How does Aviva Investors approach venture and strategic capital?
As one of Europe’s largest investment managers in private markets, we have our own team of in-house venture capital (VC) specialists with expertise in finding opportunities in early-stage and growth-oriented companies.
Driving innovation and growth
Disruptive tech companies are attracting more capital as focus shifts to solving global challenges.
Targeting venture returns
Venture and growth capital is a globally significant asset class with an attractive absolute and relative return profile.
Societal and environmental impact
Patient capital investment at the venture and growth stages can help drive financial, social and environmental returns.
Innovation is a growth engine
The team is investing across four key sectors:
FinTech and InsurTech
Companies competing with traditional financial services (FS) providers with new technology, propositions and services.
Examples include embedded finance, new wealth models and digital assets and FS digitisation.
HealthTech
Companies applying new technology to improve health outcomes or care delivery.
Examples include digital therapeutics, early detection and prevention and preventative care.
Science and Technology
Intellectual property (IP)-rich science and technology companies, often spun-out or commercialised from university IP.
Examples include artificial intelligence and machine learning, quantum computing and life sciences.
Climate and Sustainability
Companies seeking to address climate change, environmental, economic and scoial issues.
Examples include technologies, products and services for decarbonisation, supporting the net zero transition, green finance and social mobility.
Real Assets Study 2024
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The Little Book of Data 6
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Investment insights
Investment thinking that brings together the collective insight of Aviva Investors’ teams from across the globe on the key themes influencing markets.
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Building better: Opportunities for DC schemes to invest in the climate transition through real assets
By investing in climate-aligned real assets, defined-contribution pension schemes can help propel the transition while also benefiting from portfolio diversification and attractive risk-adjusted returns, says Mark Meiklejon.
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Avoid, reduce, remove, align: Finding climate transition investment opportunities in real assets
In this article, Luke Layfield and Zoe Austin explain four key pillars that can help real asset investors align their strategies with the climate transition and uncover opportunities to deliver attractive returns.
House View
No one can predict the future. But our quarterly House View sets out the collective wisdom of our investment teams on the current state of global markets – and where they might be heading.
Key risks
For further information on the risks and risk profiles of our funds, please refer to the relevant KIID and Prospectus.
Investment risk
Macro fluctuations of the market driven by macro environment has an impact on the value of the investments held in the portfolio. As such, the value of an investment can go down as well as up and investors may not get back the initial amount invested.
Liquidity risk
The availability of a market for securities in companies or acquirers for such companies will vary with general economic conditions, valuations of comparable companies, perceptions of technology and industry sectors, the financial markets and other factors. It may not be possible to realise investments in early-stage companies within a reasonable period of time or without a discount to NAV.
Capital risk
Investments in early / growth stage companies carry inherent risks including technology risks, unproven business models, untested plans, uncertain market acceptance, competition, lack of revenues and financing. Early / growth stage companies have a higher risk of insolvency than mature companies and will typically require funding to remain solvent until such time as the companies become profitable.
VC and strategic capital expertise
In addition to its role in Aviva Investors private markets, the Venture and Strategic Capital team also supports the Aviva Group innovation agenda and has been running the Corporate Venture Capital programme since 2015. The team's skills extend and enhance our capabilities in private markets (unlisted) assets, bringing proven ability to originate and underwrite deals.
Ben Luckett
Managing Director - Venture & Strategic Capital and Chair - Aviva Capital Partners
Ant Barker
Director of Venture Capital
Tom Grant
Head of Investments - Venture Capital
Cynthia Chen
Head of Investments - Venture Capital
Explore
Private markets
As one of Europe’s largest private markets investment managers, we have the scale to access the full depth and breadth of private markets. Find out more about our other private markets capabilities.