# Draper Esprit: portfolio, investments and team

> Draper Esprit is a vc firm based in United Kingdom. 96 investments on record, latest Dec 2019. Portfolio, stages, co-investors and team.

Source: https://millionrounds.com/fund/draper-esprit-plc (Millionrounds; every figure on the page links to its filing or article)

United Kingdom · [Investor](https://millionrounds.com/investors)

# Draper Esprit

Last cheque observed Dec 2019. Silence since then is not evidence of inactivity: our sources miss unannounced rounds.

Quiet VC firm

Series A Venture Series B Gaming Internet Venture Capital & Private Equity

Cheques on record

**0%** of best year **0** **cheques in 12 months**, 96 on record

Since the last cheque **2511** days **00** hrs **00** min **00** sec

Median round **$18M** Rounds led **5 of 96** Sole investor **3 rounds** Exits **11 from the portfolio** Mostly in **United Kingdom, 55%**

Pitch Draper Esprit

## Draper Esprit highlights

- 01 96 rounds on record
- 02 Mostly Series A and Venture: 53% of its rounds
- 03 Sole investor in 3 rounds, median $16M
- 04 11 exits from the portfolio

## What they do

- **Type:** VC firm (from a list, unverified)
- **Cheque size:** Not stated
- **Sectors:** Gaming Internet Venture Capital & Private Equity
- **Based in:** London, United Kingdom
- **Cold pitches:** Not stated

## The record

Every round we can evidence, newest first **96 appearances**

- **2019** 8 rounds
- **Dec** **[Paragraf](https://millionrounds.com/company/paragraf)** Series A · GB · FinSMEs **$4.6M** With 4 others
- **Nov** **[Decibel](https://millionrounds.com/company/decibel)** Series B · GB · FinSMEs **$17M** *Led*
- **Oct** **[Freetrade](https://millionrounds.com/company/freetrade)** Series A · GB · TechCrunch **$15M** With 1 other
- **Oct** **[Pollen](https://millionrounds.com/company/pollen)** GB · FinSMEs **$60M** With 4 others
- **Jun** **[Realeyes](https://millionrounds.com/company/realeyes)** GB · FinSMEs **$12M** *Led*
- **Apr** **[Perkbox](https://millionrounds.com/company/perkbox)** GB · TechCrunch **$18M** *Led*
- **Mar** **[Hadean](https://millionrounds.com/company/hadean)** GB · Tech.eu **$9.2M** *Led*
- **Mar** **[Trustpilot](https://millionrounds.com/company/trustpilot)** Series E · DK · Tech.eu **$55M** With 3 others
- **2018** 5 rounds
- **Dec** **[Graphcore](https://millionrounds.com/company/graphcore)** Series D · GB · FinSMEs **$200M** With 12 others
- **Dec** **[Finalcad](https://millionrounds.com/company/finalcad)** Series C · FR · TechCrunch **$40M** With 4 others
- **Jun** **[Crate.io](https://millionrounds.com/company/crate-io)** Series A · US · FinSMEs **$11M** With 6 others
- **May** **[Iceye](https://millionrounds.com/company/iceye)** Series B · FI · FinSMEs **$34M** With 8 others
- **Jan** **[Ledger](https://millionrounds.com/company/ledger)** Series B · FR · TechCrunch **$75M** *Led*
- **2017** 4 rounds
- **Oct** **[Xmos](https://millionrounds.com/company/xmos)** Series E · GB · FinSMEs **$15M** With 3 others
- **Sept** **[Ieso Digital Health](https://millionrounds.com/company/ieso-digital-health)** GB · FinSMEs **$24M** With 1 other
- **Jul** **[Perkbox](https://millionrounds.com/company/perkbox)** GB · FinSMEs **$8.6M** Sole investor
- **Jul** **[Graphcore](https://millionrounds.com/company/graphcore)** Series B · GB · FinSMEs **$30M** With 7 others
- **2015** 9 rounds
- **Nov** **[SportPursuit](https://millionrounds.com/company/sportpursuit)** Series C · GB **$14M** With 2 others
- **Oct** **[Conversocial](https://millionrounds.com/company/conversocial)** Series B · US **$11M** With 2 others
- **Jul** **[Crowdcube](https://millionrounds.com/company/crowdcube)** Series C · GB **$9.4M** With 3 others
- **Jun** **[RadiumOne](https://millionrounds.com/company/radiumone)** Series C · US **$54M** With 4 others
- **Jun** **[Miura Systems](https://millionrounds.com/company/miura-systems)** Venture · GB **$16M** Sole investor
- **May** **[Trustpilot](https://millionrounds.com/company/trustpilot)** Series D · DK **$74M** With 5 others
- **May** **[Bitbar](https://millionrounds.com/company/bitbar)** Series A · FI **Undisclosed** With 5 others
- **Apr** **[Lyst](https://millionrounds.com/company/lyst)** Series C · GB **$40M** With 4 others
- **Apr** **[Movidius](https://millionrounds.com/company/movidius)** Series E · US **$40M** With 7 others
- **2014** 13 rounds
- **Dec** **[Fluidic Analytics](https://millionrounds.com/company/fluidic-analytics)** Series A · GB **$2.4M** With 4 others
- **Nov** **[Shift](https://millionrounds.com/company/shift)** Series A · US **$24M** With 7 others
- **Oct** **[RhodeCode, Inc.](https://millionrounds.com/company/rhodecode-inc)** Series A · US **$3.5M** With 2 others
- **Jul** **[Bright Computing](https://millionrounds.com/company/bright-computing)** Series B · US **$15M** With 4 others
- **Jul** **[Conversocial](https://millionrounds.com/company/conversocial)** Series A · US **$5.0M** With 3 others
- **Apr** **[Crate.IO](https://millionrounds.com/company/crate-io)** Seed · AT **$1.5M** With 2 others
- **Apr** **[Aveillant](https://millionrounds.com/company/aveillant)** GB **$9.1M** With 3 others
- **Feb** **[Campanja](https://millionrounds.com/company/campanja)** Series A · SE **$5.0M** With 5 others
- **Feb** **[SportPursuit](https://millionrounds.com/company/sportpursuit)** Series B · GB **$7.6M** With 5 others
- **Jan** **[Doutíssima](https://millionrounds.com/company/doutissima)** Seed · BR **$1.0M** With 2 others
- **Jan** **[Lyst](https://millionrounds.com/company/lyst)** Series B · GB **$14M** With 5 others
- **Jan** **[Trustpilot](https://millionrounds.com/company/trustpilot)** Series C · DK **$25M** With 4 others
- **Jan** **[ACHICA](https://millionrounds.com/company/achica)** Series C · GB **Undisclosed** With 1 other
- **2013** 11 rounds
- **Dec** **[XMOS](https://millionrounds.com/company/xmos)** Series C · GB · finsmes.com **$14M** With 3 others

