Investor Profile: Outward VC — Thesis, Cheque Size & How to Apply

Fintech founders often find seed capital easier than the next step: the post-seed, pre-Series A round where regulatory complexity and capital intensity scare off generalist investors. Outward VC was founded to fill exactly that gap for British and European fintech startups. For founders exploring Outward VC funding, this profile covers its thesis, cheque sizes, portfolio and application route.

Thesis and investment focus

Outward VC is a London-based venture firm bridging the gap between seed and Series A for fintech startups, and its current site broadens that remit to founders reshaping complex, regulated industries — from financial services and insurance to real estate, legal services, healthcare and professional services. The logic is consistent: where regulation, trust and intricate operations make a market hard to enter, a specialist investor with sector networks is worth more than a generalist cheque. Its stated values are people first, transparency and flexibility, including early meetings with the investment committee and clear feedback.

Sectors, stages and cheque size

Outward VC invests at late seed to Series A, often leading or co-leading rounds. Published material on its strategy puts its entry investment at $920,000 to £1.84 million within funding rounds of $1.3 million to £12.3 million, while a separate account of its approach gives an average ticket of around £1 million, with most capital reserved for follow-on rounds averaging £2 million to £6 million. Pitch it as a post-seed partner with follow-on capacity, not a pre-seed investor. It says it has no rigid revenue criteria, preferring conviction on whether a product genuinely needs to exist.

Fund size and notable portfolio

Outward VC reported a $59 million Fund I, which it said had more than doubled in value since 2018 while backing 17 companies, and that its portfolio companies had raised over $454 million in follow-on funding within two years. Its Fund I portfolio includes Curve, PrimaryBid, Peppy, Monese, Bud and Vauban, alongside ClearGlass and Islamic Finance Guru. Recent names on its site include Capsa AI, Infrawatch, Steward and Monq.

Partners, team and programmes

Outward VC was founded in 2017 by Devin Kohli and Kevin Chong, who lead the firm as co-heads and bring more than 20 years' combined experience across financial services, venture capital, entrepreneurship and technology. Its cornerstone limited partners for Fund I were Investec Bank and NIBC, alongside institutions, family offices and private investors with global financial-services networks. Post-investment support covers hiring, commercial partnerships, board construction, positioning for the next round and marketing. It does not run a fixed-term accelerator, and it does not publish a general credits or perks programme for portfolio companies.

How to apply for funding from Outward VC

Founders can approach Outward VC through its website at outwardvc.com, which invites companies to start a conversation and links to its application form. Lead with the regulated-market problem, why existing financial services fail the customer, and what makes the product defensible — then show the path from post-seed traction to a credible Series A. Because the firm prides itself on transparent feedback, name the regulatory and commercial risks honestly. That is how to get funding from Outward VC: show a real need, a specialist fit, and a fundable next milestone.