Outward VC

Outward VC is a London-based early-stage venture capital firm investing in fintech and the adjacent sectors it sees reshaping financial services — healthcare, education, climate, real estate, legal services and AI. The firm leads pre-Series A rounds of up to £5m, typically writing the first institutional cheque and committing to follow on across at least two further rounds.

The fund traces its origins to a fintech investing platform inside Investec Bank before launching as a standalone firm in 2019, co-founded by Kevin Chong and Devin Kohli. Outward built its reputation through early bets on UK fintech category leaders — it was a seed investor in Bud, Curve and Monese, and an early backer of Orbital, Peppy Health, Vauban (acquired by Carta) and Monq. Investec and NIBC remain cornerstone LPs, giving the team direct lines into incumbent banking distribution.

In September 2024 Outward announced the £51m first close of Fund II, with the British Business Bank committing £30m through its Enterprise Capital Funds programme. Across Fund I the firm deployed £20m into early-stage rounds; those portfolio companies went on to raise more than £570m of follow-on equity within three years. Fund II is targeting roughly 30 new pre-Series A investments.