Onstage has launched its first venture fund with an initial close of £10 million, marking a major shift from event organizer to early stage investor. The fund will target pre seed and seed startups across Europe and is led by founding partner Joel Hambly. The move positions Onstage to play a more direct role in supporting the founders who have historically used its demo platform to accelerate visibility and fundraising.
From Demo Events to a Venture Platform
Founded in 2020 by Episode 1 GP Hector Mason and dmg ventures partner Taos Edmondson, and led operationally by co founder Issie James, Onstage built its reputation through large standalone demo days. These events have featured more than 2,000 startups and attracted over 330 venture funds from Europe and the United States, including Sequoia, a16z, Balderton and LocalGlobe. This track record has made the platform a significant source of deal flow for the venture ecosystem and a launchpad for ambitious early stage companies.
Proven Fundraising Outcomes
Startups that reached the finals of Onstage’s demo events have collectively raised more than £500 million from venture capital investors. Companies such as Scan.com with £60 million in funding and Lawhive with £44 million are standout examples of how exposure through Onstage can support rapid fundraising momentum. These outcomes reinforce the credibility of Onstage’s platform and the logic behind converting its pipeline into an investment strategy.
Fund Strategy and Investment Scope
The newly introduced Fund I will prioritize backing founders at the earliest stages and plans to make around 80 investments over the next three years. The goal is to combine capital with the platform’s network advantages to shorten fundraising cycles and expand investor access for portfolio companies. Hambly describes the fund as a natural extension of the demo days, designed to deepen relationships with top VCs and support startups aiming to compete globally.
A Structural Play in European Venture
Beyond demo days, Onstage has developed a large GP LP gathering that has become another fixture in the European venture calendar. Its most recent event attracted 350 GP applicants, reflecting the demand for curated deal flow and more efficient relationship building within the industry. By introducing a fund, Onstage adds a permanent capital component to this infrastructure, turning its events and network into a long term investment engine.
A Vision to Strengthen Europe’s Innovation Capacity
Onstage’s leadership frames its mission as building a European counterpart to YC, but without the accelerator format. Instead of a cohort based program, the company aims to create a scalable platform that accelerates fundraising, amplifies distribution and facilitates introductions to major customers. The team argues that reducing fundraising friction is essential to improving Europe’s innovation performance, especially as the US continues to outpace the region in economic growth.
Team and Leadership Structure
The core team includes Mason, Edmondson, James, Hambly, Luis Druschke and incoming partner Peter Simon, president of US investment firm Simon Sports. Their backgrounds span investing, execution, community building, media and entrepreneurship, reflecting an intent to blend operational and strategic expertise. This group is positioned to drive the fund’s deployment while maintaining the momentum and ambition that defined Onstage’s early growth.
LP Base and Investment Committee
Fund I is backed by a mix of founders, operators and investors, including notable LP Alex Chesterman and GPs from Concept Ventures, Creator Ventures, Chapter One and Episode 1. To reinforce its connection to established venture firms, Onstage has appointed Emma Phillips of LocalGlobe, Laura McGinnis of Balderton and Jamesin Seidel of Chapter One as external members of its investment committee. The fund’s establishment has been supported by Fund Incubator, Blears and Bunch Capital, ensuring a structured foundation for long term operation.
With the launch of its £10 million fund, Onstage moves from being a prominent showcase for startups to a direct capital partner shaping the companies it highlights. The fund creates a symbiotic loop between demo events, venture networks and investment, positioning the platform as both a discovery engine and a backer of early stage talent. If executed successfully, this model could influence how European founders raise capital and contribute to a more competitive global innovation landscape for the region.