Portfolio Principal in London

At Octopus, we are entrepreneurs and investors, on a mission to back the people, ideas and industries that will change the world. We think working here is great, but we are understandably biased.

Octopus Ventures – Portfolio Principal

With £1.5 billion under management and investing over £100m a year, Octopus Ventures is one of the largest and most active venture investors in Europe. Our typical investment is from £1 million for Seed to £20 million for Series B and we can continue to fund the companies we back right through to IPO. Our investment team is built to specialise in the areas we believe will change the world for the better: health, fintech, B2B software, deep tech and consumer. We back 'pioneers' and use the term very deliberately to carve out that subset of entrepreneurs who are truly breaking new ground. Since 2008 we have backed nearly 120 teams, including Lodgify, bSport, Zoopla, and Secret Escapes.

We are seeking an experienced and proactive Portfolio Principal to join our Team with a focus on B2B software. This role is pivotal in overseeing, optimising, and driving the performance of portfolio companies, with a focus on companies requiring strategic growth interventions, preparation for exit, operational or financial restructuring or other adjustments to strategy. Ideally you will have a proven track record in enhancing portfolio value within the VC or relevant unquoted investment space (such as an experienced scaleup board member).

What you will be doing:

• Portfolio Management: manage a diverse portfolio of venture or growth investments, with an emphasis on driving value creation and enhancing and protecting the position of the fund's investments.
• Value Maximisation and Liquidity: Identify, recommend, and implement strategies for portfolio assets to maximise returns, coordinating with the funds' investment operations and finance teams, and drive to exit when optimal.
• Strategic Improvements: Work directly with portfolio companies' management teams to identify performance gaps and implement strategic changes to enhance growth and profitability.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Maintain active relationships with portfolio company boards, executives and stakeholders, offering guidance, resources and support for effective strategies.
• Investment Recommendations: Conduct in-depth analysis to support follow-on investment decisions, including preparing Investment Committee papers and being involved in related investments decisions.
• Market Analysis & Research: Keep abreast of industry trends, economic conditions, and competitive landscapes to inform and adjust portfolio strategies as needed.
• Reporting & Documentation: Prepare and input into regular reports on portfolio performance, highlighting key operational metrics, potential risks, and strategic recommendations for senior management and investors.

Qualifications:

• Significant experience in unquoted investment portfolio management, turnaround management or driving operational performance (of investee companies), within venture capital, private equity, operational executives (e.g. multiple scaleup CFOs) or a similar asset class.
• Experience within the B2B software space would be an advantage.
• Strong analytical and financial skills, with a deep understanding of valuation, financial analysis, and operational performance metrics.
• Demonstrated ability to influence and lead portfolio company management teams and Boards, especially from a perspective of being a minority investor.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment and adapt to the needs of portfolio companies across different stages of growth and industry sectors.
• Proactive and solutions-oriented, with a history of successfully navigating challenges and improving performance.

We encourage you to apply even if you don’t tick every box. This role will evolve as we grow and develop. So, if you are looking for a challenge in a fast paced and dynamic business, we can deliver on that.

Additional Information:

• A competitive salary, bonus, pension and share incentive plan.
• Untracked holiday.
• Hybrid working – our people spend 3 days a week in the office.
• Anchor (our wellness hub) which includes Headspace, one to one coaching through Wellness Cloud, Digital GP, Shout & more.
• Up to 6 months paid parental leave regardless of gender.
• Life insurance, critical illness cover and income protection.
• Private medical insurance for you and your family.
• Electric vehicle leasing.

Our Values:

At our core, we believe that how a company behaves is just as important as what it does. That’s why we chose to become an accredited B Corp and to change our Articles of Association so that the interests of all our stakeholders – employees, customers, communities, environment and shareholders – are considered in every decision we make.

We are committed to building a workplace where diversity is valued, and inclusion is a priority. By providing equal opportunities for growth and development, we embrace and celebrate all races, genders, religions, sexual orientations, ages, disabilities, and socio-economic backgrounds. We believe teams achieve their best when every member feels safe, respected and empowered to be their authentic selves.

We are proud to be disability confident and are committed to supporting candidates with a disability, including neurodiversity and mental health conditions, throughout the recruitment process. Applicants are welcome to opt-in to the disability confident scheme as part of our application process. If you require any adjustments to the interview process, we’ll be happy to accommodate where possible.