We enable structured scale-up capital without significant equity dilution. We address the particular financing challenges that high-growth technology companies often face including how to attribute value to their IP as collateral, and how to mitigate working capital strain as they grow.
We look for proven market fit, underpinned by strong IP, and a clear path to profitability. Our target size is $10-$50m.
Over 85% of company value today is intangible, principally IP. The financing markets have not yet caught up. Our unique backgrounds in IP and structured finance, and partners that include some of the world's leading funds, family offices, law firms, payment platforms and insurers enable us to design innovative solutions.
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 two other AI businesses, AYA Data and AYA Grow. 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, Adviser
Nigel is 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 advisers and investors understand the importance of intangible assets. Nigel is a recognised as an expert by the IAM Strategy 300.
Phil David, Adviser
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.