Sure Valley Ventures

Sure Valley Ventures (SVV) is an entrepreneur-led, UK and Ireland-focused venture capital firm founded in 2017 that has invested in high-potential artificial intelligence software companies since inception. Headquartered in London with a growing Irish presence including a Cork office, it was founded by Barry Downes and Brian Kinane, former founders of Waterford-based FeedHenry, which was acquired by Red Hat in 2014. As founders turned investors, the team of around 31, including three partners, two venture partners and three principals, brings decades of operating experience to backing product-centric ventures with a clear technological edge. SVV concentrates on early-stage pre-seed and seed software companies across three core themes: artificial intelligence and machine learning, immersive technology and the metaverse, and cybersecurity. It typically writes cheques of roughly £750,000 to £1.5 million, around EUR 950,000 to EUR 2 million, often bringing co-investors in to complete £1 to 3 million packages, and is willing to lead. The firm has raised multiple vehicles, including a £95M UK software fund cornerstoned by a £50M British Business Bank commitment and Irish funds backed by Enterprise Ireland. Around 80% of its portfolio companies have gone on to raise follow-on Series A rounds, 70% within 24 months of seed. It has made roughly 61 investments; notable names and exits include Getvisibility, sold to Forcepoint; Artomatix, acquired by Unity for about $60M in 2020; Nova Leah; CameraMatics; Engage XR; Volograms; and VividQ. Sure Valley Ventures pairs founder-led operating experience with a focused deep-tech software thesis.