An announcement gives the size of the round, not the size of this investor's cheque: the only rounds that imply a cheque are those where they were the sole named investor.

## The team

We hold **17** people at this firm from the lists this database was built from: a weaker source than the filings, since a list does not say when a title ended. Login to see them.

Who backs their funds

## 1 LP on record in Draper Esprit's funds

- **Funds:** 1

The institutions that put money into its funds, which the firm then invests in companies. Source: an LP list.

- [**Ireland Strategic Investment Fund** 1 fund](https://millionrounds.com/fund/ireland-strategic-investment-fund) Fund Vintage Committed Draper Esprit - -

## Exits from the portfolio

Companies it backed that were later bought or listed **11 in all**

**[Campanja](https://millionrounds.com/company/campanja)** Bought by [24]7 **Undisclosed** Oct 2015

**[StrikeAd](https://millionrounds.com/company/strikead)** Bought by Sizmek **$12M** May 2015

**[SHIFT](https://millionrounds.com/company/shift)** Bought by Brand Networks **$50M** May 2015

**[Neul](https://millionrounds.com/company/neul)** Bought by Huawei Technologies **$25M** Sept 2014

**[Oxford Immunotec](https://millionrounds.com/company/oxford-immunotec)** Listed **$64M** Nov 2013

**[Tribold](https://millionrounds.com/company/tribold)** Bought by Sigma Systems **Undisclosed** Jul 2013

**[RedKite Financial Markets](https://millionrounds.com/company/redkite-financial-markets)** Bought by NICE Systems **Undisclosed** Nov 2012

**[Icera](https://millionrounds.com/company/icera)** Bought by [Nvidia](https://millionrounds.com/fund/nvidia) **$367M** May 2011

**[Lagan Technologies](https://millionrounds.com/company/lagan-technologies)** Bought by KANA Software **Undisclosed** Nov 2010

**[VirtualLogix](https://millionrounds.com/company/virtuallogix)** Bought by Red Bend Software **Undisclosed** Sept 2010

**[Cambridge Positioning Systems](https://millionrounds.com/company/cambridge-positioning-systems)** Bought by [CSR](https://millionrounds.com/fund/csr) **$35M** Jan 2007

An exit counts when it came after the firm's first round in the company. From historical deal records.

## Companies it bought

Acquisitions by the firm itself

**TTP Ventures** **Undisclosed** Nov 2014

## The cheque

Series A Venture Series B

Median round joined **$18M** the round, not its cheque Alone, median **$16M**

Led 5 of 96 rounds **5%**

- **Sole investor:** 3 rounds
- **Last cheque:** Dec 2019
- **Exits:** 11 from the portfolio

Rounds by stage said on their site

- Series A *22*
- Venture *20*
- Series B *18*
- Series C *12*
- Series D *7*

Cheques by year Led Joined

2005 2019

Often in the room with

- [DFJ Esprit](https://millionrounds.com/fund/dfj-esprit) 68
- [Prelude Trust](https://millionrounds.com/fund/prelude-trust) 11
- [Balderton Capital](https://millionrounds.com/fund/balderton-capital) 9
- [Atlas Venture](https://millionrounds.com/fund/atlas-venture) 7
- [Robert Bosch Venture Capital](https://millionrounds.com/fund/robert-bosch-venture-capital) 7
- [Amadeus Capital Partners](https://millionrounds.com/fund/amadeus-capital-partners) 5

**Pitching Draper Esprit?** Put them on your fundraising board with this record on the card, and follow them to hear when they write a new cheque.

