital prehabilitation platform designed to help patients prepare for surgery, such as hip replacements, in order to reduce complications and shorten hospital stays.
Digital HealthHealthtech
Co-investorsAngel AcademeOxford Investment Opportunity Network (OION)
Punto Health builds digital tools for cognitive care, connecting patients, carers, and clinicians to provide continuous, personalised support and coordinated care.
AI & Machine LearningDigital HealthHealthtech
Anna Muñoz-Farré(Co-founder & CEO)inJack Eckersley(Co-founder & CTO)in
Co-investorsDraycottHeartfelt CapitalPlus PartnersShilling VC
Co-investorsItalian Founders Fund
Rest Less is a membership platform designed for over 50s, offering personalized recommendations and resources across travel, employment, dating, financial guidance, and lifestyle content.
B2B MarketplacesConsumerMarketplacesColchester, GB
Stuart Lewis(Founder)inSara Stephens(Founder)in
Co-investors1818 Venture CapitalGlobal BrainMoneta VCOctopus VenturesQED InvestorsMTECH CAPITAL+1 more
Sava builds software related to trusts.
FintechNew York City, US
Nimit Maru(CEO)inRush Sadiwala(COO)inFederico von Bary Landesmann(Founder)Kola Olajide(Founder)Kolawole Olajide(Founder)Rafael Michali(Founder)
Co-investorsDG Daiwa VenturesEarl Grey CapitalOrange CollectivePioneerSurgePoint AngelY Combinator+20 more
Sava develops a wearable biosensor that continuously monitors multiple biomarkers (glucose, lactate, ketones, sodium, histamine, urea, alcohol, cortisol) in real-time, delivering health data to a mobile app for preventative health monitoring and chronic disease management.
HardwareHealthtechMedical Devices
Renato Circi(Founder)inRafaël Michali(Founder)in
Co-investorsBalderton CapitalItalian Founders FundExor VenturesNorrsken VC
Unfabled is a UK online retailer that sells natural wellness and personal care products, including items from The Natural Love Company brand.
ConsumerDirect to ConsumerE-commerceFemTechHealthtechWellness & Fitness
Hannah
Co-investorsAlumni VenturesR/GA VenturesMorgan Stanley
Other
Tracked investments with no reachable website or further public details — typically companies that wound down, renamed, or were absorbed.
Berry HealthBig Picture BioBonus XcolorGinkoIcon + SignetJoveJuniperpatchs_healthRoga
Exits · 1
1 acquisitionsCarolacq. by OptumHealth
Portfolio news
latest coverage across their companies
Bio&Me · foodanddrinktechnology.com · Sep 2, 2026
Planetary · trysignalbase.com · Apr 25, 2026
Punto · leadsontrees.com · Dec 11, 2025
Unfabled · eu-startups.com · Oct 13, 2025
Principals & officers · per Companies House
what is this? ⓘLLP designated member · since 2022
Matthew Jonathan Cooper — 25–50% of voting rights, right to share surplus assets 25 to 50 percent limited liability partnership
Paolo Pio — 50–75% of voting rights, right to share surplus assets 50 to 75 percent limited liability partnership, right to appoint and remove members limited liability partnership
Frequently asked questions
- How many investments has Exceptional Ventures made?
- Exceptional Ventures has 40 tracked investments, 1 of which have exited, including 5 dated in the last 24 months.
- What stage does Exceptional Ventures invest at?
- Exceptional Ventures invests at the Pre-Seed, Seed stages.
- What sectors does Exceptional Ventures focus on?
- Exceptional Ventures focuses on Biotech, Digital Health, Fintech, FoodTech, Healthtech, IoT, Longevity, Medical Devices, Wellness & Fitness.
- Where is Exceptional Ventures located?
- Exceptional Ventures is headquartered in London, GB.
- Does Exceptional Ventures lead rounds?
- Exceptional Ventures typically participates in rounds rather than leading them.
- Who does Exceptional Ventures co-invest with?
- Exceptional Ventures most often shares deals with Gaingels, Moonstone Venture Capital, Balderton Capital, among 58 tracked co-investors.
Media · Podcasts & interviews
featuring the teamExceptional Ventures’ Matt Cooper & Paolo Pio on Fixing HealthTech’s Hype Problem
The European VC · Paolo Pio
Images
Co-investors · 14
Moonstone invests in startups working to drive systemic change and build a more sustainable future by addressing challenges at their core, supporting up to 60 companies with a founder-friendly approach and active partnership model.
Entrepreneur First (EF) is a talent investor that helps individuals build and launch startups, providing support such as US visa guidance, office space, fundraising preparation, and investor introductions culminating in a San Francisco Demo Day.
Unconventional Ventures is an investor focused on backing diverse founders building impact technology companies that are often overlooked by traditional investors.
Sequoia Capital is a venture capital firm that partners with founders to build technology companies.
Atomico is an international venture capital firm that invests in growth-stage technology companies across multiple geographies. The firm focuses on scaling disruptive technology businesses globally.
Stellar Capital is a finance services firm describing itself as a team with diverse experience across a range of finance disciplines.
Causal is a financial planning and analysis platform that enables finance teams to move beyond traditional spreadsheet-based planning by integrating data from multiple sources and providing dynamic forecasting, budgeting, and scenario planning capabilities.
OMERS Ventures is a venture capital firm that invests in founders globally, with investment teams based in New York, Palo Alto, and Toronto.
305 Ventures is a founder-run venture capital firm that invests in pre-seed and seed stage (0 to 1) companies globally.
Strawberry Creek Ventures is a private venture investing community for UC Berkeley alumni, part of Alumni Ventures, offering a diversified annual fund and deal-by-deal syndications that co-invest alongside leading VC firms.
Musha Ventures is a seed-stage venture firm investing globally across more than 18 countries.
Beyond is a venture firm that incentivizes limited partners and operators to contribute talent and expertise alongside capital, enabling portfolio companies to receive targeted value-add support from a distributed network of skilled individuals.
▶2 more co-investors
Firms observed investing alongside Exceptional Ventures, from public investor directories. Shared companies are the overlap with Exceptional Ventures's recorded portfolio.
Similar investors
Everywhere Ventures is an early-stage venture firm that writes pre-seed checks and is backed by a community of founder and operator LPs.
Lauder Partners, LLC is a technology-focused investment entity that invests both directly in companies and in funds (venture and other), primarily deploying the capital of Gary Lauder and his family.
Alumni Ventures (AV) is a venture capital firm that co-invests alongside lead VCs in startups, backing founders with capital and access to a large investor and operator community.
Seventure Partners is a European venture capital firm backing innovative companies across life sciences and digital technologies, with additional focus areas in sport & performance and the blue economy.
Cerity Partners Ventures provides Venture Capital as a Service (VCaaS) for corporations, helping them launch and manage venture capital programs and invest in startups. It has partnered with over 25 corporations and its portfolio includes more than 100 companies.