Joining the dots between capital providers and growth businesses has always been challenging. With the advent of a predominantly intangible economy, AI and regulatory disruption, it has become even harder. We know this because we have been on both “sides” many times before. We believe it calls for a different approach for companies and investors - we bridge that gap.
We are founders, operators, investors, AI, IP and finance specialists, and have a significant network to assist our companies. We have deep financing experience and contacts across angel investors, family offices, funds, banks and insurers. We are extremely hands on as our companies look to scale.
For our companies, we aim to minimise dilution and maximise their chances of success. For our investors, we look to provide active management and better risk-adjusted returns. We put our own capital at risk, bring our expert networks to assist, and sit on boards. We only succeed if the companies and our investors do.
Scott Bell, Co-founder and Joint Managing Partner
Scott was founder investor of Cipher, a leading strategic patent intelligence SaaS business sold to RELX. He also co-founded and chairs AYA Data, an emerging markets focussed AI solutions business. In addition, he is involved in other growth tech businesses, including as non-executive director of Geolytix and Chairman of Provenance.
Previously in banking, he was Head of UK & Eire corporate & investment banking, and Global co-head of Consumer & Retail investment banking at Deutsche Bank. Prior to that he was a managing director and ran global businesses at HSBC, Goldman Sachs and Schroders. He qualified as a Chartered Accountant with Arthur Andersen and has an MA from Cambridge University.
Ewan Stradling, Co-founder and Joint Managing Partner
Ewan founded Tranquil Capital, a specialist investor in deep technology companies with proven IP. Tranquil has developed a successful track record in investing in Deeptech and Software businesses. Previous investments include Cube Global (sold to HG Capital) and Redux ST (sold to Google).
Prior to founding Tranquil, in 2003 Ewan founded BMS Finance a specialist direct lending business which was sold in 2016 to a company listed on the London Stock Exchange and subsequently to Beachpoint Capital a US based specialist credit fund with c$15bn AUM. Ewan’s prior experience includes being CFO of Agilisys, where he was a nonexecutive until late 2022, and investment banking with Investec. He has a MA from Oxford University.
Ismene Smals, Associate
Ismene joined DMP in April 2023. Previously, she was in investment banking at UBS in the Consumer Products & Retail team. Ismene holds a cum laude MSc in Finance & Investments from Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University.
Nigel Swycher, Advisor
Nigel was CEO and co-founder of Cipher. Nigel’s background is as an IP lawyer, having been Head of IP at Slaughter and May. Throughout his career Nigel has focused on the creation, defence and exploitation of IP assets, and helping companies, their advisors and investors understand the importance of intangible assets. Nigel is a recognised as an expert by the IAM Strategy 300.
Phil David, Advisor
Phil has over 20 years legal experience in high technology. He joined ARM Holdings in 1994 and served as General Counsel from 2003-2017. Phil was Chairman of ARM’s IP Steering Committee. Phil is a director of the Open Register of Patent Ownership (oropo.net) and served as a Non-Executive Director to Sarantel from 2010-2013. He works with a number of IP-rich Deeptech companies.
Steve Harris, Advisor
Steve has over 20 years of experience in AI. He was CTO and co-founder of Cipher (sold to RELX). Previously, he was CTO of UK-based Healthcare AI startup Ufonia and was CTO of UK-based FinTech startup Garlik (sold to Experian). Steve is an advisor to the UK Government and European Commission. Steve started his career as a researcher at the University of Southampton, specialising in artificial intelligence, information extraction, and graph databases. Steve is recognised as an expert by the IAM Strategy 300.
Chris Ruse, Advisor
Chris has over 25 years of experience in corporate banking, capital markets and working capital finance. He co-founded Silver Birch Finance, a working capital solutions provider now owned by TDR Capital, where he was Head of Origination and Head of Asia. Previously, he spent over 18 years at Deutsche Bank, where he was a Managing Director in Capital Markets and Treasury Solutions, after which he joined Standard Chartered as Managing Director, heading Natural Resources and Power coverage for Europe. He is currently a Senior Advisor to ETR Digital.
We provided the initial equity capital for Cube Global, as it built the leading regulatory intelligence platform used by many of the world’s leading banks. As well as providing funding we supported the management team at board level, including assisting with capital raises and ultimately an exit to Hg Capital. During our involvement the ARR increased by over 800%.
We founded and built the world’s leading patent analytics business based on AI. Our team had backgrounds in IP, AI and finance, and we brought in through our network a sales and marketing team, experienced board members, angel investors and institutional capital. A SaaS AI business, with offices in 4 countries and clients representing many of the world’s leading corporates (including Nvidia, Google, Meta, ARM and Unilever), the company was acquired by RELX in 2023.
Other investments
Tyndall is an award-winning, high-growth UK wealth manager, whose client-focused culture and significant employee ownership make it an attractive home for wealth managers. We have provided equity, raised further capital through our network and support the management team at board level. With our technology background, we are also helping Tyndall build out its AI capabilities.
ETR recognised that regulatory change and digitalisation created an opportunity to reshape the model of supply chain finance. They have created digital Working Capital Notes to allow companies to access new capital pools, that are not available using traditional working capital methods. With our backgrounds and network in finance, we are assisting ETR through access to potential customers, direct equity investment in ETR, and bringing in new investors.
Other investments
We restructured the original Hiwave business into two units: Redux, focused on applying its bending wave technology in mobile phones; and Tectonic Audio which utilises the same technology in speakers. We completed a highly innovative financing for Redux, as it developed its technology with some of the largest mobile phone companies. This work led to a successful exit to Google.
New Motion Labs is a mechanical engineering IP licensing company which develops and licenses revolutionary sprocket tooth profiles to the leading sprocket manufacturers in motorcycles, bicycles and factories. It enables conventional chain drives to last 3.5x longer and reduces energy losses by up to 50%. Our involvement started with IP advice, and has progressed to providing capital and strategic and board advice.
Other investments
How to Fix the Intangible Economy
The Rise of the Intangible Economy