Investor Allstars shortlist showcases the strength and resilience of Europe’s digital pioneers

London, 18 September 2017 – The shortlist has been announced for the 15th annual Investor Allstars Awards 2017, celebrating the achievements of the investors and entrepreneurs shaping the future growth and impact of the European digital economy.

The Investor Allstars 2017 Awards ceremony will take place on 27 September at the Westminster Bridge Park Plaza, London, and will bring together the leading figures of Europe’s investment landscape, along with many of Europe’s most successful technology entrepreneurs. Nick Fry, former CEO and co-owner of Mercedes Formula One, will hold the keynote speech, and Charlotte Hawkins will be the host for evening.

The event is organised by GP Bullhound, the European technology investment bank, and GrowthBusiness.co.uk, a Vitesse Media publication specialising in providing information for entrepreneurs and leaders of fast-growth businesses.

Manish Madhvani, Managing Partner of GP Bullhound, commented: “The successes featured in this year’s shortlist are testament to the strength and depth of tech talent across the continent. From world-leading investors to pioneering entrepreneurs, these leaders are at the forefront of the growth of Europe’s digital economy and continue to deliver exceptional returns and impact.”

Niki Baker, Executive Director of Vitesse Media, commented: “Every year, the bar is raised by the investors and entrepreneurs that feature at Investor Allstars. They define the growth and ambition of Europe’s digital economy, and this year’s shortlist highlights its exceptional prospects.”

Some of the best known technology companies have also been invited to compete for the accolade of being Europe’s most exciting tech firm and be crowned Europe’s Allstar Company of the Year. Fnatic, Garrison Technology, LendInvest, MSAB and OakNorth will present their pitch on the day of the awards, and the winner will be announced in the evening.

This year’s event brings a new category – the Tech4Good Award. This award recognises a philanthropic tech firm that has that has achieved great social and environmental impact in 2017. The other award categories include VC Fund of the Year, Exit of the Year, Growth & Buyout Fund of the Year, Investor of the Year, Entrepreneur of the Year, Corporate Development Team of the Year, VCT of the Year, Seed Fund of the Year, Service Provider of the Year, Specialist Debt Provider of the Year, and Europe’s Allstar Company.

The Investor Allstars Awards 2017 are sponsored by Orrick, .ART, Barclays, Berenberg, Bird&Bird, Calibre One, Cooley, JAG Shaw Baker, Shoosmiths and Taylor Wessing, alongside a media partnership with CNBC.

To attend the Europe’s Allstar Company challenge in London on 27 September afternoon, please register here.

INVESTOR ALLSTARS AWARDS SHORTLIST 2017

Exit of the Year
Aquiline (Simply Business)
Boozt (Verdane Capital Advisors)
InnoGames (Eight Roads)
Purple Bricks ( DN Capital)
SkyScanner (Scottish Equity Partners)
Talend (Idinvest Partners)
Teads (Partech Ventures)

Growth & Buyout Fund of the Year
Beringea
Eight Roads Ventures
EQT Ventures
Idinvest Partners
Inflexion Private Equity
Kennet Partners
KKR
Livingbridge
Scottish Equity Partners
TCV (Technology Crossover Ventures)
Verdane Capital Advisors

Entrepreneur of the Year
Alex Prenn (Receipt Bank)
Christian Faes (LendInvest)
Hendrik Klindworth (InnoGames)
Jason Stockwood (Simply Business)
Julia Bösch (OUTFITTERY)
Samir Desai (Funding Circle)
Sandra Sassow (SEaB Energy)
Saurav Chopra (Perkbox)

VC Fund of the Year
Atomico
Eight Roads
EQT Ventures
Idinvest Partners
Northzone
Notion Capital
Octopus Ventures
Salesforce Ventures
Scottish Equity Partners
Ventech Capital

Europe’s Allstar Company
Fnatic
Garrison Technology
LendInvest
MSAB
OakNorth

Corporate Development Team of the Year
Accenture
JUST EAT
Sage Group
ProSiebenSat1 Media SE
Zoopla Property Group

Investor of the Year
Avid Larizadeh Duggan (Google Ventures)
Benoist Grossmann (Idinvest Partners)
Brian Caulfield (Draper Esprit)
Davor Hebel (Eight Roads Ventures)
Jon Coker (MMC Ventures)
Norman Fiore (Dawn Capital)
Sitar Teli (Connect Ventures)
Vishal Gulati (Draper Esprit)

VCT of the Year
Albion Ventures
Beringea
Foresight Group
Octopus Ventures
YFM Equity Partners

Specialist Debt Provider of the Year
Barclays
Clydesdale & Yorkshire Bank
Columbia Lake Partners
Downing
Idinvest Partners
Kreos Capital
Silicon Valley Bank

Seed Fund of the Year
Accelerated Digital Ventures
Entrepreneur First Operations
Episode 1 Ventures
Forward Partners
LocalGlobe
MMC Ventures

Service Provider of the Year
Charles Russell Speechlys
Intralink
JAG Shaw Baker
Mills & Reeve
Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe (Europe)
Private Equity Recruitment

Tech4Good
Applied
Big White Wall
Bulbshare
CoderDojo & Raspberry Pi
Freeformers Holdings
HyperionDev
Unforgettable

Digital Innovation in Art – Sponsored by .ART
Articheck
Auctions Aftersale
JonasLund
The Artists Web
ValueMyStuff.com

Enquiries
For any enquiries, please contact investorallstars@gpbullhound.com
To book a place or a table at the awards, please contact Jenna Read, Event Manager at Vitesse Media jenna.read@vitessemedia.co.uk, or visit www.investorallstars.com

About GP Bullhound
GP Bullhound is a leading technology merchant bank, providing transaction advice and capital to the best entrepreneurs and founders in Europe and beyond. Founded in 1999, the firm today has offices in London, San Francisco, Stockholm, Berlin, Manchester, Paris and Hong Kong. For more information, please visit www.gpbullhound.com, or follow on Twitter @GPBullhound

About Growthbusiness
GrowthBusiness is a business essential for today’s entrepreneur, featuring profile interviews with business leaders and serial entrepreneurs, how-to guides from Europe’s top venture capitalists, lawyers, accountants, bankers and alternative finance providers, as well as industry-leading reports on the biggest developments in the start-up world. The site features in-depth interviews, news and analysis of hot-button topics affecting the world of business today, from trends in fundraising and financial management, to leadership, productivity and workplace culture and inclusion. Growthbusiness.co.uk is a Vitesse Media plc website.