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Yvonne Bajela is bringing $17M in fresh capital to Europe’s startup scene
Policy1 min read
Yvonne Bajela, a former venture capitalist (VC, an investor who backs young companies), has closed a $17 million first fund called Evertrue. The fund will invest in early-stage startups in the U.K. and Europe.
A new fund for early startups
Yvonne Bajela has launched her own investment firm, Evertrue. On Tuesday, she said its first fund, called Fund I, closed at $17 million. The fund was oversubscribed, which means more investors wanted in than the fund could take. Evertrue will back young companies across the U.K. and Europe.
Key facts
- Fund I size: $17 million, closed as oversubscribed
- Companies already backed: 7
- Average check size: about £350,000
- Plan: back at least 20 companies over the next three years
- Investor location: about 80% are U.K.-based; the rest are in Europe, Asia, and the U.S.
Her path to this point
Bajela spent more than ten years as a VC. Her past bets include Wise, a money-transfer company now valued as a unicorn (a private startup worth over $1 billion), the insurer Marshmallow, and the robotaxi company Mooves. She worked at LocalGlobe and Impact X Capital Partners before starting her own firm.
Why it matters
Raising money for a new fund is hard, especially for first-time managers. Bajela says the process took months and many talks. Her story shows that the U.K. startup scene is busy, with AI and fintech drawing strong interest. It also shows that new fund managers can still find backers, even in a tough market.
What to watch
- Whether Evertrue reaches its goal of at least 20 companies in three years
- How its AI and fintech bets perform
- Whether more first-time U.K. fund managers raise money in the coming months
Glossary
- VC
- Venture capital: money that investors give to young companies in return for a share of ownership.
- Evertrue
- The new investment firm run by Yvonne Bajela, which invests in early-stage startups in the U.K. and Europe.