Add to your CRM *→*

## Who they invest alongside

The investors most often in the same rounds as Draper Esprit. A count of rooms they were both in, not a relationship either has claimed.

[**DFJ Esprit** VC firm **68** rounds together](https://millionrounds.com/fund/dfj-esprit)[**Prelude Trust** VC firm **11** rounds together](https://millionrounds.com/fund/prelude-trust)[**Balderton Capital** VC firm **9** rounds together](https://millionrounds.com/fund/balderton-capital)[**Atlas Venture** VC firm **7** rounds together](https://millionrounds.com/fund/atlas-venture)[**Robert Bosch Venture Capital** VC firm **7** rounds together](https://millionrounds.com/fund/robert-bosch-venture-capital)[**Amadeus Capital Partners** VC firm **5** rounds together](https://millionrounds.com/fund/amadeus-capital-partners)[**DFJ** VC firm **5** rounds together](https://millionrounds.com/fund/dfj)[**Accel** VC firm **4** rounds together](https://millionrounds.com/fund/accel)[**DAG Ventures** VC firm **4** rounds together](https://millionrounds.com/fund/dag-ventures)[**Dow Venture Capital** Growth equity **4** rounds together](https://millionrounds.com/fund/dow-venture-capital)[**Draper Fisher Jurvetson (DFJ)** Investment firm **4** rounds together](https://millionrounds.com/fund/draper-fisher-jurvetson-dfj)[**Index Ventures** VC firm **4** rounds together](https://millionrounds.com/fund/index-ventures)

## Recently backed

The latest companies Draper Esprit put money into.

[**Paragraf** $4.6M · Dec 2019](https://millionrounds.com/company/paragraf)[**Freetrade** $15M · Oct 2019](https://millionrounds.com/company/freetrade)[**Realeyes** $12M · Jun 2019](https://millionrounds.com/company/realeyes)[**Perkbox** $18M · Apr 2019](https://millionrounds.com/company/perkbox)[**Hadean** $9.2M · Mar 2019](https://millionrounds.com/company/hadean)[**Trustpilot** $55M · Mar 2019](https://millionrounds.com/company/trustpilot)

## On podcasts

1 episode naming Draper Esprit in the title, and 2 more that mention it.

- [Tech.eu](https://millionrounds.com/podcasts/tech-eu) 21 Nov 2018 · 50 min BlaBlaCar's partnership with SNCF; what the Brexit draft agreement means for startups; interview with Draper Esprit's Simon Cook; and much more With [Simon Cook](https://millionrounds.com/person/simon-cook) Mentions [Draper Esprit](https://millionrounds.com/fund/draper-esprit-plc) Apple PodcastsShow page

### Mentioned in

- [Fintech Insider](https://millionrounds.com/podcasts/fintech-insider) 17 Jan 2020 · 52 min 392. Insights: VC Roundtable: What makes a good fintech investment? Apple PodcastsShow page
- [This Much I Know](https://millionrounds.com/podcasts/this-much-i-know) 10 Nov 2015 · 33 min Scott Sage, Expert in Residence, Seedcamp Apple PodcastsShow page

## Quick answers about Draper Esprit

### What does Draper Esprit invest in?

Draper Esprit invests most often at Series A and Venture (53% of the rounds on record), in sectors such as Gaming, Internet and Venture Capital & Private Equity.

### How active is Draper Esprit?

96 investments on record, 0 of them in the last 12 months, and it led 5. The most recent was in Dec 2019.

### What has Draper Esprit invested in recently?

Its most recent investments on record: Paragraf (Series A, Dec 2019), Decibel (Series B, Nov 2019) and Freetrade (Series A, Oct 2019).

### How big are Draper Esprit's cheques?

The median round it joins is $18M.

### Does Draper Esprit lead rounds?

Sometimes: it led 5 of its 96 investments on record (5%).

### Where does Draper Esprit invest?

Most of the companies it backs are in the United Kingdom (55%), the United States (20%) and Denmark (8%).

### Is Draper Esprit investing now?

No investments in the last 12 months; the latest was in Dec 2019.

### Who does Draper Esprit invest alongside?

Most often DFJ Esprit (68 rounds together), Prelude Trust (11 rounds together) and Balderton Capital (9 rounds together).

## Raising now?

Find the investors who back rounds like yours, and keep every conversation on one fundraising board.

Find similar investorsOpen your CRM

Built from the rounds we watched, its filings and its own website, refreshed every night. [How we count](https://millionrounds.com/methodology) · [Report a correction](https://millionrounds.com/corrections?slug=draper-esprit-plc) · [Is this your firm? Claim it](https://millionrounds.com/claim?org=draper-esprit-plc)