About
Boyd Carson is Chairman of Sapphire Capital Partners, an FCA-authorised venture capital firm based in Belfast that has launched over 50 funds and deployed more than £350 million across 300+ portfolio companies since 2009. He trained as a Chartered Accountant and spent a decade in New York working on large-scale venture and private equity transactions before founding Sapphire, which is certified as a B Corp and specialises in structuring investment funds for experienced operators and sector specialists. Carson serves as an Honorary Professor of Venture Capital at Queen's University Belfast and teaches at Harvard.
Experience
- Sapphire CapitalChairman - Venture Capital lnvestment Fundcurrent2009 — present
- Harvard UniversityInstructor - Venture Capitalcurrent2021 — presentCambridge, Massachusetts, United States
- Queen's University BelfastHonorary Professor - Venture Capitalcurrent2022 — present
- Cancer Focus Northern IrelandChairman - Cancer Charitycurrent2011 — present
- IndependentGuest Speakercurrent2020 — present
- Harvard Alumni EntrepreneursJudge - Harvard Alumni Entrepreneurs Demo Daycurrent2026 — present
- i2E, Inc.Entrepreneur Competition Judge2024 — 2026Oklahoma, United States
- PwCDirector - M&A Transaction Services1996 — 2004New York
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs of JapanJapanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs1994 — 1995Japan
Skills & more
Strategy51Management7Strategic Planning4History6Financial AccountingEnvironmental Awareness5Climate Action Planning1Artificial Intelligence (AI)1Venture Capital34Investment Advisory9Fund Formation6Investments92
+12 more
Start-upsPrivate EquityCorporate FinanceAlternative InvestmentsDue DiligenceFinanceValuationMergers & AcquisitionsFinancial ServicesFundingMutual FundsEnterprise Investment Schemes (EIS)- Chartered Institute for Securities and Investments — The Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment (The CISI)
- Applied Generative AI for Digital Transformation — MIT Professional Education
- FCA authorisation — Financial Conduct Authority
- Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants — Chartered Accountants
From Boyd's professional profile.
Frequently asked questions
- Who is Boyd Carson?
- Boyd Carson is Chairman of Sapphire Capital Partners, an FCA-authorised venture capital firm based in Belfast that has launched over 50 funds and deployed more than £350 million across 300+ portfolio companies since 2009. He trained as a Chartered Accountant and spent a decade in New York working on large-scale venture and private equity transactions before founding Sapphire, which is certified as a B Corp and specialises in structuring investment funds for experienced operators and sector specialists. Carson serves as an Honorary Professor of Venture Capital at Queen's University Belfast and teaches at Harvard.
- Where does Boyd Carson work?
- Boyd Carson is at Sapphire Capital.
- What check size does Boyd Carson write?
- Boyd Carson typically writes checks of $10M – $100M.
- Where did Boyd Carson go to school?
- Boyd Carson studied at Harvard University (Finance Masters, Finance); Purdue University (Postgraduate Program in AI and Machine Learning, Artificial Intelligence); Harvard University (Climate Leaders Program for Harvard Graduate Students).
Same school
Also attended Harvard University1,999
Alfred LinPartner at Sequoia CapitalChris DixonFounder & Managing Partner of a16z crypto at Andreessen HorowitzSarah TavelVenture Partner at BenchmarkDanny RimerPartner at Index VenturesLaela SturdyManaging Partner at CapitalGBill GatesCo-founder of Microsoft; Chair of the Gates Foundation
+ 1,993 more
Also attended Purdue University241
Mamoon HamidPartner at Kleiner PerkinsKenneth Morand, Ph.D.Life Sciences Partner at CincyTechJane CommerfordOperations at 8VCSven StrohbandInvestor at Khosla VenturesJeff PetersPartner at Ibex InvestorsKenneth MorandLife Sciences Partner at CincyTech
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+ 235 more
Also attended Queen's University Belfast39
Nessan BerminghamInvestor at Khosla VenturesJohnathan GrahamHead of Compliance at Fuel VenturesNicole StumpExecutive Assistant at Ensemble VCAndrew DryliePrincipal at Quadri VenturesDavid MooreHead of Spinouts and Investments at QUBISJim CurranInvestment Director at Clarendon Fund Managers Ltd.
+ 33 more
Also attended Ulster University15
Johnathan GrahamHead of Compliance at Fuel VenturesNicolás RíosPartner at Axon Partners GroupDavid MooreHead of Spinouts and Investments at QUBISAlex SmythHead of Fund Services at OakglenAndrew NortonChief Operating Officer (Interim) at QUBISPatrick DewarPortfolio Manager at QUBIS
+ 9 more
Shared employers
Also worked at Harvard University350
Nathan BlecharczykCo-founder & CSO of AirbnbRyan SheaCo-founder of Blockstack (Stacks)Rachel HansenInvestor at Index VenturesDave MunichielloInvestor at GV (Google Ventures)Nicole GaudelliEntrepreneur in Residence at GV (Google Ventures)Logan HilleLife Sciences Analyst at CincyTech
+ 344 more
Also worked at Queen's University Belfast3
Also worked at Harvard Alumni Entrepreneurs11
John Kojiro MoriwakaVenture Partner - Japan at Mendoza VenturesKJInvestment Partner at UpHonest CapitalOriana Li HalevyInvestor at Sand Hill AngelsOmiros D. SarikasFounder and Managing Partner at Brookstreet Equity PartnersCandice (Yi) LuoChief of Staff at Rain CapitalDr. Leonid Shapiro, MDIC | Scale Up Due Diligence at Brookstreet Equity Partners
+ 5 more
Also worked at PwC1,816
David PhuController at Felicis VenturesJen WangDeal Operations Manager at Felicis VenturesTianen LiangTax Controller at Felicis VenturesJanet WolpertInvestor at Index VenturesAryo TehranianManaging Director at Mayfair Equity PartnersAne Tolnes HaugdalInvestor at Investinor
+ 1,810 more