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Edward Keelan

Entrepreneurship Expert

Profile

Edward Keelan is a Partner at Octopus Ventures, one of the most active Venture Capital firms in Europe, based in London, UK. With the mission to invest in the people and ideas that will change the world.

He started his career at Rolls-Royce before becoming part of the founding team at KorteQ, a start-up focused on knowledge management. In 2008, he joined Octopus and has since led investments into various sectors from renewables to venture capital.

His role encompasses oversight of deal origination and execution, a seat on the investment committee and contributing to his fund’s overall strategy. He also represented Octopus as a non-executive director on several boards with experience in fast-growing companies and exiting to FTSE 250 companies.

He has a diversified background and has worked internationally with time in San Francisco. Edward holds an EMBA with distinction from Saïd Business School, and several sector-specific professional qualifications. He has a passion for ensuring equality of opportunity and is a seasoned mentor within education, and in 2020 was named the mentor of the year for the South at the Career Ready awards.

Expertise:

  • Current focus series A and B investments into B2B software companies.

  • Working with small businesses from fundraising strategy to building high-performing teams.

  • Enjoys working with early-stage companies to give an honest and open view of their product-market fit.

  • Route to market.

  • Fundraising strategies.

Find out more about the oNetwork

Are you a current SBS student or alumnus? Request a one-to-one advisory session with this expert.

Engagement

  • Mentor to a number of early-stage companies with a focus on financial modelling, fundraising and business strategy.
  • Mentor with the Saïd Business School Liber programme.
  • Judge at the annual MBA Venture Capital Investment Competition (VCIC).