Jonathan Durnford-Smith
Former Partner at Octopus Ventures
United Kingdom
Writes $100K – $5M checks · typically $1.5M
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Experience
- SynthesiaHead of Talentcurrent2025 — presentLondon Area, United Kingdom
- Octopus VenturesPortfolio Partner2021 — 2025Greater London, England, United Kingdom
- Google DeepMindRecruiting Lead - Engineering, Product & Applied, Europe & US2018 — 2021London, United Kingdom
- QuantumBlack, AI by McKinseyGlobal Head of Recruiting2016 — 2018London Area, United Kingdom
- HarnhamManaging Consultant2014 — 2016London Area, United Kingdom
- HarnhamSenior Consultant2012 — 2014London Area, United Kingdom
Skills & more
Compensation2Organizational DevelopmentHiring PracticesResource PlanningStakeholder ManagementStakeholder EngagementStrategic ConsultingGeographic ExpansionBusiness Process ImprovementTrainingProject ManagementDue Diligence
+12 more
CoachingHR ConsultingGoal SettingLeadership DevelopmentSuccession PlanningTalent StrategyTalent ManagementInterviewingSQLProblem SolvingAnalytical SkillsTeam ManagementFrom Jonathan's professional profile.
Frequently asked questions
- Who is Jonathan Durnford-Smith?
- Partner at Octopus Ventures
- What check size does Jonathan Durnford-Smith write?
- Jonathan Durnford-Smith typically writes checks of $100K – $5M.
- Where did Jonathan Durnford-Smith go to school?
- Jonathan Durnford-Smith studied at Keele University (Bachelor’s Degree, Marketing).
Same school
Also attended Keele University25
Joanna LeeInvestment Associate at Giant LeapJoshua GoldInvestor at TMV LogisticsCeri BaileyHead of Fund Coordination & Client Reporting at Mercia VenturesDi SongParalegal at ARCH Emerging Markets PartnersDale AldersonPartner, Head of North West at LDCEmily HaniotisPrincipal, Investments at Diagram
+ 19 more
Shared employers
Also worked at Synthesia15
Victor RiparbelliCo-founder & CEO of SynthesiaAlex EstevezFormer CFO, Atlassian at Bull City Venture PartnersPhilippe BotteriPartner at AccelMina SamaanGeneral Partner at MMC VenturesTilen KeglCatalyst Venture Partner at Earlybird DWES Management GmbH & Co. KGPhilip ChopinManaging Director, Head of Europe at New Enterprise Associates (NEA)
+ 9 more
Also worked at Octopus Ventures83
Simon MurdochGeneral Partner, PhD at Episode1Fred EllisPartner at Next47Conor ScanlanAssociate Partner at Nauta CapitalDafydd ProlePrincipal at Presidio VenturesAkriti DokaniaVenture Partner at Ridge VenturesGeorge WhiteheadPartner at ACF Investors
+ 77 more
Also worked at Google DeepMind113
Demis HassabisCo-founder & CEO of Google DeepMindMustafa SuleymanCo-founder of DeepMind and Inflection AI; CEO of Microsoft AIAravind SrinivasCo-founder & CEO of Perplexity AIArthur MenschCo-founder & CEO of Mistral AIGabriel PereyraCo-founder & President of HarveyIshani ThakurInvestor at Index Ventures
+ 107 more
Also worked at QuantumBlack, AI by McKinsey25
Raja GhawiPartner at Era VenturesBrian CrandallManaging Director, Vantage Head of Commercial & Digital at TSG Consumer PartnersLucille ConroyPrincipal at AbingworthAlexandre ChavotierAI Consultant at Five V CapitalOlivia CavlanPartner at LifeArc VenturesEdoardo ItaliaAssociate at Brighton Park Capital
+ 19 more


































